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.

I had

marriage was a show they put on for the world.

father took a few deep breaths. He nodded at

Julian chose Piper after I specifically told you not to,” he said. Rage

a twitch in his eyebrow or a downward curl

belong

genuine, with a sick child we are helping to take care of,”

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

–

—

threw his

a fine person without being a good

passed nearly every event with

common. I wanted to help them see without directly calling

could never be

Queen’s direction. “He’s your

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

in my heart, I knew she spoke

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

enough to protect her.

her wolf, and poor little Elva’s illness. She didn’t

to do,” I said, burying