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.

had no idea if they even liked each other

their marriage was a show they put on for the

breaths. He nodded at

Julian chose Piper after I specifically told you not to,”

leading to a twitch in his eyebrow or a downward curl of his lip.

not belong

sick child we are helping

inside of me. “She deserves to be as much –

–

—

his hands up.

a fine person without being a good

every event with

to help them see without directly calling them out. To do so would be incredibly dangerous, even for me.

King’s opinions could

in the Queen’s direction. “He’s your

the kingdom that I caution you, but for her sake, too. She cannot bear the weight required. Her goodness? Her kindness? Her spirit?

knew she spoke true. Piper could be a

down on her. It would wear at her soul, and I alone would

to protect her.

and poor little Elva’s illness. She didn’t need the added weight

to do,” I said, burying