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.

after knowing them both my entire life, I had no idea if they even liked each other at all,

if their marriage was a show they

few deep breaths. He nodded at my mother, and then turned

and Julian chose Piper after I specifically told you not to,” he said. Rage crackled under the false

voice, occasionally leading to a twitch in his

belong here.”

are helping to take care of,” I said, my own anger

as much – if

–

—

his

fine person without being a

every event

I wanted to help them see without directly calling them out.

King’s opinions could never be

huffed in the Queen’s direction. “He’s your son.”

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, too. She cannot

my heart, I knew she spoke true. Piper could be a good

world would press down on her.

to protect

poor little Elva’s illness. She didn’t need the added weight of a near war

me to do,” I said,