The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0277

When we returned to the palace, Nicholas pulled the car into the garage. As he turned off the engine, he said, “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

The words shot a volt of life through me. “No.”

He looked at me. “No?”

Fear in my eyes, I returned his gaze. “I can’t let Elva see me like this.”

Nicholas pressed his lips hard together. He took in the sight of me, scantily clad, hiding in Julian’s suit coat with my bare legs exposed.

“You can stay in my rooms,” he said. “I’ll stay nearby so you won’t be alone.”

I nodded.

Nicholas texted Mark to let him know the plan. “Mark will stay and guard Elva through the night.”

“Thank you,” I said, and hoped he would convey my appreciation to Mark himself.

Nicholas sent another text, and then rounded the car and helped me from it.

Together, Nicholas and I moved slowly through the hallways of the palace. I was grateful they were mostly empty. I didn’t want anyone else to see me as I was.

Nicholas walked with me the entire way to his private rooms, and then saw me inside.

“The bedroom is this way,” he said, and guided me toward one of the side doors away from the entry room.

Nicholas had an elaborate and plush bed with four tall posts and a canopy. He guided me toward it, then left me lean against it as he crossed the room toward his closet. He returned a moment later with a pair of soft-looking pajamas: a button-up top and long pants. He handed them for me.

“The bathroom?” I asked.

He pointed toward a nearby door. “Take as long as you need.”.

Holding the pajamas to my chest, I shuffled inside. I shucked off Julian’s coat, and then looked at myself in the mirror.

I looked harried, with my hair a mess and my eyes wide and red-rimmed. There were bruises on my upper arms and on my thighs, as well as ugly red rings around my wrists and ankles.

be standing here in

+15 BONUS

to the bathtub and turned on the hot water. Slowly, I removed my

soothing balm. I sat and soaked for a long time, breathing in the steam so that the inside of me felt as clean as the outside. I stayed there until the water cooled. Then

my hand

Maybe the softest fabric I’d ever worn in my life. And they carried

it in.

collar to my nose just

–

knocked on the door. “Are you

I said in reply. My voice felt stronger now. I wasn’t quite

the door, Nicholas was on the other side of it. He had changed as well, and now wore a pair of gray sweatpants and a plain white

my heart, and I

can leave if you want,” he said.

what I wanted. “Stay, and

He nodded. “Of course.”

bed. Nicholas went in first. Then he rolled toward me and stretched out

that we were facing the same direction. Placing our hands, palms together,

shirt sleeve slipped down to my elbow. The red rings around my wrists had started to bruise an ugly

I understood his anger and felt it too. I had felt so powerless, so

I said, then relented. “No, I wouldn’t have

had my

Terry’s throat

have needed a rescue.

+15 BONUS

pendant

get you

the ability to defend myself.

maybe there’s a

in bed, and turned to face him. “You think

His expression hardened. “If

whole heart softened.

be made to feel

hope and comfort both. If Nicholas set his mind to something, he would see