The Luna Choosing Game

The new maid made me so uneasy that I sent both away whenever I could. Where I had appreciated the. steady comfort of the quiet maid’s presence and enjoyed the conversations with the talkative one, this new maid seemed to be constantly watching me, even while I dozed.

“Don’t you need help babysitting?” the strange maid asked as I ushered them both to the door. I would have like the quiet one to stay, but couldn’t think of a reason that would only excuse one and not the

other.

I’m perfectly capable,” I said and said goodbye at the door.

I was just about to close it when a voice called out. “Piper!”

I knew that voice. Julian.

Maybe I could pretend I hadn’t heard him?

I started to close the door again, but he caught it. He wedged his way into the partially opened door and

smirked at me like he knew exactly what I was doing.

“That’s not very nice, Piper.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

His smile only grew. “May I come in? We have a lot to talk about.”

I

I wasn’t sure we had all that much to talk about, actually, but I couldn’t tell him that since he was a

prince. “Fine.” I pulled back the door all the way, letting him inside. I left it open behind us.

Elva was under her blanket fort, coloring with crayons.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked.

You

I blanked. He had to be joking, but it was so hard to tell with him. His grin didn’t waver one way or the

other. He always just said things and then watched me react.

What about me?

He shrugged and walked to where we’d organized the sewing machines. He glanced through some of the fabric swatches He stopped on one, part of which I had used to make Nicholas’s wrist guard.

really hoped he didn’t make the connection

He peered at it a moment, then moved on. Again, his smile hadn’t shifted. He was insufferably good at

being unreadable

“To boost public support, the royal family has recently been investigating the underground trade of

wolves and their gifts,” he said. “I’m part of this investigation.”

The blood drained from my face. My throat suddenly dry, I had trouble swallowing.

“What does that have to do with me?” I asked, my voice small

He picked up another swatch of fabric, this time satin, and ran in through his fingers.

“Nicholas claims that you left the Academy on your own accord, but we both know that’s not true.”

“1… don’t know what you mean…”

Julian continued like I hadn’t said anything. “You were involved with the underground trade, and left the

Academy out of guilt for what you’d done.”

He wasn’t asking any questions. He already knew. I didn’t know how, but he knew.

“The information I’ve gathered shows that you sold your wolf in exchange for a significant sum of

money.” He lowered the satin fabric. Turning, he looked at me. “This act carries a heavy punishment, if it’s

discovered by the royal family.”

My stomach dropped. Was my secret truly so easy for him to uncover? And if he was so sure about it,

why hadn’t I been cast out already, unless –

Wait.

discovered by the

He’d said if.

can’t tell anyone. Please. Elva

the street

Piper. You’d be in prison. Or worse. Elva,

my knees. “Please, Julian.

his eyes. “Get up, Piper.

He walked to m

the. steady comfort of the quiet maid’s presence and enjoyed the conversations with the talkative one, this new maid seemed to be constantly watching me, even while I

door. I would have like the

other.

capable,” I said and said goodbye at

about to close it when

that voice.

could pretend

again, but he caught it. He wedged his way into the partially

me like he knew

very

know what

only grew. “May I come in? We have a

I

that much to talk about, actually, but I couldn’t tell

“Fine.” I pulled back the door all the way, letting him

under her blanket fort,

did you want to talk about?” I

You

but it was so hard to tell with him. His grin

just said things and then watched me

What about me?

to where we’d organized the sewing machines. He glanced through some of the fabric swatches He stopped on one, part of which I had used to make Nicholas’s

didn’t make the

peered at it a moment, then moved on. Again, his smile hadn’t shifted.

being unreadable

royal family has recently

their gifts,” he said. “I’m part

my face. My

that have to do with me?”

of fabric, this time

Academy on your own accord,

know what

anything. “You were involved with the underground trade,

guilt

questions. He already knew. I didn’t know

your

satin fabric. Turning, he looked at me. “This

by the royal

truly so easy for him to uncover? And if he was so sure about

been cast out already, unless

Wait.

by the

He’d said if.

immediately stepped toward him. “You can’t tell anyone. Please. Elva needs treatment and if

the street

the street, Piper. You’d be in prison. Or worse. Elva,

my knees. “Please, Julian.

eyes. “Get up, Piper.

me up onto my feet

type to do underhanded things. I

to do. I could lie, but…

too. Maybe this was

appreciated the. steady comfort of the

to the door. I would have like the quiet one to stay, but couldn’t think of

other.

I said and

it when a voice

that

pretend I

door again, but he caught it. He wedged his

he knew

very

know

only grew. “May I come in? We have a