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

been in worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour

everyone shouting orders

customers as a waitress, I could handle

had to be careful. I had

want to have to stand in the rain for a full

directed into a line to wait our turn to meet the ambassador. As

shorter,

had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased.

confident. But

ball of energy who felt a bit like I was walking

den.

instead of a servant to escort me to the ambassador, as had guided everyone else, Mark,

one who offered

me to escort you to Ambassador Zale,”

Whether Nathan had said it when

I said, accepting Mark’s

noticed right away that he was guiding me

“You!

Merfolk he made a common mistake. Most

believe that Merfolk bow at the waist as a

us in the Academy,” I said. I’d been

“However, the royal family and

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

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

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

Surely he wouldn’t be so

me humiliated, or worse.

Mark continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk and the

always correct the incorrect

showed Nicholas

side of

phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

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

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

bridge of his nose.

his chest moved with breath. I remembered reading

above and under the

Chapter 0052

he wore a tuxedo, though

red

Zale, may I present

it was now or never. Trust Mark, and presumably

a hand on either side my neck “My

eyes went impossibly

I

Had I upset him? Was this a trap?

sharp teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate tonight who knew the

said, backing away. “If you will

been an older Merfolk. I could

lines

did you come to know our

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

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

when Mark told me.”