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.”

rule–breaker, huh?” He winked. “A girl after

my eyes. “Be

Then he straightened. “Don’t look now, but Nicholas

head, and locked eyes with Nicholas, who was leaning improperly far over the

at us.

to look,”

stared a moment longer, despite having been caught. Then his gaze

worried about me being so close to the Queen,

me to sit near

Julian beat

clear that he had many girls he admired

his chair, and I

sore loser,” Julian said

King touched his knife to his glass, creating

drew everyone’s attention.

evening,” the King said, speaking mainly

only a few more days until the first round of

time to

but never focused on any one girl for long. He did,

empty chair for a moment before

royal event. Tomorrow we will begin a

the table, some girls excited to show

others seemed nervous, glancing

many skills that would have beneficial during a hunting trip, but I hadn’t practiced