The Luna Choosing Game

Around us, the girls were speaking with each other and the royal family. Only Nicholas, Susie, and myself

were silent.

The King gave Nicholas a hard look, and Nicholas’s lips twitched like he wanted to frown but didn’t.

I thought he might talk to me, but instead, he leaned forward to see Susie around me.

“It is a pleasant evening, wouldn’t you agree, Susie?”

Susie paled. “You… know my name?”

“Of course. I know the name of every candidate.”

“… oh…” She audibly swallowed a spoonful of soup. “Of course. Sorry to offend.”

“I’m not offended,” Nicholas said. “But, to my question. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Susie’s face shifted from white to red so fast, I worried she might be lightheaded. I placed an arm beside her, ready to catch her if she tilted.

“A–Agree?” Susie stuttered

“Yes.” Nicholas’s brow furrowed slightly. “That the weather is pleasant?”

“Ohl Yes, Yes, very pleasant.” Susie pushed her chair back. “If you’ll excuse me, I… I, uh… I have to use the bathroom!”

She jumped to her feet and started walking away. Halfway to the door she turned around, seemingly having realized she was still clutching her cloth napkin. She dropped it onto her chair, and then scuttled away, pressing her hands to her face.

He hadn’t moved at all otherwise, like he couldn’t quite

shy,”

then, glancing at me. He sat back

not speaking! www he was furious with me, but if

with the girls, and with

to be zooming

bringing the attention to myself. 1, personally, find the weather very

at me again, his frown

tilted my

noticed the camera and immediately schooled

studied birds, Piper?” he asked me. He didn’t wait for me to answer. “I’ve taken to raising some.

“Which is?” I asked.

cuckoo bird,” he said. His gaze sliced into me. “They lay their eggs in other birds‘ nests.

tactic, but shameless.”

away from my face. He was talking about me. I had a child,

Did he think this was some clever ploy of mine, to

aim higher than

corner of my mouth with my napkin, giving

Then I spoke.

I

love birds,” I

he feigned interest. He lifted his soup–filled

are so pure, loyal. Monogamous. Among swans,