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 a deep bow, and not a fist bump

the more gullible

in worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in the

overwhelming, with everyone shouting orders

as a waitress,

be careful. I had

stand in the rain for

directed into a line to wait our turn to meet the

shorter, my anxiety

reactions.

confident. But most looked

it was my tum, I was a nervous ball of energy who felt a

den.

servant to escort me to the ambassador, as had guided everyone else,

one who

me to escort you to Ambassador Zale,”

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

I said, accepting

right away that he was guiding me

“You!

Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk he

Merfolk bow at the

in the Academy,” I said. I’d

the royal family and their ambassadors

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

their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say. It’s a symbolic

heard this before. For a moment, I wondered if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me astray,

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

me humiliated, or worse.

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

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

case, the royals showed Nicholas the

either side

phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

to a waiting gentleman. Compared to everyone else in

otherworldly. He had a head

bridge of his nose.

his chest moved with breath. I remembered reading

above and

Chapter 0052

wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt

eyes were deep red as

I present Piper,” Mark

never. Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take

I placed a hand on either side my neck “My

went impossibly

I

upset him? Was this

“Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to meet a candidate

make my exit now,” Mark said,

He must have been an older

and the lines beside his striking

said. “How did you come to know our

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

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

when Mark told me.”