The Luna Choosing Game

During the next official banquet, I stopped just inside the entrance of the dining room. The girl who had

sitting in my seat beside Nicholas.

shoved Elva that first day w

Julian, sitting nearest the door, rested his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm. He grinned at me

with a toothy smile, much the way a cat would look at a mouse it had planned to eat. Eventually. After

playing with it, of course.

I

“My brother Nicholas personally invited Kirsten to take that seat,” he said. “It makes sense, I guess. We

are supposed to get to know all the girls here, and he’s already well–acquainted with you.”

Some of the girls around us perked up at that bit of gossip.

“Be truthful,” I said, hoping he’d notice the emphasis and keep secrets instead.

He only beamed wider. “Want to know where Kirsten was sitting? That’s your spot now.”

knew I did, but he still waited for me to say

“Yes, please.”

to the empty seat straight across from him. The one right beside the queen’s

he mentioned the Luna would not be present for today’s event. I immediately exhaled in relief. The girls near me did as well, though less

and beautiful,” one whispered to another. “I feel like a toad being in the same

finished and was seated, the girls‘ gossip began in earnest. None of them seemed to mind that Julian was in earshot. In fact, Julian himself seemed to encourage

Joyce’s shoe size or the best time to catch

right back in, however, when I heard the girl beside me say,

an invitation

i

prince right away.” the girl said

The per princes

you like an invitation?” Julian asked her. When she sucked in an excited breath,

other girls laughed, she did too, though I wondered if

meant it.

shouldn’t lead girls on like that.

totally indifferent.

directly beside Julian asked. She looked relieved now, having been nervous a moment ago, at the

palm again, and his eyes were on me. “Kirsten made