The Luna Choosing Game

Yes, and the other girls seemed to feel nothing but resentment toward her for it.

*Julian said Kirsten made him a gift,” I said, “I wonder what it was.

“A heartfelt one, I assure you,” said a voice from beside us. I jumped. Susie half–hid behind me. But it

was only Mark, Nicholas’s beta. “The prince asked me to check on Elva.”

I accepted his explanation and we continued walking

“Somehow Miss Kirsten learned of one of the prince’s old wounds and made a personal gift for him,” Mark explained. “The prince found the gesture warm and thoughtful. He was very appreciative.”

There was something in the way Mark explained it, voice monotone almost, like he didn’t think the same as his prince.

“Is there reason to doubt her sincerity?” I asked.

“No,” Mark said straight away. After a moment, he added, “But the prince’s discomfort isn’t obvious. I hadn’t taken her to be so observant,”

Then he glanced at me and blushed. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s unfitting of my position to talk disparagingly about any of our candidates.”

“I heard nothing disparaging,” I assured him.

did I,”

seemed grateful, but he

day, an archery lesson was given by the princes. We were separated into three groups, with

my marks. None of the other girls in the group seemed confident which way to even

were so poor that I wondered if they were performing a show, pretending to

I

receive so much as an

to shoot a

me closer. “Shoot

challenge?” I asked. “What will I

wide and

group

help it. I

joined with Julian’s.

the bullseye. He would. The

went next, firing my arrow. It hit the

this means we tied,”

and the girls‘ overall joy made the afternoon pass quicker. In a way, it reminded me of the more fun days at the Royal Academy. How many times had Nicholas