The Luna Choosing Game

“That’s enough,” said a firm low voice through the microphone. Nathan had passed it to Nicholas. Please discover all the facts before making accusations. Piper proposed her deal last night. The

announcement about the blood moon did not come in until this morning.”

The second girl relented, lowering her head. “He’s right. She couldn’t have known…”

“But…?” said the first. “Surely the timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.”

“Sorry,” I said. “I don’t tell the future. I don’t have the internet. I just made a guess for the sake of the deal.”

The girls‘ looks of outrage slowly morphed into those of annoyance instead. Gradually, they slipped away from me.

Susie returned to the place she’d been pushed away from. “You okay?”

I shrugged

“Piper,” Nicholas said, approaching me. He’d left the microphone on the stage, back with Nathan.

He stopped when he was before me. “What did the physician say about Elva?” After I told him, he sighed,

“Good.”

Susie glanced between the two of us. Then she pretended to see something and left us. It was a very

obvious show. She was not a good actor.

e some

mad at her. She clearly wanted to

last night, I wasn’t sure I was ready

know if I

the bargain,” Nicholas said. “Sometime

Night.”

that. Thank

is a

he had wanted to say sald. Instead

away, over to the dining room for breakfast. I watched

thank you on behalf of my family,” Nicholas said. “If

moon or cancel the event ourselves. Either would have been a

helped us save

for that, especially when Nicholas was the one to try to

just worried about Elva. Everything

no one was close to us, he said, “Caring for your

far as I’m concerned, the life of a child sharply outweighs the reputation of

were kind, but he should not give

with as serious as the royal family was treating this event, I knew there had to be more going on under

to agree or disagree. He just slowly lowered his gaze, then turned

in a hurry, eager to return to Elva in our room. I’d swiped a few muffins for her on the