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

I had been in worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in

shouting

as a waitress, I could

to be careful. I

to stand in the rain for a

directed into a line to wait our turn

and shorter, my anxiety

girls leaving the ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed

But most looked

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

den.

of a servant to escort me to the

who

escort you to

a gift, being given his name. Whether Nathan had said it when he announced the

I said, accepting Mark’s

that he was guiding me the long

“You!

a Merfolk he made a common mistake. Most people in

that Merfolk bow at the waist

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

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

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

their neck. ‘My life, my

For a moment, I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying to lead

of person. Surely he wouldn’t be so cruel as

me humiliated, or worse.

“Fortunately, the Merfolk and

They don’t always correct the

the royals showed Nicholas the correct

side of

the phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

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

a head

bridge of his nose.

fluttered at his neck, though his chest moved

above and

Chapter 0052

he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt

eyes were deep red as they focused on

may I present Piper,”

now or never. Trust Mark,

a hand on either side my neck “My

went

I

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

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

said, backing away. “If you will

have been an older Merfolk. I could

lines

Zale said. “How did you come to

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

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

when Mark told me.”