The Luna Choosing Game

The wait for midnight was nearly unbearable, but when it finally arrived, I left Elva sleeping in the bed,

and sneaked out into the hallway.

Mark was standing there with two other guards. He typically wore a serious expression, but today he

seemed especially grim. He must have shared Nicholas’s frustration with the plan.

“Be careful tonight. If anything happened to you…” He let the words hang.

I was confused. Surely the safety of his prince was more important than me. But he didn’t say anything

more. Instead, he just stared at me expectantly.

“ll be careful,” I said.

He nodded.

Turning from him, I started down the hallway. Nicholas met me halfway. He didn’t say anything, just offered his arm. I slid my arms in his and together we walked down toward the kitchens and into the

cellar.

Brian was guarding the door to one of the rooms there, the one containing the passage. He stepped

when we

in the

large, industrial–style flashlight. He

the flashlight, seeing the end of the tunnel was impossible. The stretch of the tunnel was long, and the darkness

stay close together,” Nicholas said. “Whatever happens,

all know the rules,” Julian said. He stepped into the tunnel.

at each other, and then we

footsteps on the stone floor echoed down the long,

places, but this tunnel felt so old that it had become

hairs on the back of my neck

close,” Julian

moved carefully through the tunnel. The light of the room

behind us.

flashlight flickered. We

a warning in his voice. A warning that would come

light flickered again, and then went out.

in my throat.

chest with one hand and Julian’s

mine and squeezed

a dark, creepy place in the dark, but having them so

ways, helped me feel safe

and smacked the flashlight. The light flickered