The Luna Choosing Game

I tried to pull my eyes away just to prove him wrong. Too quickly, I was looking again.

“She’s the King and Queen’s favorite,” Jullan said.

“Your brother’s, too.” I tried to keep the distain from my voice, but I was a poor actor. I was certain that it

shone on through,

“Maybe.” Julian studied me now, the others apparently forgotten. “I’m not so sure.”

“He wouldn’t let just anyone hand–feed him.” I crossed my arms.

Julian tilted his head. “Why, Piper. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”

His words startled me and my eyes went wide.

Jealous? No, that couldn’t be right. What Nicholas and I had was done and over with long ago.

Except it wasn’t. At least, not for me. My recent fantasies of Nicholas as my husband and father to Elva

proved it.

But to be jealous here, now, in the midst of this competition? I had not recognized the churn in my

stomach and tightness in my chest for what it truly was.

Yes, I was jealous.

that I wanted Julian, or anyone else, to know

my throat, trying to collect

terribly foolish to

girl here if I

or less,

an annoyed sideways glance. He just smiled

challenge?” he asked. Voice lower, for my ears

he deserve someone who actually loves him?”

The words burned the entire length

“Could have fooled

Nathan arrived to reclaim wayward Julian and return him to his family.

as a unit,” Nathan

+15 BONUS

didn’t move but a couple feet off, waiting for him. Obviously, Nathan didn’t fully trust Julian. That

me, I have to go try Lilliana’s pastries for myself.” Voice low again, he added, “They’re bumt

Jullan Nathan said.

me, then turned and followed Nathan back to his

length of his

felt the weight of two hateful eyes on my own person. I glanced to my left

I

light me on fire

forward once more, ignoring her.

family went through two more tables before finally reaching ours. By this time,

Linda’s eggs were looking a bit