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

I knew the Merfolk greeted each other with a deep bow, and

to the more gullible

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

with everyone shouting orders and

irritable customers as a waitress, I could handle

had to be careful. I had to try

stand in

I were directed into a line to wait our turn to

shorter,

ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased. Olivia

But most looked

a nervous ball of energy who felt a

den.

a servant to escort me to

who offered

me to escort you to Ambassador Zale,”

name. Whether Nathan had said it

I said, accepting

he was guiding me the

“You!

a Merfolk he made a common

that Merfolk bow at the waist as a

taught us in the Academy,”

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

Surely he wasn’t just going

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

if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray, just

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

me humiliated, or worse.

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

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

the royals showed Nicholas the

hand on either side

phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

Ah, here we are.” Mark led me now to

He had a head of wild dark hair, and

bridge of his nose.

fluttered at his neck, though his chest moved

both above and under

Chapter 0052

the werewolf tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt rather

eyes were deep red as they

may I present

Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas,

a hand on either side my neck “My

eyes went impossibly

I

I upset him? Was this a trap? How would I explain this to

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

my exit now,” Mark said, backing away. “If

stepped closer. He must have been an older

and the lines beside his striking

said. “How did you come to know our

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

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

when Mark told me.”