The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0078

Nicholas

As I watched, Piper seemed to crumble in on herself. The guilt and the worry pushed down on her

shoulders and made her small. It didn’t suit her. She was strong, a fighter, yet fear for Elva tore straight

through her.

I I had known the child a few short weeks, and already I was in agony, watching her cry and shake with

fever. I could only imagine how Piper felt. To watch her daughter be sick now, and so often, must have

been a special kind of torture.

Holding Piper’s arm, I turned her into me to offer her the physical support of my body. She clung to me, likely about to fall if I did not hold her upright.

I may have been angry at Piper for all that had occurred between us. She had betrayed me once, for reasons I still didn’t fully understand, when all I had ever done was love her.

Yet seeing her like this, so scared for her daughter, I could not help but soften to her.

“It’s not your fault,” I told her. “It could have been any illness. Even someone with a cough could have sent the germs her way.”

“But I was sick.” Tears clung to her eyelashes. They made my chest ache. “I should have waited to see

was just so

moved my hand up and down her back in

your fault,” I

head, unable or unwilling to hear

to accept. Even bad things were easier to

things scarier.

I told the physician,

the physician said. “When her fever breaks, send

you,” I said

you,” said Piper, voice muffled

and the maid stayed nearby. I nodded to Mark and he moved a chair

over to Elva’s beside. Gently, I led Piper there and helped her sit down.

cradled Elva’s

the table to retrieve a second chair. Mark was at my

“Prince Nicholas?”

“Go and alert my family’s servants of where I’ll be if

saluted. “At

motioned toward the maid.

Bold of her to attempt to stand up to me. Yet it only made

who cared

here,” I said, softer. “They will need you rested in the

this. After one last glance over Piper and Elva,

with, I returned to Piper’s side,

sat down upon