The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0635

"What are you doing here, Jane?" I demanded. "What do you want?"

I had mixed feelings, seeing my sister alive and well before me. Last time I had seen her, she had been falling off a balcony, death imminent.

She wasn't the little girl that had followed along in my shadow anymore, I knew that. She had proven time and time again that she only meant pain and hardship for Elva, me, and everyone else who dared to care about us.

I shouldn't care at all whether she lived or died.

But... I still did.

Despite everything. Despite how she tried to kill me, how she had been so close to succeeding.... she was still my sister.

I wanted her in jail, facing punishment for all of the terrible things she had done to me and to others. But I also wanted her alive.

Seeing her... tears welled in my eyes. I blinked them back, needing to be strong in this moment. Nicholas had just proposed, which put me in line to be the next Luna. I couldn't hide now. I had to stand tall and show myself worthy of such an honor.

*This is a private party," I said.

Jane laughed a little. "Too private for your own sister to attend?"

*Who are all these people?" I asked, ignoring her dig at me.

Nicholas squeezed me. He kept one arm around my waist as we faced off against my sister. He turned toward me, while keeping his gaze on Jane, as he said, "Bears."

That explained their height, I supposed. Most of them seemed well over six foot. Only Hawk was closer to Jane's height. Though he was no bear, but a sorcerer.

At the same moment, guards flooded into the ballroom from the staircase. Jane made no threats. She simply watched it happen.

Odd.

My nerves prickled. Something was going on here more than a simple assault.

*Jane," I said, more commanding. "Tell us what you want."

*To tell you a story," Jane said. "Of a missing bear princess, who was brought with her twin sister across the border and hidden within wolf territory. They were stolen, denied their true heritage, and forced to live in squalor. And for what? For fear of their strength."

of this have to do

said, a soft

stage, Julian moved from beside his parents closer to the edge, as if he was angling to jump on Jane

he shook his head. Julian stayed where he was. *This has everything to do with us, Piper," Jane continued. "Surely not

could see what she was

foster care," I said. "But

you have is both. That's why we were taken. Why we were hidden. They

what kind of lies you've been fed, Jane, but that's

to take my place on the throne, once and for

her hand, and the bear-shifters roared. They transformed, one after the next, into massive bear forms, all dark fur

guard growled in response, some of them shifting

at each other, but

standing on the edge of a knife. One move, and the whole thing would slice to

about this, Jane," I said. "We don't need to

gone, sister. All that is left

The bears pounced. The wolves

Innocent nobles ran screaming.

rushing toward me, while all the other candidates hurried to escape

royal guard, rushed to protect the King and Queen, pushing them back

my side, fighting as

so tired

within myself. I felt her, deep down, inching closer to the front of my mind, but in the

And she wasn't alone.

with her inside of me. Something

"Miracle?!"

into my thoughts, "Accept who you

my head, suddenly having an

raged around me, filled with roars and growls

struggled to

and forced my hold away from my head. Jane stood there, smirking at

Quit being such a coward, Piper! Fight for your true

to this war. I didn't care about my lineage, or

away!" I