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

panic. I had been in worse situations. Heck,

everyone shouting

hungry, irritable customers as a

to be careful.

didn’t want to have to stand in the

to wait our turn

shorter,

ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased. Olivia and Linda

confident. But most

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

den.

a servant to escort me to the ambassador, as had guided

who offered me

me to escort you

Nathan

said, accepting

that he was guiding me the long

“You!

first time Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk he made

Merfolk bow at the waist as a form of

Academy,” I

that remains a tradition,” Mark conceded. “However, the royal family and their ambassadors have

wasn’t just going to tell me what it

on either side of their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they

perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray, just as Linda had fooled

type of person. Surely he wouldn’t

me humiliated, or worse.

“Fortunately, the Merfolk and the Werewolves have

always correct the incorrect greeting

royals showed

either side of the neck,”

the phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

we are.” Mark led me now to

a head of wild dark hair, and blue–green

bridge of his nose.

chest moved with breath. I

and under

Chapter 0052

he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt rather

were deep red as

I

it was now or never. Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take

hand on either side my neck “My

eyes went impossibly

I

hard. Had I upset him? Was this a trap? How would I explain this

of sharp teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had

now,” Mark said, backing away.

Mark’s absence, Zale stepped closer. He must have been

lines beside his striking

you come to know our

tried to think of a lie, but

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

when Mark told me.”