The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas

I stood before the King in his chambers. He was angrily pacing the length of the room. Back and forth,

back and forth. Occasionally he would stop to shout at me, but he’d always break himself off, unfinished,

and continue pacing.

“How could you think –?”

“You deliberately disobeyed –!”

“What do I even –?”

A few minutes in, his face was turning red, and my mother, the Luna was forced to intervene. She stood

in his path to keep him from pacing, then whispered into his ear.

I never totally understood their relationship. My mother was a private person. And though the two of

them often gave compliments to each other, any meaningful conversations only went on behind closed

doors.

life, I had no idea if they

marriage was a show they put on

He nodded at my mother, and then turned

told you not to,” he said. Rage crackled under the

in his eyebrow or a downward curl of his lip. “That girl

not belong here.”

child we are helping to take care

of me. “She deserves to be as much – if not more

–

—

threw his hands up.

a fine person

passed nearly every event with flying colors.”

help them see without directly calling

opinions could never

the Queen’s

ignored him. “You know, Nicholas, what the weight of the crown can do to good people. It’s not just for the sake of the kingdom that I caution you, but for her sake,

in my heart, I knew she spoke true. Piper could

her.

enough to protect

Elva’s illness. She didn’t need

what you want me to do,” I