The Luna Choosing Game

My feelings for Nicholas, however, were not likely to change any time soon. If I had free reign here, Nicholas was the one I would pursue. But the fact was, the cards were stacked against me from the start.

I was only in this competition to I increase the viewership. I never had a chance of actually winning.

I lower my head. I don’t need Veronica to rescue me, not when the ultimate answer is so innocuous.

“None of it matters,” I said. “You know who I am. Where I come from.

What I'm going back to. In the end, neither Nicholas nor Julian are going to pick me for their Luna. I imagine I'll be going home after the next elimination

ceremony.” I was honestly surprised I had lasted this long. Jessica must have agreed, because she nodded sagely, as if I had imparted some great wisdom. Veronica continued to look at me. Though her face didn’t show it, this time I knew she was offering me pity.

Before I could say anything else, a very drunken Bridget sauntered back toward our dwindling bonfire. She was carrying a near-empty bottle of white wine in her hand. She stopped at my side, looked at the three of us sitting there, and then promptly fell down sideways into the sand.

I rushed to help her, but she pushed off my hand.

“I’m fine,” she grumbled.

“But Bridget,” I started.

fine,” she said

the wine

brow, and looked at

started to laugh. “Should we draw a mustache on her face?” Veronica and I chuckled, but we decided against it. Bridget would feel bad enough on her own when she woke up with a hangover. She didn’t

stayed like that

until the bag was empty. Bridget snored from

she’d made

made my way inside. Most of the servants must have retired by now. The hallways were barren, except for a few here and there

door smiled when I approached him. “Turning in for the night,

aside to let me enter, but then held up a

“Yes,” he said. “Prince Nicholas left this for you. He said you would need it for a good night's sleep.” Eagerly, I accepted the bag and peeked inside.