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?”

answer. It

for your forgiveness,” she said. “I only ever wished

the royal throne.”

could have died

did not intend her physical harm. I only wished to keep her from finishing the contest. I had no reason to believe that this girl

that is exactly what happened,”

Lena bowed.

at each other. Neither seemed pleased by

had happened

an evening of supposed celebration,” the King said.

be reprimanded?” Nicholas

All eyes looked to

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

of

scurried to obey the Luna’s command,

rubbed his forehead. “What an

closer. “Great news! The public has now

selection. They applaud you for making the choosing of

The King pushed him away.

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

I whispered

as soft. “You’ll get more camers time and a personal audience

of that sounded very appealing at the moment, knowing the King and Queen

to send me

here, Nicholas should have sent me home, Hedert vn

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

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

party.

shook his head.

wanted me to stay?

so confused. But I found that now, just like three years ago, I had

simple

I said.

remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up to record a long shot, moving one by one through the fifteen, until every

were served, as the King’s servants pulled each girl one by one for her

the corner of the room, an orchestra was setting up. In the other corner, a water station was

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

he was escorted away

will be available to talk after the King has had his time to speak with each,” Nathan said both

forcefully on the

face the King. The servants guided me to a