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.

to tell you that you and your little leech don’t belong

“Don’t call her that.”

you thought bringing a cute kid along might win you some favor with the

I heard

I said,

you going to cry? Good. Can’t make you any ugler than you already are, dressed in that pile of

my Sniff. Gown Elva pulled her hand away from

+15 BONUS

talking

touch me. But you bet I can tum Prince Nicholas against the two of you. All

bat my eyelashes just so” She demonstrated, closing and

sobs. Then, all at once, she turned from

toward the tree line.

meant to give chase, but Kirsten caught

go. Maybe she’ll get eaten by a bear and do

I saw red.

That was it.

smacked Kirsten clean across the face with an open

She was stunned, her

more

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

now, I

at my