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

a great embarrassment to him, showing up here, years after leaving him, and with

Maybe he hated me.

the outsider.” The girl

monotone. Another moment

him. He led me to an adjoining room, separated by

Royal Highness, please remember

look at the man, who nervously backed up

an exception,”

The man

inside after them. A servant stepped forward and closed the door behind us, leaving Nicholas, Elva, and I alone in a small

be sick. I had never imagined I’d meet Nicholas

What would he think of me, to see me as I was? To see me here, as part of the

cried

perfect façade cracked. He

hands stayed gentle on Elva, his arm looped more protectively around

my child from me?” he

a stop. I blinked once, twice, but,

Eloquently, I said, “Huh?”

glanced at Elva, softly sleeping in his arms. She was three years old. That lined

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

haste. I couldn’t remember where he was when he’d climaxed. But, hadn’t he been wearing a condom at the

anger, but the certainty that fueled it seemed to slide into bewilderment. His gaze shifted, like

mistaken,” I said, hoping to give him

He’d even said so on television. For me to hide a child from him would have been a cruelty. He would likely have struggled forever over the guilt for the years

her name. But

moment, before the

he seemed to struggle to

glanced between me and Elva. “She

sister. But I wouldn’t tell that to Nicholas. Elva was mine in every

silence seemed to answer some unspoken question for him, and he

straightened, startled. What could cause

he immediately

lowered Elva down onto one

at Mommy,”