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.”

but he still waited for me to say it. He

“Yes, please.”

seat straight across from

King gave his speech later, he mentioned the Luna would not be present for today’s

so regal and beautiful,” one whispered to another. “I feel like a toad

the King finished and was seated, the girls‘ gossip began in earnest. None of them seemed to mind

it out for the most part, not truly caring about Prince Joyce’s shoe size or the best time to catch Mark

heard the girl beside me say,

an invitation

i

prince right away.” the girl said to me. Typically

The per princes

excited breath, he leaned forward and

a few of the other girls laughed, she did too,

meant it.

He shouldn’t lead girls on like that. He

totally indifferent.

think Kirsten did to earn that favor?” the girl directly beside Julian asked. She looked relieved now, having been nervous a moment

was in his palm again, and his eyes were on