The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0564

"If you will please excuse us one moment, Ambassador Zale," I said, and tugged at Nicholas's sleeve. At the same time, I lowered Elva down and took her hand instead.

Ambassador Zale dipped his head in acknowledgement, so Nicholas, Elva, and I stepped back a few feet to speak more privately.

I spoke in hushed tones, not wanting the merfolk - or Elva, particularly to hear. "You cannot stay in our room."

"Like hell, I will allow anyone else to," he said. His voice was also low, but the slight volume did not conceal his conviction in this.

*I'm not suggesting anyone else do it either," I said. Though if it had to be someone, maybe a woman would be a good place to start. "You have to realize what the optics of this are going to be."

"I don't care about optics."

before I could roll my eyes at him. "If you spend nights in my room, Nicholas, even if you make clear it is only to protect us, even if we say that Elva was there the whole time, people are going to

them gossip," Nicholas

be ruined," I said. "It won't be good for the competition,

like he was trying to see deep down into the heart of me. "I don't care about the rumors, the competition,

It couldn't be. If Nicholas was going to be king, which everyone knew he was set to be, then he needed a strong reputation. Even my hopes of a future family with him only thrived on our secret being

care about," Nicholas continued before I could get my thoughts together, "is you and Elva. Your safety is my first

said gently. "Nothing that

eye on Selma and the staff, they wouldn't have been able to ruin your clothes or steal them. I never should have left your side at the merfolk event. I'd recognized Prince Ronan would be a problem the moment I

"Nick..."

water during the race, not standing on sure. I was nearly too late." *You were watching out for me then," I told him. "It's only because of you and Veronica that I'm..." I glanced down at Elva, who was