The Luna Choosing Game

It was hopeless

To clear my head. I suggested to Elva that we go for a walk in the gardens. She eagerly agreed.

Twenty minutes later, we were hand in hand among the flowers and the fresh air. The world did seem

more peaceful out here in nature, and I began to let some of my anxieties slip away.

Until I looked up and saw Kirsten coming toward us Her smirk was so smug I could see it across the gardens

Remembering how she pushed Elva, I quickly pulled Elva behind me, shielding her with my body.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” she called to us as she approached,

Where Elva and I had kicked off our shoes to stretch our toes in the grass, Kirsten seemed utterly unwilling to step away from the garden pathway. She stopped at the edge and turned her nose up at the sight of our bare feet.

Her smirk stayed firmly in place, however.

“Aren’t you curious how I knew where to find you?” She turned around and pointed at a third–story room with a balcony. “Prince Nicholas moved me there. It was such a sweet little favor, a mere pittance compared to the gift I gave him.”

The gift she gave him? She meant my gift, the wrist guard.

“What do you want?” I asked her.

“And to tell you

“Don’t call her that.”

favor with the public? Well guess

me, I heard Elva

I said,

“Are you going to cry? Good. Can’t make you any

Elva pulled her hand away from mine to

+15 BONUS

you Stop talking to my

But you bet I can tum

is bat my eyelashes just so” She demonstrated, closing and opening her eyes in a quick

Elva’s cries elevated into sharp sobs. Then, all at once,

toward the tree line.

chase, but

she’ll get eaten by a bear and do us all

I saw red.

That was it.

on my heel, I smacked Kirsten clean across the face with an

released me at once. She

didn’t have any more

grass, chasing after Elva to the tree line. I followed

her last, but by now, I had

clawed at