The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0398

That night, the King and Queen finally made an appearance at the night’s formal dinner. They greeted Bridget like a doting set of parents would, hugging her and kissing her cheek. Nicholas and Julian were right there with them.

The rest of us candidates were already inside the dining room waiting and forced to watch.

“God, I’m going to be sick,” Tiffany said. She put her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her hands.

Veronica awkwardly patted her shoulder.

Bridget and the royal family entered the dining room like some kind of royal parade. The King and Queen took their usual seats. Nicholas and Julian stayed standing as they counted the chairs. None of us candidates had made room for Bridget to sit down.

It seemed that was to be decided now.

“Where should I sit?” Bridget asked with innocent wide eyes. There were plenty of empty seats at the table. She could just as easily take one as her own.

She batted her eyelashes at Nicholas and Julian.

Both men moved at once. They personally asked each girl to move down one seat. When Julian came to me, he didn’t even have the nerve to look apologetic.

“Please move, Piper,” Julian said.

“But Julian…”

“No time for arguments,” he said. “Everyone’s hungry.”

It felt strange getting the brush off from him. I wanted to snap back and maybe wake him from whatever witchcraft might have ensnared him, but with so many people and cameras watching, I didn’t dare call him out here and now.

Later, I vowed in my head, as I begrudgingly rose from my chair. With all the girls shifted; the only open seat now was on the other side of the table, which meant I would have to watch this terrible show of Nicholas and Julian falling all over themselves to keep Bridget’s attention.

My jealousy buzzed under the surface of my skin. Nicholas hadn’t looked at me since Bridget stepped out of that car.

I lowered myself into my new seat and tried to withhold my growing anger. I felt

+15 BONUS

like I was holding a wolf back with only a paper chain.

Bridget found her seat directly between Nicholas and Julian. She smiled at them both, they both couldn’t seem to stop looking at her.

moved from her previous seat to

in close to whisper, “You look like you

to catch the attention of the cameras. This truly was my

I could endure.

forever. Eventually I would have to leave Nicholas behind and return to the diner and my apartment. Two jobs to

that still hasn’t

was still on the run.

life full of hardship and loneliness.

as bad, considering. At least while I was here, I had three steady meals for me and Elva, as well as

me to the competition, I

Elva, I could endure

wolf whispered, and I felt the itch of it

about now. I could let loose and be free, without these

had to

Elva we wouldn’t disappear again, I replied in my mind.

not wanting to

it. “It’s a wonder,” he said, holding his drink aloft, “what life hands us when we least suspect it.” He lifted his drink higher. “To old friends.”

replied right away. “To old friends!”

+15 BONUS

candidates were slightly slower. “To old

say anything,

eyes as she said

her eyes on me.

“To old friends,” but I wasn’t saying it to mean Nicholas and Bridget. Instead, I meant Nicholas and

to his seat. Bridget gripped his arm.

wonderful toast, Nicholas,” she

carefully lowered my drink

they lowered mine in front

table, Bridget let her hand linger on Nicholas’s arms. Slowly, she traced her fingers down from his elbow to his wrist.

at her, a bit of surprise in

in

down at my hand. I had bent my fork straight in half.

lap before the cameras

worried look. It was one that I mirrored as

Miracle whispered,