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?”

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

only wished to keep her from finishing the contest. I had no reason to

that is exactly what

Lena bowed.

Neither seemed pleased

happened tonight.

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

will be reprimanded?”

All eyes looked to

out and send in your successor. I will not

of this evening.”

to obey the Luna’s command, scrambling

rubbed his forehead. “What an absolute mess.”

the publicist as he hurried closer. “Great news! The public

making

yes, that’s fine.” The

producer quickly filled the new open space. “We need to move into the second area now, Your Majesty, if

whispered to

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

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

to send

what i was doing here, Nicholas should have sent me home, Hedert

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

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

party.

shook his

wanted me to stay?

just like three years ago, I had trouble denying him,

a simple request.

well,” I said.

me to join the line of remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up

a group while hors d’oeuvres were served, as the King’s

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

Nicholas tried to come over to speak with me, twice he got no farther

was escorted away

to talk after the King has had his time to speak

forcefully on the second.

was my turn to face the King. The servants guided me to