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?”

She did not answer. It seemed even she couldn’t lie to

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

the royal throne.”

Nicholas said. “Piper could have died

finishing the contest. I had no reason to believe that this girl would wander alone into the

is exactly what happened,”

Lena bowed.

at each other. Neither seemed pleased by this

happened

celebration,” the King said.

she will be reprimanded?” Nicholas pressed.

All eyes

Lena, see yourself out and send in your successor. I will not

rest of this evening.”

Queen.” Lena scurried to obey the Luna’s command, scrambling from

rubbed his forehead. “What

as he hurried closer. “Great news! The

for making the choosing of Piper so

yes, that’s fine.” The King

move

whispered to

a small party for those that remain,” Nicholas replied, voice just as

very appealing at the moment,

send me

here, Nicholas should have sent me home, Hedert vn

I was, one of the 15 remaining girls, with Nicholas himself having stuck his neck out to save me. I didn’t begin to know how to thank him, or

said. If I was there, I would certainly bring down the

party.

his head. “Stay.”

wanted me to stay?

now, just like three years ago, I had trouble

a simple

well,” I

I were separated as we were led into the ballroom. The servants directed me to join the line of remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up

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

the other corner, a water station

me, twice he got no farther than, “Piper, if

was escorted

King has had his time to

more forcefully on the second.

long, it was my turn to face the King. The servants guided me to a familiar