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.

nowhere to be seen. Likely this was not something the royal family wanted the

to see.

floor, near the back door, Lena had her

to appeal to her sense of decency. If I went out

it would soak

sneered. “You should have thought of that this

I have had the time? Somewhere between being startled

I knew talking back to her would get

gardens. They forced

them warned. Then they disappeared

the palace. I couldn’t see what

though, I reasoned, looking out at the flowers and the

daggers. After only a few minutes, my nightgown was

I wrapped my

myself. They hadn’t said I couldn’t do that. It was all I had

growing chill.

long I kneeled there. The cold had set in. The wind had

a nearby tree and I

hide them. I was cold and tired and miserable,

1. up.

do. They hoped I would give up and

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

trade. And Nicholas…

Nicholas yesterday. The way he smiled. His kindness when