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

tried not to panic. I had been in worse

shouting orders

irritable customers as

careful.

didn’t want to have to stand in the rain

and I were directed into a line to wait our turn to meet

and shorter,

girls leaving the ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased.

But most

ball of

den.

servant to escort me to the ambassador, as

was the one who offered me

you

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

said, accepting

away that he was guiding me

“You!

time Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk

the waist as a form

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

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

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

place a hand over their gills on either side of their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they

this before. For a moment, I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray, just as Linda had

Surely he wouldn’t be so

me humiliated, or worse.

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

always correct the incorrect greeting out of politeness but

case, the royals showed Nicholas the

either side

the phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

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

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

bridge of his nose.

chest moved with breath.

both above and under

Chapter 0052

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

were deep red as they focused on

Zale, may I present

Mark, and presumably Nicholas,

hand on either side my neck

eyes went impossibly

I

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

showing a set of sharp teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate tonight

my exit now,” Mark said,

Zale stepped closer. He must have been

lines

did you come to know our greeting?”

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

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

when Mark told me.”