The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0525

With Nathan gone, some of the guilt set upon me. Nathan had been gaslighting me, I knew that. Bridget's actions were not my responsibility, but his words had given me a measure of discomfort inside of my chest.

Even though Bridget's actions hadn't been directly caused by me, she was likely acting a bit more aggressively out of jealousy. Nicholas had come to my defense, but did not do the same for her, even when she tried to push the issue.

It wasn't my fault, and she should have behaved more like an adult. But I could sympathize with her hurt feelings. It would pain me greatly to have Nicholas defend someone else and not me.

But my sympathy stopped short when I remembered all that Bridget had done to me, and also that her incident tonight could have been so easily avoided.

Nicholas touched his hand to the small of my back. "You alright?" he asked me

"I'm fine," I told him. I wanted to thank him for all that he'd done for me, yet when I went to speak once more, Elva tugged on Nicholas's hand instead.

"Look, Nick-lass! Dolphins!"

He gave me a small smile, which I retumed. Then he let himself be pulled closer to the railing. Out in the water beyond, dolphins breeched the water. They chased alongside the boat like they were making a game of it.

Exhausted, I looked for a place to sit down. I saw one beside Veronica. Julian had chosen to stand near her, and they were chatting. Veronica held a book on her lap, that was strangely dry for where it must have come from.

Did the merfolk use magic to enchant their books, keeping them safe from the salt water?

Curious, I came closer to the pair. Veronica immediately patted the empty seat beside her. I must have looked as tired as I felt. I flopped down in the seat and then thanked her.

some of what she leamed,"

was only able to visit with the keeper of the library briefly before it was time for us to leave," Veronica said, "But when I told her I was interested in learning more about merfolk magic, she seemned very excited. She led me straight to this book. She even let me

the merfolk people seemed to know no bounds. Or perhaps the keeper of libraries simply appreciated

few pages. Inside, the words were hand-written in a tight, neat scrawl. Some pictures and diagrams were added

magic. Even older than the magic I know and use." She looked at me. "It makes me believe the mystic might know of a cure, after all. Her knowledge of ancient magic might very

a hopeful thought, but there was a very big problem regarding the mystic now." She never reappeared to me," I said. "I don't know if she ever will

up when you least expect it," Julian said. "She told you, what? That she'd

I nodded in assent.

go," Julian said. "You still have fear in your heart, so she's keeping her

before, but there was still hope that she might reappear. Though, admittedly, I was still a bit afraid that the mystic would

was unfair to think that, I knew. The mystic had done nothing to me, as far as I knew, and as merfolk valued truth so highly, she was unlikely lying to me. But I had been so hurt before, so many times. And I couldn't take

doubts and more doubts, with such a tiny glimmer of hope. I didn't know

I can. When I can understand more of the merfolk magic, we should be able to have at

said, and meant it from the bottom

me a soft smile, a rare expression from her.

their dishonest tactics. I doubt the merfolk royal family would be so forthcoming with them, even if Hawk or the rest could deceive their way into

were so adept at magic, that any upper hand we could achieve could potentially save all our lives if

best to

placed his hand on her shoulder. He didn't say anything, but

dusted

our familiar island, the sun had crept down to the horizon, and everyone seemed tired, Elva most of all. She yawned bigly, then curled up against my side on the chair, even as I tried to tell her it