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 situations. Heck, even lunch

overwhelming, with everyone shouting orders

as a waitress, I could handle

careful.

have to stand in the rain for

to wait our turn

shorter, my anxiety

ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased.

confident. But most looked

the time it was my tum, I was a nervous ball of energy who felt a bit like I was walking into

den.

to the ambassador, as had guided

the one who offered me

you to

his name. Whether Nathan had said it when he announced the

you,” I said, accepting

noticed right away that he was guiding me the long way

“You!

time Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk he made

Merfolk bow at the waist as a

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

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

Surely he wasn’t just going to tell me what it

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

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

Surely he wouldn’t be so

me humiliated, or worse.

bowed,” Mark continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk

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

case, the royals showed Nicholas the

side of the

the phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

Mark led me now to

had a head of

bridge of his nose.

neck, though his chest moved with breath. I remembered reading

both above and

Chapter 0052

tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue

eyes were deep red as

Zale, may I present Piper,” Mark

now or never. Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas,

a hand on either side my neck “My

went

I

I upset him? Was this a trap? How would I explain this

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

said, backing away. “If

closer. He must have been an older Merfolk. I could see

temples, and the lines

you come to know our greeting?”

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

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

when Mark told me.”