The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0522

I didn't know what else to say to Julian, and he likely felt the same. So we both continued to watch the dancers. On the other side of the banquet room, Nicholas and the Queen were swimming upwards as they talked.

I wasn't the only one who noticed. Bridget's attentions seemed fixed on Nicholas now, as she began to dance more provocatively with her merfolk partner. Suddenly her arms were around the merfolk's shoulders. She gave her hips a wider sway.

All the while, she watched Nicholas. All the while, he was entirely oblivious, speaking with the Queen.

The longer it went on, the more Bridget's bottom lip pouted.

*Her dance partner is going to get the wrong idea," Julian said. "Too much physical contact could be interpreted in a sexual way, especially if she touches... his gills..."

Just as he suggested it, Bridget's hands brushed against her partner's gills. The merfolk man's eyes sparkled as he seemed to look at her with renewed interest. She was ignoring him though, her gaze still on Nicholas.

"This is going to end badly," Julian said.

"Should we do something?" I asked, though I wasn't sure what. Swimming over there to break them up didn't seem like the smartest move. Bridget would likely take offense to our interference.

As it was, it seemed like watching a train wreck in slow motion, one I could only hope that Bridget wasn't purposefully encouraging. I had a sinking feeling however that she was.

Someone as worldly as she was would know merfolk customs. She would know that touching the gills is a sign of intimacy. I was fairly certain that there was a scene in one of her recent movies of that exact scenario!

Then it happened. The merfolk leaned closer and whispered something in Bridget's ear.

Bridget suddenly yanked herself backwards, away from the merfolk man, and then slapped him across the face. The slap didn't hit very hard, as we were underwater, but the intent was clear enough.

The merfolk man, looking stricken, immediately put some space between the two of them.

*How dare you proposition me like some kind of whore?" Bridget loudly snapped, drawing the attention of most people in the room. Even the musicians were surprised, and the music stopped.

started swimming toward the scene. I quickly

to Nicholas.

and Bridget at the same time the offending merfolk man did.

he said. "I

to shout. She gripped ontol Nicholas's arms. He looked down at where she was holding him, frowning, but she

merfolk

said to her, his voice lowered. "You are making this

herself back, offended once again. "You would allow him to

way? The man was

private room, as if I

know now. I only hoped someone was

situation," the merfolk man said. "I swear that I meant no belittlement

man's words. She tugged on Nicholas's arm. "Challenge him, Nicholas.

lowered himself into a fuller bow. "I admittedly overstepped and will accept

brow furrowed as she watched Nicholas's

didn't seem to care about international relations, or if this had been a cultural misunderstanding, or that the merfolk seemed exceedingly apologetic. What she seemed to care about was that Nicholas wasn't coming to

and virility as he had when he had defended me from Ronan. But Ronan's advances onto me had been unwelcome. Bridget had seemed to embrace those advances from this merfolk man, and when she made clear that she didn't want

he was even apologizing profusely

man who was already prostrating so committedly. The merfolk man would likely forfeit the challenge as soon as

and grace befitting her station, Queen Sonal

a scene. I should have known

have," Queen Sonal said. "You may see yourself out

swam all the way to the

looked at the queen, she bowed politely. "Your Majesty, surely a harsher punishment should have been necessary in this