The Luna Choosing Game

The Luna audibly gasped. Some of the girls around me started screaming. Guards quickly moved in to usher them from the room. I was urged forward.

“End the program,” the King shouted. “Now.”

The cameras immediately shut off.

Before I could reach the staircase and earn my favor from the prince of my choice, my path was blocked

with a very angry King and Queen,

“Nicholas!” the King shouted.

“What have you done?” the Luna cried.

Nicholas quickly came down the staircase to join me at my side. I stared at him, bewildered.

“You heard the public,” he said. “This is what they wanted, even if you were too bullheaded to see it.”

“Careful,” the King said.

“Piper won the people’s favor. More, she won the game by the rules we’d assigned.”

“I can do one better than that, even,” Julian said, jumping down from the stage. He carried

my broken

bow in his hands. Where had he gotten it? Had his Beta kept it hidden for him?

He threw it down into the space between the King and Queen, and me and Nicholas.

“She excelled even when our own staff tried to have her killed,” Julian said.

“Our staff?” the Luna gasped.

“Who?” the King demanded.

Julian and Nicholas both shifted their gazes to where Lena was tucked in the Queen’s shadow.

Her face went pale.

Julian smirked, “Anything to say, Lena?”

She seemed set, like she had no intention of moving. The Queen herself motioned her forward.

“Is this true?” The Luna motioned to the broken bow. “Is this your doing?”

lowered her head. She did not answer. It seemed even she

your forgiveness,” she said. “I only ever wished to preserve the

the royal throne.”

“Piper could have died had her

no reason to believe that this girl would wander alone into the

exactly what happened,” Nicholas

Lena bowed.

King and Queen looked at each other. Neither seemed pleased by this revelation, or truly by

happened

celebration,” the King said. “We will handle this matter privately

be reprimanded?” Nicholas

the King said. All eyes looked

send in your successor.

of

my Queen.” Lena scurried to obey the Luna’s

rubbed his forehead. “What an absolute

Majesty,” called the publicist as he hurried closer. “Great news! The public has now approved of

you for making the choosing of Piper so dramatic.”

fine.” The King pushed him

open space. “We need to move into the second area now, Your Majesty, if you’d allow.”

area?” I whispered to Nicholas.

small party for those that remain,” Nicholas replied, voice just as soft. “You’ll get more camers time and a

appealing at the moment, knowing

to send

here, Nicholas should have sent

out to save me. I didn’t begin to know how to

should duck out for the night,” I said. If

party.

shook his head. “Stay.”

wanted me to stay?

I found that now, just like three years ago,

simple request.

well,” I

as we were led into the ballroom. The servants directed me to join the line of remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up to record a long shot, moving one by one

as a group while hors d’oeuvres were served, as the King’s servants pulled each girl one by one

corner, a water station was prepared beside a table of champagne bottles

with me, twice

was escorted away

talk after the King has had his time to speak with

on

it was my turn to face the King. The servants guided me to a familiar sitting room where I