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

worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in the restaurant

overwhelming, with everyone shouting

manage hungry, irritable customers as a waitress, I

careful. I had to

to stand

to wait our turn to

shorter,

girls leaving the ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed

But

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

den.

escort me to the ambassador, as had guided everyone

who offered

you to

name. Whether Nathan had said it when he announced

said, accepting Mark’s

that he was

“You!

the first time Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk

Merfolk bow at the

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

conceded. “However, the royal

just going to tell me what

hand over their gills on either side of their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say. It’s a symbolic show of trust and

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

an honest type of person. Surely he wouldn’t be so cruel as to want

me humiliated, or worse.

continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk and the Werewolves have a

our kingdoms. They don’t always correct the incorrect greeting

royals showed Nicholas the correct

on either side of the

phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

me now to a waiting gentleman. Compared to everyone

he was practically otherworldly. He had a head of wild dark hair, and blue–green scales

bridge of his nose.

fluttered at his neck, though his chest moved with

above and under the

Chapter 0052

a tuxedo, though with a blue

red as they focused

Zale, may I present Piper,”

Trust Mark,

hand on either side my neck “My life,

went impossibly

I

him? Was this a trap? How would

to meet you, Piper.

said, backing away. “If you will

stepped closer. He must have been

and the lines

did you come to know

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

you I learned it

when Mark told me.”