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.

a couple of times. He hadn’t moved at all otherwise, like he couldn’t quite believe

shy,”

back in his chair and

he was furious with me, but if he continued to be

the girls, and with

to be zooming

forced a laugh, bringing the attention to myself. 1, personally, find

me again, his

tilted my head toward

and immediately schooled his

you ever studied birds, Piper?” he asked me. He didn’t wait for me to answer. “I’ve taken to raising some. Beautiful, majestic creatures. But there

“Which is?” I asked.

cuckoo bird,” he said. His gaze sliced into me. “They lay their

tactic, but shameless.”

blood pulled away from my face. He was talking about me. I had a child, yet here I

game. Did he think this was some clever ploy of mine, to seek out

than

the corner of my mouth with my napkin,

Then I spoke.

I

I love

he feigned interest. He

swan. They are so pure, loyal. Monogamous. Among swans, you would never