The Luna Choosing Game

Much later, after Nicholas and I had gone our separate ways for the day, I received notice from a servant that the candidates were required to go to the foyer for announcements from Nathan. I was already a bit late, having been so thoroughly lost all morning, so I hurried to join the others.

I was the last one to arrive in the foyer. Though from what I could tell as the stage was still empty, Nathan had yet to arrive. He came in only a handful of seconds after I joined Veronica, Tiffany, and Susie at the base of the stage. Beside us Lilliana and Olivia were speaking quietly. The others were scattered around. Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

All except Bridget were accounted for. I discovered why when

e walked in with Nathan. She had her arm laced through his like he was escorting her. He laughed at something she said, and she grinned, pleased.

So much for no favoritism. Although, I guessed that was never a hard rule.

Nathan leads Bridget to the base center of the stage, then dipped his head as he backed away. He rounded toward the stairs then stood in front of all of us. He picked up the microphone and clicked it on.

“Hi, everyone,” Bridget said, looking around. She was met with mostly frowns or mere grunts of acknowledgement.

“Hello,” Susie said, because she was nice.

“Hi,” I said, because I was trying to be kind like Susie. Inside, I was viciously wondering if she had run into Nicholas and found my scent on him instead of hers. I hoped she did.

“Welcome everyone. Thank you for joining us here.” He smiled down at Bridget. “And welcome once more to Bridget. It’s great to see you here. I’m sure we can all agree.”

No one agreed.

Still Bridget kept her bright smile. “Thank you, Nathan.” She placed a hand to her heart. “Truly.”

“It does seem strange,” Olivia said loudly, claiming everyone’s attention, even Nathan’s. “Bridget’s sudden appearance, I mean. Weren’t all the candidates supposed to be pulled from the choosing ceremony?”

Bridget continued to smile. “What a darling question, Olivia. I’m sure you have an answer that would satisfy her, don’t you, Nathan?”

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“I do,” Nathan said. “A private choosing ceremony was held with only the King, Queen, and myself present. After the… results of the last elimination, our numbers were left off–balance. The King and Queen thought it best to even the numbers again. And the choosing ceremony provided the result.”

Olivia’s face was politely neutral, but I doubted she believed such an obvious lie.

For the choosing ceremony to select Bridget, Nicholas’s previous entanglement, from a list of every single woman in the kingdom felt like a longshot at best, pure deception at worst.

But to say so out loud would be to go against the word of the King’s Beta, and likely the King and Queen themselves. That was flat out treason.

“I do so hope we can all get along,” Bridget said.

“Are there any more questions?” Nathan asked, looking squarely at Olivia.

She, however, was as diplomatic and high–bred as they came. She knew better than anyone when to back down. “No, sir. I thank you for your explanation.”

“You are very welcome,” Nathan said. “Now. I would like to announce the next event. All candidates will work together to put on a performance of a famous local stage play for the enjoyment of the royal family. This will showcase your acting abilities. The Luna is a very talented individual herself.”

“Oh, how lucky!” Bridget gasped in delight. She clapped her hands together. Looking around, she said, “I promise to give you all pointers.”

“Forget packing my bags,” Tiffany muttered under her breath. “I should just start walking home.”

“It will be fine,” Veronica whispered back. “She may win the most points but she can’t win them all.”

Looking at Bridget, at her movie star good looks and trained smile, complete with dimples, I wasn’t so sure. If anyone could sweep an entire event, it would be superstar Bridget in an event undoubtedly built just to showcase her.

“I can’t be on stage,” Susie whispered. She worried her hands together. There was fear in her eyes. With her social anxiety, she was likely to lock up or have a panic attack or both. A terrible thing that I didn’t want to see happen to her.

“Maybe they need stage hands,” I suggested. A stage hand could be talented too. Or perhaps she could help design the sets. “We’ll figure something out.”

She nodded but it was nervous still. “Thank you.”

I looked across the room to see how the others were reacting. Only Bridget seemed happy. Lilliana wore a small smile though. She’d be a player in this event, that was for sure.

Olivia wore an expression that gave me pause: With her upbringing, she always seemed to have a cool expression that would weather any drama. But this was something else. When she looked over at Bridget, she looked downright vicious.

Maybe she never considered herself to have a rival before, and now there was one here, right in front of her. One even her haughty ego couldn’t deny was a threat.

Yet, while Olivia was glaring at Bridget, Bridget was smiling back at me. I swallowed nervously.

“That is all,” Nathan said. “Thank you for your time.”

The girls slowly began to file out. Tiffany was grumbling to Veronica. Susie had her arms wrapped around herself. Olivia walked with her head held high. Lilliana seemed smugger than usual.

As I was about to follow them, Bridget approached me. Her smile and manner were friendly, but my wolf whispered a warning.

“She is plotting something.”

“Piper, hello, so great to see you,” she said.

“Yes,” I said. If friendliness was the game she wanted to play now, I could match it. “How are you adjusting to the palace? I can only imagine what your home look like. This might be quaint.”

She laughed. “Oh, you are kind. It’s true my efforts and talents have gifted me much good fortune in life. My mansion is spacious. Well, many of them are, I should say.”

She’s rich, got it. Nice of her to want to rub that in my face.

“But the palace is something else,” she said. “It always has been. A true gem of our kingdom. A place full of so much rich history, including some of my own. Do

that I spent much time here in my youth and my teen years.”

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“I heard a thing or two,” I said.

“From Nicholas, I presume?” Her smile grew wider.

“No. From the staff,” I said. “Nicholas hasn’t said much, other than you are an old friend.”

“Ah.” She lowered her head. Maybe hiding her disappointment? I couldn’t tell, and it was gone by the time she looked back up. “Well, no matter. You know I am an old friend, and that is enough of a backdrop for what I need to tell you now.”

I didn’t understand. Because I wasn’t a great actress, my confusion showed on my face.

“I care about Nicholas, you see. And I’ve heard plenty of rumors of my own. About you. About him. About the two of you together. So I am asking you straight out, Piper. What exactly was your past relationship with Nicholas?”