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?

sure, but not enough to become unrecognizable. Unless he truly had sealed me away in his past

I could be a great embarrassment to him, showing up

Maybe he hated me.

the outsider.” The girl in pink motioned

into this,” Nicholas said, and even his voice was monotone. Another moment of staring at me blankly, then he

followed him. He led me to an adjoining

him. “Your Royal Highness, please remember that per the selection

stopped to look at the man, who nervously backed up

an

Of course, sir.” The man bowed twice as

them. A servant stepped forward and closed the door behind us, leaving Nicholas, Elva, and

I had never imagined

idea what even to say. What would he think of me, to see me as

against his chest. She must have cried herself

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

on Elva, his arm looped more protectively

dare you hide my child from me?”

to a stop. I blinked once, twice, but, no, I couldn’t make sense

Eloquently, I said, “Huh?”

softly sleeping in his arms. She was three years old. That lined up

been so young then, too eager

clumsy haste. I couldn’t remember where he was when he’d climaxed.

fueled it seemed to slide into bewilderment. His gaze

I said, hoping

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

That’s her name. But she’s

a moment, before the anger

to struggle to get it out.

between me and

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

seemed to answer some unspoken question for him, and he

straightened, startled. What

and he immediately cut off the deep rumbling

he lowered Elva down onto one of

be mad at Mommy,” came Elva’s