The Luna Choosing Game

The servants brought out soup bowls for each of us seated. Terry and Julian both received theirs before

1. me. To do something with my hands, I was eager to lift my soup spoon and stir, even though it was ye

too hot to eat.

I couldn’t look at Terry anymore. I didn’t want to see the way he was looking at me.

“I’m surprised you decided to stay with us so long, Uncle,” Julian said, speaking around me. “I’m sure your mansion would be much more comfortable for you.”

“As I am to be a judge at the next Ball, I thought it best to arrive early and assess the candidates on their own merits first, before I am given the specific criteria for the event.” Terry tilted his head. “Besides, my mansion has had some issues of late.”

“Oh? I’m sorry to hear that. Have you been letting in the wrong sort of guests again?”

“Quite the contrary. I’ve had a few uninvited guests.”

“How strange,” Julian said, maintaining his smile. Meanwhile, my heart was threatening to beat straight. out of my chest.

“It is quite unfortunate, you see. These specific individuals would have been welcome in my home, had they gone about their arrival in the correct way.”

“Unfortunate then, I agree.” Julian lifted his own soup spoon now. “Perhaps they had some urgent reason. for not making their presence immediately known.”

Terry laughed lightly. “I am eager to hear what such a reason could be.” He leered at me again. “Aren’t you, Piper?”

Unsure how to

to answer, I glanced at Julian, yet before he could speak, the King chimed his fork against his glass, reclaiming the table’s attention.

“Some of the young ladies here at the front were inquiring about the Second Ball. It is only fair that I share with all of those present.” The King cleared his throat. The Second Ball will be a masquerade. You will need to dress up in an attempt to hide your identity.”

A few gasps sounded around the table, quickly followed by soft murmuring

“We’ve had some clear frontrunners in this competition so far,” the King continued. “This is your chance

to make a second first impression with the princes, and earn yourself their favor, to be saved from the elimination”

“Interesting,” Julian said. He smirked at me. “I wonder if I’ll recognize you.”

my eyes at him, but his teasing did help set me more at ease. I’d been incredibly nervous since Terry sat down beside me.

Terry said. “Perhaps I will determine how well everyone’s costume conceals them.

forward. “Not everyone hides everything, Uncle. Perhaps you

hummed in

empty soup bowls and brought

trade polite jabs at each other for the rest of dinner, with me caught

middle.

offered me his arm. “May

so quickly

his face. But I had no time to smooth over his potential misunderstanding of Julian’s

I could.

the room. Once we were far

knew everything, Julian. He knew we were at

that I was the one who wanted to stay hidden,

the one who rushed forward?”

and you

smooth some of the ire from my tone. It wasn’t based in anger anyway, especially not toward Julian. It was built from fear.

the Ball. He could have just come

“He does enjoy spending time with beautiful young woman.”

a touch

the underground organization?” I asked. It

I felt his

coincidence. The person with your wolf was in a

make me feel any better. Even if he was a pawn,

everything. That was nothing new, of course, but in this case, it

on his arm. “Just

“Julian…”

me, Piper. Don’t be alone with

you know. Maybe I

his head. “I don’t know anything

wall concealing many of his true, inner thoughts.

anyone else in the palace.

that he

me to trust you when I

We h