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

with a deep bow, and not a fist bump

to the more gullible

been in worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in

overwhelming, with everyone shouting

manage hungry, irritable customers as a

to be careful.

want to have to stand in the rain for

were directed into a line to wait

and shorter,

girls leaving the ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased. Olivia

confident. But most

of energy who

den.

servant to escort me to the ambassador, as

was the one who

escort you to Ambassador Zale,” Mark

gift, being given his name. Whether Nathan had said it

you,” I said,

away that he was

“You!

Merfolk he made a common mistake. Most people

Merfolk bow at the waist as a

in the Academy,” I said. I’d been mostly

Mark conceded. “However, the royal family and their ambassadors have a

him. Surely he wasn’t just

over their gills on either side of their neck. ‘My life,

I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray, just as Linda had fooled those

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

me humiliated, or worse.

bowed,” Mark continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk and the Werewolves have a

between our kingdoms. They don’t always correct the incorrect greeting out of politeness but

case, the royals showed Nicholas the correct

hand on either side of the neck,”

the phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

are.” Mark led me now to a waiting gentleman. Compared

otherworldly. He had a head of wild dark hair, and blue–green scales

bridge of his nose.

at his neck, though his chest moved with breath.

both above and under the

Chapter 0052

tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a

red as they

may I present Piper,” Mark

now or never. Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or

placed a hand on either side my neck

went

I

him? Was this a trap? How would

meet you, Piper.

now,” Mark said, backing away. “If you will

been

lines beside his striking

me,” Zale said. “How did you come to know

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

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

when Mark told me.”