The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0511 I Holding Elva’s hand, Ilead us both-dewn I the stairs.

I AsIdropped beneath the surface of the water, I instinctively held my breath.

Beside me, Elva hadn’t. She looked around, surprised, and then laughed.

0ddly, I could hear her voice clearly, even under the water.

In front of us, Jessica and Veronica were having a full on conversation about the nature of underwater breathing magic.

“Why can’t werewolves live in the merfolk kingdom, with this kind of magic?” Jessica asked.

“The magic won’t last for more than a day, I imagine,” Veronica said. As our local magic expert, she would know, though Jessica likely didn’t understand that.

I “Not to mention that werewolf bodies aren’t meant to live underwater,” Julian added.

“That would add complications,” Veronica agreed.

I Jessica pouted slightly, somewhat disappointed. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Bridget started walking, ahead of all of us.

I watched them all in awe, still amazed I could hear them as clearly underwater as if they had been standing beside me.

Perhaps that magic hadn’t just been to help us breath underwater, but to help us survive there too.

Behind us, Nathan and the camera crew were descending into the water. The cameras were covered in a protective film to keep the salt water from harming the equipment. The crew checked everything over while they were there in the shadows.

Nathan looked over them and all of us. He seemed nervous, likely due to the importance of this event.

The alliance between werewolf and I merfolk was a valuable one. Any faux pas I here might tarnish that closeness.

I / Nathan’s eyes landed on me, and I swear I felt him giving me a silent warning. Out of all of us, he must have seen me as the weak link. That seemed unfair, given all that Bridget had done.

Elva tugged at my hand. “Come on, Mommy! I want to see the mermaid palace!” «Merfolk,” I corrected gently.

Nicholas waited for all of us at the base of the stairs. I was the last one down them, dragged by Elva, who was swimming now, no longer bothering with stairs. I supposed I could have swam as well, but it seemed polite to keep my feet on the floor, as that was what the others were

doing.

I fully intended to follow Nicholas and 4 julian’s lead here. Mark and Nichotas’s guidance had helped save me when facing I Merfolk Ambassador Zale at a previous I event. I could trust Nicholas not to lead I me astray now as well.

I tried to think back on what few merfolk customs I knew. I had learned some at the Academy, but that had been so long ago, I struggled to remember. At the time, I hadn’t thought I would actually use that information so hadn’t made much effort to retain it.

The Merfolk had their own language. 1 only knew basic phrases. I wondered if they would use their own language here, or still to English for the sake of their visitors.

“Are you alright?” Nicholas asked. He held his arm out for me, and I accepted it.

“It's a bit unnerving,” I said, “Being able

"to breathe under the water.” “You get used to it,” Nicholas said. “Give { I it a few minutes.” = Elva, meanwhile, continued to tug on my arm. “Let me go, Mommy. I want to { swim!” “It’s alright,” Nicholas said. He squeezed my arm in comfort.

“Just don’t go far,” I said and released Elva’s hand.

She immediately started swimming like a fish. I had no idea how she’d learned to be such a good little swimmer! Was Anna teaching her while I was at work? Pride brimmed in my heart. My darling daughter was so talented at everything.

The walls and floor of the hallway we were in seemed to be made of stone with some coral and barnacles collected here and there. Warm lights glowed overhead

I in starfish-shaped chandeliers, illuminating the hallway.

I Nicholas led me forward and together . with the rest of the group, we made our way to another set of double doors. A mostly-familiar figure stood in front of them.