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

the more gullible

had been in worse situations.

with everyone shouting

customers as a

had to be careful. I had to try

really didn’t want to have to stand

a line to wait our turn to meet the

shorter, my

leaving the ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased. Olivia and

But

I was a nervous ball of energy who felt a bit like

den.

escort me to the ambassador, as had guided everyone else,

was the one who offered me his

me to escort you to Ambassador Zale,” Mark

Whether Nathan had

said,

was guiding me the long

“You!

the first time Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk he made a

the waist as

they taught us in the Academy,” I said.

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

at him. Surely he wasn’t just going to tell

neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say. It’s a symbolic show

never heard this before. For a moment, I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray, just as Linda had fooled those more

an honest type of person. Surely he

me humiliated, or worse.

Mark continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk and the

They don’t always correct

royals showed Nicholas the

on either side of the

phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

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

had a head of wild dark hair, and blue–green

bridge of his nose.

at his neck, though his chest moved with breath. I

both above and under

Chapter 0052

werewolf tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a

deep red

Zale, may I present Piper,”

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

on either side my neck “My life,

eyes went impossibly

I

Was this a trap? How would I explain this to the

to meet you, Piper. I had yet

now,” Mark said, backing away. “If

He must have been an older Merfolk. I could see now the

temples, and the lines beside his striking

said. “How did you come to

a lie, but in the end, what could I saw but

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

when Mark told me.”