The Luna Choosing Game

I awoke the next morning to the sound of thunder outside my window and pounding on my bedroom door. I’d barely gotten out of bed when the door burst open and a slew of Joseph’s guards flooded in.

“Mommy!” Elva shouted as she hid under the covers.

“At least let me get dressed,” I said, holding up my hands.

The guard closest to me shook his head. “Orders are orders.” He grabbed me roughly by the arm and

dragged me toward the door.

met

In the hallway, Joseph’s guards were arguing with Nicholas’s. Mark was running toward me.

“Mark!” I called to him. “Elva’s in there!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll watch her!” he called back. He tried to come closer to me, but one of the guards roughly

shoved him. “Hey!”

“Mark, please.” I was worried he might start something. “Elva!”

Mark grit his teeth, but stepped backwards, letting the guards and me pass.

“Keep her away from this! Please!”

“I will,” he promised.

In my nightgown, I was dragged through the hallways. It was early, just before dawn, but many of the

girls peeked their heads out of their doors to see the spectacle.

be seen. Likely this was not something the royal family

to see.

near the back

to her sense of decency. If I went out into the

would soak

“You should have thought of

have had the time? Somewhere between being startled awake and dragged into the

talking back to her would get me

shoved me forward, out into the gardens. They forced me

warned. Then they

from the palace. I

I reasoned, looking

me like tiny, frozen daggers. After only a few minutes, my

I wrapped my

couldn’t do that. It was all I had

growing chill.

The

struck a nearby tree and

rain to hide them. I was cold and

1. up.

do. They hoped I would give up

I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Elva needed her medicine. Julian and I were going to expose

trade. And Nicholas…

way he smiled. His