The Luna Choosing Game

In the werewolf tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt rather than white.

His eyes were deep red as they focused on me.

“Ambassador Zale, may I present Piper,” Mark said.

Well, it was now or never. Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take the chance myself.

Reaching up, I placed a hand on either side my neck. “My life, my friendship.”

Zale’s eyes went impossibly wide.

My heart pounded hard. Had I upset him? Was this a trap? How would I explain this to the Queen?

But then Zale smiled, showing a set of sharp teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate tonight who know the proper Merfolk greeting.”

“I’ll make my exit now,” Mark said, backing away. “If you will excuse me.”

In Mark’s absence, Zale stepped closer. He must have been an older Merfolk. I could see now the gray at his temples, and the lines beside his striking eyes.

“Tell me,” Zale said. “How did you come to know our greeting?”

For one wild moment, I tried to think of a lie, but in the end, what could I saw but the truth?

I

“I’m sorry, sir, I wished I could tell you I learned it long ago, but the truth is… I only learned it just now when Mark told me.”

His eyes went wide again.

I shouldn’t have said that.

But then he threw his head back and laughed so hard his gills fluttered,

“Oh, Piper. How delightful you are. Do you have any idea how truth is valued in my culture? I am so used

to your kind attempting to deceive me. To have you here, so honest and open, is a great comfort to me as a stranger in a faraway land.”

I’m sorry the others tried to lie to you,” I said.

I couldn’t agree that I was an overly honest person entirely. If I was, I would have told Nicholas from the start about Elva and what truly happened to my powers.

Chapter 0051

The girls around me were freshening up their Merfolk language. Some were fluent. Others, less so. Though most seemed to have a baseline knowledge.

My grasp of the Merfolk language was rusty, at least. I vaguely recalled some lessons during my days at

the Academy, but that felt like so long ago now.

T’hadn’t had any need for Merfolk language or traditions in my day to day since leaving the Academy. I

didn’t really retain any of that knowledge.

I thought I might be able to recall some customs, though the bits of information I was hearing now and

then around me confused with my memories and left me unsure.

Also, I couldn’t trust what the girls around me were even saying.

Linda, especially, seemed to be purposefully polluting the water of fact and fiction. My knowledge was

shaky, but even I knew the Merfolk greeted each other with a deep bow, and not a fist bump like she was

to the more gullible

been in worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in

everyone shouting orders and

manage hungry, irritable customers as

to be careful. I had to try

really didn’t want to have to stand in the rain for a

were directed into a line to wait our turn to

and shorter,

ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed

confident. But

my tum, I was a nervous ball of energy who felt

den.

me to the ambassador,

one who

you

gift, being given his name. Whether Nathan

I said, accepting

he was guiding

“You!

Merfolk he made a common mistake.

Merfolk bow at the

us in the Academy,” I said. I’d been mostly

some Merfolk, that remains a tradition,” Mark conceded. “However, the royal

at him. Surely he wasn’t just going to

side of their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say. It’s a symbolic show of trust and a gesture of

moment, I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying

of person. Surely he wouldn’t be

me humiliated, or worse.

“Fortunately, the Merfolk and the Werewolves have a

correct the incorrect greeting out of politeness

showed Nicholas the correct

on either side of the

phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

here we are.” Mark led me now to a waiting gentleman. Compared to everyone

head

bridge of his nose.

neck, though his chest moved with breath. I remembered reading

both above and under the

Chapter 0052

werewolf tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue

deep red as

I present Piper,”

Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take

either side

eyes went

I

this a trap? How would I explain

“Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate

now,” Mark said, backing away. “If

Zale stepped closer. He must have been an older

the lines beside

“How did you come to know our

moment, I tried to think of a lie, but in the end, what

I learned it long ago, but the truth is… I only

when Mark told me.”