The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas did glare harder then, for a moment. When nothing happened, he turned away and made his

way to his own seat.

Liiliana was still seated beside him, though she didn’t say a word as he sat down. If they didn’t like each

other, why hadn’t Nicholas asked someone else to sit there?

“Shall we, Piper?” Julian asked, a smug grin on his face.

We walked the two feet to our chairs. Julian held mine out for me, then helped push me in after I sat. He

took the chair beside mine.

Sitting like this, I couldn’t even see the Queen unless I leaned forward, Relief washed over me.

I still wasn’t feeling all the way better. I wasn’t sure I would have had the energy to wade through royal

politics tonight.

At least, not the Queen’s kind.

Julian was his own mess of royal riddles.

“I did try to talk her out of it,” Julian whispered to me. “Your punishment, I mean. I went to take responsibility for the morning I stole you away, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

I softly shook my head. “That was only one of the things I was punished for.”

He winked. “A girl after my own

rolled my eyes.

“Don’t look now, but Nicholas is glaring at me

eyes with Nicholas, who was leaning improperly far over the table to

at us.

to look,” Julian hissed from

having been

so close to the Queen,

to sit

beat

that he had many girls he admired here at

sat back in his chair,

Julian said with a

I could ask him more, the King touched his knife to his glass, creating a sharp

drew everyone’s attention.

thank you all for joining us this evening,” the King said, speaking mainly to the cameras. “As

it is only a few more days until the first

to

the room but never focused on any one girl for

empty chair for a moment before

chance at our next royal

the table, some girls excited to

nervous,

would have beneficial during