The Luna Choosing Game

The guards grabbed me by the arms and yanked me to my feet. Once I was standing, they continued to

grip, as if I might try to run away.

I’m not surprised,” Lena said, turning up her nose at me. “It was only a matter of time before this one

started some trouble.”

I struggled to maintain my calm. “She wished harm onto my daughter.”

Kirsten rolled her eyes. “Please. No one believes that. I am of the highest breeding. My word carries so

much more weight than yours, or that of your spawn.”

“But-

off

“Save your excuses for the head of the royal guard.” Lena cut me off. “He’ll be the one deciding a

punishment that will fit this show of disrespect.”

The head of the royal guard? Not the King or Queen or the princes?

must have seen the confusion on my face. “Arguments between

matters can be handled by the palace

knot began forming in my stomach. What punishment could the head of the

competition without the royal family’s consent.

wouldn’t look good to drop me flat before the

ΠΕ

move us to a smaller, windowless room. Or take away some of my freedom of movement through the grounds. Perhaps, they would want me to perform physical

potential punishments I could handle. None of them were what made

deepest fear was that they

fear alone kept me silent and complacent, as Kirsten laughed in

would save you again? You

lowest of the low. You don’t deserve to breathe the same

speak to,” I said, daring a soft

speak to anyone common was a slight he didn’t

been regarding our shared past, not because of

eyebrow twitched, revealing the truth of her

he is a good person and he feels bad for you.

a chance in this

misconceptions about my place here. I knew I was allowed

of the royal family among the