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.

Likely this was not something the royal family wanted the

to see.

floor, near the back door, Lena had her arms

change,” I said, hoping to appeal to her sense of decency. If

would

should have thought of

Somewhere between being startled awake and dragged

would get me nowhere. I

the gardens. They forced me down to my

one of them warned. Then they disappeared

was facing away from the palace. I couldn’t see what happened

was better though, I reasoned, looking out at the

tiny, frozen daggers. After only a few minutes,

I wrapped my

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

growing chill.

The cold had set in. The

struck a nearby tree and

them. I was cold and

1. up.

do. They hoped

couldn’t. Elva needed her medicine. Julian and

trade. And Nicholas…

Nicholas yesterday. The way he smiled.