The Luna Choosing Game

“We were renting an apartment with a friend of mine, Anna. I worked hard for that life. Sometimes I even,

well… I’ve let more experiences happen than I should have, for the sake of a paycheck.”

My hands ached. Looking down I realized I held the wooden armrests of the chair in a white–knuckled

grip. I attempted to loosen my hold. “Were you harmed?”

“Not for the lack of effort on their part,” Piper said. “My boss at this last job was particularly vile, but your

guards came to retrieve me at just the right moment.”

My grip returned tenfold. The wood creaked.

I wanted to tell her that she was safe now, and that people like that would never be able to touch her again. I wanted her to give me this vermin’s name so I could chase him down and have him locked in the

dungeon.

I considered yet doing the last one, when Elva’s condition wasn’t quite so dire. But the previous I could

I

not promise.

With the first elimination coming up, I did not know if she would continue to be allowed to stay at the palace. And the minute she was beyond these walls, I could not protect her without drawing unwanted

attention to us both.

left, I had to let her stay

what I could. I sat in the chair

the early morning hours, Elva’s fever finally broke, and Piper was

to alert the physician.

to Piper, she was fast asleep. She must have been so relieved and so exhausted,

knew she didn’t have to worry anymore, her

as not to wake her, I hooked an arm under her knees and the other

me. I carried her around to the other side of the bed and lowered

covers up over

returned to my chair and watched over Piper and Elva both until the

collect me in the morning. When I saw him enter the room, I stood, leaving the physician

storming?” I asked him. The weather forecasts had predicted a miniscule chance of rain,

hesitated. He was holding something back. Unusual. He typically told

need for

“Mark?”

you need to see it for yourself. The royal family is gathered in

behind me, where Piper and Elva continued to doze, even as

over them in your stead, Prince Nicholas,”

able to pull myself away. “Very well. Thank

Mark nodded.

myself only one last quick glance behind me, then I made my way from the