The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0562

Elva wanted to collect some seashells to add the growing pile she was keeping in our bedroom, so together, Elva, Nicholas, and I went to the shoreline and began walking along with water's edge. While I helped Elva pick out seashells, Nicholas kept a dutiful eye on the ocean.

Maybe he thought Ronan himself might jump out at any minute. The thought made me shiver.

Looking at the ocean, despite having nearly drowned, it wasn't the waves or the water that I feared deep down inside of me. No. Instead I feared the merfolk prince who had wanted to pull me into the deeps.

I was grateful to Nicholas for keeping watch.

More grateful, when unnatural waves rippled the top of the water. Immediately I grabbed Elva, who in her surprise, dropped half of her shells.

"Mommy!" she said, pointing to where they had fallen.

I couldn't worry about that now. My wolfy instincts were screaming at me to get my child away from whatever was happening in the water. I'd apologize to her later, if I was overreacting. I'd spend the rest of the day picking new shells with her if she wanted.

But I wasn't taking any more chances.

Nicholas grabbed me and tugged Elva and me behind himself. His muscles were flexed. His gaze was on the water. To see him as tense as me helped tell me I was doing the right thing. Content belong to NôvelDráma. Org.

I hadn't wanted to frighten Elva, but I would do whatever I needed to, to keep her safe.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Then, as we watched the waves, merfolk heads started cresting above the water. Some here and some there, in different spots all along the water's edge.

Then, the merfolk walked forward, breaching the surface of the ocean. Their tails shifted to legs as they stepped out of the water and onto the sand. Many of them stayed in the knee-high water.

They wore skin-tight uniforms, matching black with shimmering blue stripes. The uniform stretched down to their wrists and ankles, almost fully covering them.

One merfolk stepped forward before all the rest. Ambassador Zale was dressed differently than the others. He wore a similar looking garment to what he had last night. A body suit covered in shells.

I relaxed somewhat when I saw him. I didn't know these other soldiers, though with a quick glance, I confirmed that none of them were Prince Ronan. But Ambassador Zale was someone that I trusted. He always seemed to at least attempt to do the right thing.

I was still uneasy about Prince Ronan being able to escape his confinement so easily, however.

"Prince Nicholas," Zale said as he came closer. He bowed respectfully.

Nicholas returned the gesture with a dip of his head. "Ambassador."

Holding Elva, I inched somewhat to the side so I could greet Zale myself.

*Ambassador Zale," I said. I almost said It's a pleasure to see you, but that would have been a blatant lie. It was not a pleasure to see him under these circumstances. He was only here because my life was being threatened. His features twisted into apologetic when he looked at me. "Piper... I don't often find myself speechless, but knowing what has happened to you. I am so deeply sorry for all the suffering this incident has caused to you. I am so very pleased to see you are well."

*You mentioned this wasn't his first incident," Nicholas said.

Ambassador Zale sighed. "Unfortunately, despite his careful upbringing, Prince Ronan has always been somewhat of a cad. He seemed to have a special penchant toward unattainable women. Perhaps he was bored

at the palace and enjoyed the challenge, I don't know."

"I'm not some challenge," I said.

*Of course not, Miss Piper," Zale said. "Forgive my turn of phrase." He looked back to Nicholas. "He's been reprimanded in the past for turning to insults once he's been rejected, rather than handling it with the grace his station should require of him. But never has anything happened like this."