The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0524

I froze, unsure what to do.

"Goodbye Mister Zale," Elva said.

Zale gently patted Elva's back. "Goodbye, little Elva." As she began to pull away, he smiled at her.

*Such innocence," Queen Sonal said, her smile soft as well. "The purity and kindness of a child knows no bounds. We could learn much from her sincerity."

"We could," Nicholas agreed. He returned her smile, and just like that, the tension between the two groups began to lift. Nicholas dipped his head, as I know he'd done many times before. This time seemned different than the past - more earnest, somehow. "By your grace."

Queen Sonal dipped her head in a mirror movement. "Please return again."

Elva swam back to me. Then, after one last look at the underwater banquet and the people within it, we turned and made our exit.

Once we were safely on the boat again, with the boat on route to return us to our more familiar island, Nicholas scooped up Elva into his arms and kissed her cheek

are," he said. Elva giggled. To me,

within earshot, laughed. "Usually I'm the one with the flair for dramatic,

the event on such a tense note, the alliance may not have initially suffered but relations would

cheek again and then set her down. Elva continued to giggle. She rushed over

what he

I told her, and praised her too. "You did such a good job.

crew remained on the

this moment to come upstairs and join us. He appeared deeply unhappy, with the line between his

Nathan," Julian said, "Or your face might stay that

shot him a withering look.

"Queen Sonal seemed pleased as we

Nathan agreed. "As we left." He looked at Bridget. "Most everyone

seemed appropriately cowed for a moment, tilting her shoulders downward, but she bounced back almost instantly and stood. "I know you aren't

today, Bridget. You did not act with the poise that