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

the Merfolk greeted each other with a deep bow, and not a fist bump like she

the more gullible

worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in the

overwhelming, with everyone shouting orders and

I could manage hungry, irritable customers as

careful. I had

really didn’t want to have to stand in

wait our turn to meet

shorter, my

the ambassador had mixed reactions.

confident. But

I was a nervous ball of energy

den.

to

one who offered

escort you to Ambassador

was a gift, being given his name. Whether Nathan had said it when he announced the challenge.

said, accepting

noticed right away that he was guiding me the long way

“You!

met a Merfolk he made

believe that Merfolk bow at the

Academy,” I

Merfolk, that remains a tradition,” Mark conceded. “However, the royal family and their ambassadors

wasn’t just going to

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

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

type of person. Surely he wouldn’t be so

me humiliated, or worse.

Merfolk and the Werewolves have a history

correct the incorrect

the royals showed Nicholas the

either side of

phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

led me now to a

head of wild dark

bridge of his nose.

though his chest moved with breath. I remembered reading that

above and under the

Chapter 0052

tuxedo, though with a

red as they focused

Zale, may I

now or never. Trust Mark, and

either side

went impossibly

I

Was this a trap? How would I explain this to

teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate tonight who knew

said, backing away. “If you will excuse

He must have been an

lines beside

Zale said. “How did you come to know our

one wild moment, I tried to think of a lie, but in

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

when Mark told me.”