The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0052

In the werewolf tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt rather than white.

His eyes were deep red as they focused on me.

“Ambassador Zale, may I present Piper,” Mark said.

Well, it was now or never. Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take the chance myself.

Reaching up, I placed a hand on either side my neck. “My life, my friendship.”

Zale’s eyes went impossibly wide.

My heart pounded hard. Had I upset him? Was this a trap? How would I explain this to the Queen?

But then Zale smiled, showing a set of sharp teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate tonight who know the proper Merfolk greeting.”

“I’ll make my exit now,” Mark said, backing away. “If you will excuse me.”

In Mark’s absence, Zale stepped closer. He must have been an older Merfolk. I could see now the gray at his temples, and the lines beside his striking eyes.

“Tell me,” Zale said. “How did you come to know our greeting?”

For one wild moment, I tried to think of a lie, but in the end, what could I saw but the truth?

I

“I’m sorry, sir, I wished I could tell you I learned it long ago, but the truth is… I only learned it just now when Mark told me.”

His eyes went wide again.

I shouldn’t have said that.

But then he threw his head back and laughed so hard his gills fluttered,

“Oh, Piper. How delightful you are. Do you have any idea how truth is valued in my culture? I am so used

to your kind attempting to deceive me. To have you here, so honest and open, is a great comfort to me as a stranger in a faraway land.”

I’m sorry the others tried to lie to you,” I said.

I couldn’t agree that I was an overly honest person entirely. If I was, I would have told Nicholas from the start about Elva and what truly happened to my powers.

Chapter 0051

The girls around me were freshening up their Merfolk language. Some were fluent. Others, less so. Though most seemed to have a baseline knowledge.

My grasp of the Merfolk language was rusty, at least. I vaguely recalled some lessons during my days at

the Academy, but that felt like so long ago now.

T’hadn’t had any need for Merfolk language or traditions in my day to day since leaving the Academy. I

didn’t really retain any of that knowledge.

I thought I might be able to recall some customs, though the bits of information I was hearing now and

then around me confused with my memories and left me unsure.

Also, I couldn’t trust what the girls around me were even saying.

Linda, especially, seemed to be purposefully polluting the water of fact and fiction. My knowledge was

but even I knew the Merfolk greeted each other with a deep bow, and not

to the more

not to panic. I had been in worse situations. Heck,

everyone shouting orders and

I could manage hungry, irritable customers as a waitress,

had to be careful. I had

really didn’t want to have to stand in the rain for a full

wait our turn to meet

shorter,

ambassador had mixed reactions. Some

But most

tum, I was a nervous ball of energy who felt a bit like I was walking

den.

escort me to the ambassador, as had guided

was the one who offered me his

escort you to Ambassador

name. Whether Nathan had said it

I said, accepting

noticed right away that he was guiding me the long way

“You!

Nicholas met a Merfolk he made a common mistake.

Merfolk bow at the waist as a form

they taught us in the Academy,” I said. I’d been mostly sure

the royal family and their ambassadors have a much different

Surely he wasn’t just going to

a hand over their gills on either side of their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say. It’s

was trying to lead me

had always seemed an honest type of person. Surely he wouldn’t be so

me humiliated, or worse.

Merfolk and the Werewolves have

always correct the incorrect

royals showed Nicholas

side of

phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

here we are.” Mark led me now to a waiting

had a head of wild dark

bridge of his nose.

moved with breath.

both above and under

Chapter 0052

wore a tuxedo, though

red as

Zale, may I present Piper,” Mark

Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take the chance

I placed a hand on either side my neck “My life, my

eyes went impossibly

I

him? Was this a trap? How would

Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate tonight who knew the proper Merfolk

said, backing away. “If

been an older Merfolk. I could see now the gray

and the lines

did you come to know our greeting?”

I tried to think of a lie, but in the end, what could

wished I could tell you I learned it long ago, but the truth

when Mark told me.”