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.”

“A

my eyes.

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

Nicholas, who was

at us.

look,” Julian

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

been worried about me being so close to the Queen, had he? But

me to sit near

Julian beat

that he

back in his

Julian

touched his knife to his glass, creating a

drew everyone’s attention.

this evening,” the King said,

a few more days until the first

time to

cast his gaze around the room but never focused on any one girl

chair for a moment before

at our next royal event. Tomorrow we will begin a three–day hunting

around the table, some

others seemed nervous, glancing

beneficial during a hunting trip,