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

knew the Merfolk greeted each other with

the

been in worse situations.

shouting orders and

hungry, irritable customers as a waitress, I could handle

be careful. I had to

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

were directed into a line to wait our turn to meet the ambassador. As

shorter, my

ambassador had mixed reactions. Some seemed pleased. Olivia and

confident. But

I was a nervous ball of energy who felt a bit like I

den.

to the ambassador, as had guided everyone else,

one who offered me

me to escort you

being given his name. Whether Nathan had said it when he

you,” I said,

away that he was guiding me the long way

“You!

met a Merfolk he made a common mistake. Most people in

that Merfolk bow at the waist

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

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

glanced at him. Surely he wasn’t just going to tell

neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say.

this before. For a moment, I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray, just as Linda had

Mark had always seemed an honest type of person. Surely he

me humiliated, or worse.

Mark continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk

They don’t always correct the incorrect

case, the royals showed

on either side

phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

now to

was practically otherworldly. He had a head of

bridge of his nose.

though his chest moved with breath. I remembered reading that Merfolk could

and

Chapter 0052

wore a tuxedo, though with

deep red as they focused on

may I present Piper,” Mark

it was now or never. Trust Mark, and

I placed a hand on either side my neck

eyes went

I

him? Was this a trap? How would I

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

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

been an older Merfolk. I could

temples, and the lines beside his striking

Zale said. “How did you come

to think of a lie, but

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

when Mark told me.”