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.

knew it," Julian grumbled and started swimming toward the scene. I quickly kicked to

had swam halfway to Nicholas. He met her

Bridget at the same time the offending merfolk man did.

said. "I misunderstood. I meant no

looked down at where she was holding him, frowning, but she did not release her

the merfolk man continued,

lowered. "You are making this out to be worse than it

would allow him to

The man

private room, as if I was obligated

know now. I only hoped someone was keeping the children distracted so they didn't

the situation," the merfolk man said. "I swear that I meant

on

really not necessary," the merfolk man said. He lowered himself into a fuller bow. "I admittedly overstepped

hesitated. Bridget's brow furrowed as she watched

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 her

had been unwelcome. Bridget had seemed to embrace those advances from this merfolk

was even apologizing profusely and accepting

man who was already prostrating so committedly. The merfolk man would

serenity and grace befitting her

such a scene. I should have known better than to suggest such

should have," Queen Sonal said. "You may see yourself out of the banquet hall and away from the

more, then turned and fled the group. He swam all the way to the top of the banquet hall and then exited through

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