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

the more

worse situations. Heck, even

with everyone shouting orders

I could manage hungry, irritable customers as a waitress, I

to be careful. I had

want to have to stand in the rain for

wait our turn to meet

and shorter, my

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

confident. But most

a nervous ball of

den.

to the ambassador, as

one who offered me

to escort you

name. Whether Nathan

said,

was guiding me the

“You!

met a Merfolk he made a

at the waist as a form of

they taught us in the Academy,” I said. I’d been mostly sure

tradition,” Mark conceded. “However, the royal family and their

wasn’t just going

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

if perhaps Mark was trying to lead me

of person. Surely he wouldn’t be so cruel

me humiliated, or worse.

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

always correct the incorrect greeting out

the royals showed Nicholas

side

the phrase,” Mark

“My life, my friendship.”

to

practically otherworldly. He had a head of wild dark hair, and

bridge of his nose.

moved with breath.

both above and

Chapter 0052

werewolf tradition, he wore a tuxedo, though with a blue

were deep red as they

may I present Piper,”

never. Trust Mark, and presumably

either side my neck “My life, my

eyes went

I

heart pounded hard. Had I upset him? Was this a trap? How

sharp teeth. “Nice to meet you, Piper. I had yet to

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

must have been an older Merfolk. I could

and the lines beside his striking

you come

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

learned it long ago, but the truth is…

when Mark told me.”