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.”

winked. “A girl after

rolled my eyes.

he straightened. “Don’t look now, but Nicholas is glaring at

my head, and locked eyes with Nicholas, who was

at us.

to look,” Julian

moment longer, despite having been caught.

He hadn’t been worried about me being so close to the Queen,

me to

Julian beat

Nicholas had made clear that he had many girls he admired here at this

his chair, and

sore loser,” Julian said

could ask him more, the King touched his knife

drew everyone’s attention.

for joining us this evening,” the King said,

is only a few more days until the first round of eliminations,

to improve your

gaze around the room but never focused on any one girl for long. He did, however,

chair for a moment

royal event. Tomorrow we

and ahs resounded around the table, some girls excited to show off their miscellaneous

nervous, glancing around the

beneficial during a hunting trip, but