The Luna Choosing Game

That’s Linda,” Susie said. “I knew her at the Academy. She’s always trying to form cliques. Anything to

get

ahead. Watch out for her… Oh, shoot, here she comes.”

Susie immediately wrapped her arms around her waist, as Linda made her way over to us.

Linda didn’t look at me once, keeping her gaze on Susie like I wasn’t even there.

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“Susie, some of us are making an alliance of sorts. We’ll look out for each other. You and I go way back,

so of course, I’ll let you in.”

“I don’t..” Susie worried her hands together. She clearly wasn’t interested, but… did her shyness keep her

from saying no outright? “I’m not sure…”

“I’ll count you in, Susie. You wouldn’t want to get left behind, would you? Having us on your side would

be a benefit.”

“I really don’t think…”

“I’m doing you a favor,” Linda said.

TE

“I don’t think Susie is looking to pick sides,” I said. I’d had all I could take of Linda’s steamrolling. Susie

clearly wasn’t interested, and Linda didn’t seem to care.

For the first time since coming over, Linda’s sharp gaze sliced to me. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

“You weren’t talking to Susie either,” I said, “Since you weren’t listening to what she was saying.”

“She’s shy. Sometimes I have to fill in the blanks.”

“No, I… Susie cleared her throat. “No thank

you,

Linda.”

Linda glare shot back at Susie. “What?”

1 don’t want to be in your alliance,” Susie said, stronger.

Linda’s brow twitched. She smiled, but it was not friendly. “Suit yourself. But keep in mind, if you aren’t

with us, you’re against us. I hope you know what you are up against.”

She didn’t wait for a reply before storming away.

walked with Susie in silence for a moment, before she said, “Thank you.

didn’t have to thank me, but I nodded all the same.

“I hate bullies,” I said, to explain.

“Me too.” Another moment passed. “Maybe we don’t have to be rivals.”

“Maybe we could be friends?” I asked her.

She lowered her face, hiding her gentle smile. “I’d like that.”

Later that day, our training ended early so that we could meet at the bottom of the stairwell to hear

announcements from Nathan.

“You first public appearance will take place in three days,” Nathan said. He stood on a step to stand

above us. His voice echoed through the chamber. 1

Lena was at the base of the stairs. She offered a wide, kind smile to each of the candidates. When her

gaze fell onto me, that smile immediately vanished.

“You will stand in a line outside the front of the palace,” Nathan continued. “Camera crews will be

brought in. As the cameras roll, you will wave to the public through the live broadcast. We will also allow

a select few to stand on the grounds, forming a crowd for you.”

The girls chittered with excitement. One girl clapped her hands. Another laughed.

“The people are eager to meet you, ladies. They want to place faces to the names they know. Make sure

to give them your best first impression.”

I noticed a shift of moment at the top of the stair. There, leaning against the wall that headed toward the

west wing, was Nicholas. No one else had spotted him. He gazed down at us with a passive expression.

He was too far away to be able to tell exactly where his attention laid, but my skin still broke out in goosebumps, just as it had three years ago, when I’d often caught him watching me from across the

room

“Well, ladies,” Nathan said. “Are you ready to reveal yourselves to the entire kingdom?”

The girls let loose a resounding cheer.

1 stayed quiet, watching Nicholas.

Too soon, he kicked away from the wall and disappeared down the hall.