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

the more

been in worse situations. Heck, even lunch hour in the restaurant had

shouting

customers as

to be careful. I

want to have to stand in the rain for a

into a line to wait our

and shorter, my

mixed reactions.

confident. But most looked

the time it was my tum, I was a nervous ball of energy who felt a bit like

den.

of a servant to escort me to the ambassador,

the one who offered me his

escort you to

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

I said, accepting Mark’s

away that he was guiding me the

“You!

first time Prince Nicholas met a Merfolk he made a common mistake. Most people in

that Merfolk bow at the waist as

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

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

just

either side of their neck. ‘My life, my friendship,‘ they say. It’s a

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

person. Surely

me humiliated, or worse.

continued. “Fortunately, the Merfolk

always correct the incorrect greeting out

case, the royals showed Nicholas

either side of

phrase,”

“My life, my friendship.”

Ah, here we are.” Mark led me now to a waiting

a head of wild dark hair, and blue–green

bridge of his nose.

his neck, though his chest moved

both above and under the

Chapter 0052

wore a tuxedo, though with a blue shirt rather than

deep red as they

may I present Piper,”

Trust Mark, and presumably Nicholas, or take the

placed a hand on either side my neck “My life, my

went impossibly

I

Was this a trap? How would I explain

to meet you, Piper. I had yet

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

Mark’s absence, Zale stepped closer. He must have been an older Merfolk.

lines beside his striking

me,” Zale said. “How did you come to know our greeting?”

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

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

when Mark told me.”