The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Nicholas held Elva safe and secure in his arms as he stood to his full height. Elva buried her face into the corner of his neck and shoulder. He gently patted her back.

He glanced down at Elva, his gaze so tender that it made my heart clench.

“There, there,” he whispered. “You are safe now.”

“Oh my God,” said one of the other girls in the room, fanning herself. “Of course he’s good with children.”

“Someone pinch me,” said another. “I think I’m dreaming.”

Nicholas’s soft expression hardened as he glared out at the rest of the room. “Whose child is this? Why is she here?”

I started forward, but the girl in the pink dress spoke before I could reach him.

“An outsider sneaked in, unless she’s a maid.”

Some of the other girls snickered at my expense.

“She can’t be a participant,” another girl fake-whispered, loud enough for half-the room to hear. “I thought we had to be virgins, and she’s got a kid.”

I wanted to disappear into a corner. Whether virgin or not, I was nothing compared to the rest of these girls.

My clothes weren’t as nice as theirs, and my figure wasn’t like what it had been at the Academy. I’d lost much of my musculature. I was skinny from too many nights of skipped dinners.

Elva’s wellbeing had always come before my own.

Her sake was the only reason I continued forward rather than hide in embarrassment. I stopped only when I reached Nicholas.

He looked at me, and I looked at him.

I’d forgotten how gorgeous his eyes were, golden brown with flakes of green. When we’d dated, I had spent hours looking at them, trying to memorize that color, but it had seemed different each time.

Before, when I’d stared long enough, I could earn a bashful smile from him. Now, his face was totally devoid of emotion. He looked at me like I was a stranger.

Did he… not recognize me?

had sealed me away in his past and moved on, never

was simply pretending, to save face. I could be a great embarrassment

Maybe he hated me.

the outsider.” The girl in pink motioned

Another moment

led me

Royal Highness, please remember that per the

the man, who

an exception,”

sir. Of course, sir.” The man bowed twice as

stepped forward and closed the door behind us, leaving Nicholas, Elva, and

I might be sick. I had never imagined I’d meet Nicholas again, and especially

idea what even to say. What would he think of me, to see me as I was? To see

his chest. She must have cried herself to sleep, eyes closed and drooling. She seemed at

stepped forward toward Nicholas, and at once, his perfect façade cracked. He frowned. His

hands stayed gentle on Elva, his arm looped more protectively

you hide my child from

I blinked once, twice, but, no, I couldn’t

Eloquently, I said, “Huh?”

in his arms. She was three years old.

recall the memory. We’d been so young then, too eager and excited

where he was when he’d climaxed. But, hadn’t

certainty that fueled it seemed to slide into bewilderment. His gaze shifted,

I said, hoping

wanted children. He’d even said so on television. For me to hide a child from him would have been

her name. But she’s not

a moment, before the anger returned

to struggle

me and Elva. “She

wouldn’t tell that to Nicholas. Elva was mine in every way that mattered. I would not have her seen as

question for him, and he

What could cause

stirred his arms, and he immediately cut off the

he lowered Elva down onto one of the plush couches in the

be mad at Mommy,”