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 eyes.

look now, but Nicholas is glaring at me

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

at us.

look,” Julian hissed from

despite having been caught. Then his gaze

close

me to sit

beat him to

he had many girls he

back in his chair, and I

a sore loser,” Julian said

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

drew everyone’s attention.

us this evening,” the King said, speaking mainly to the

until the first round of eliminations, and therefore

time to improve

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

chair for a moment

have your chance at our next royal

table, some girls excited to

seemed nervous,

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