THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 7 Episode 28

*Julian wants me, Tiffany, and Veronica to escort him to the nearby small town to search for information about the missing princesses. He asked me to invite you too,” I said, although I thought I had been clear the first time.

Yet as I said the words once more, Nicholas’s frown grew deeper and his brow lowered.

“I need to speak with my brother,” he grumbled and walked away from me to storm down the hallway I had just walked up to speak with him.

“Nicholas?” I called, as I turned to follow him. His behavior had been tense from the beginning today, but I hadn’t expected this simple request to make everything that much worse for Nicholas.

Nicholas didn’t look back, not acknowledging me at all, so I eventually stopped and looked after him unsure what to do.

I didn’t know what his problem was? I guessed I should leave him be, let him and Julian duke this out in their usual way.

But I was worried about Nicholas and how quick to fury this new stress could make him.

I hesitated only for a moment before I hurried to follow him, albeit more secretly this time. I didn’t call out again. And I waited around the corner for Nicholas to disappear in a hallway, before hurrying down that hallway after him.

Eventually, I reached the outside of the sitting room that we had turned into our investigation headquarters. I stood out of side, hiding in the hallway beside the open door.

From within, I heard Nicholas’s raised voice, and Julian’s cooler one.

“You are planning a trip?” Nicholas said loudly, angrily. “After everything we learned?”

*So there was a bear in the woods,” Julian said. “That doesn’t mean we are under attack.”

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“It’s enough reason to be cautious!”

I sucked in a sharp breath. Elva had been right, listening to the wolves. She’d heard them talk about a bear. Had Nicholas known this entire time? Had been downplaying it to keep us safe?

“How could risk the lives and well-being of Piper and the others for this?” Nicholas demanded.

“This isn’t some dalliance,” Julian said. He was calmer than Nicholas, but his own frustration was starting to seep into his own voice. “I am working on trying to avoid this war.”

“So work on it yourself. You don’t need Piper or the others.”

“They are observant,” Julian said. “They’ve helped me this far. I’m not just bringing them for the hell of it, brother. I genuinely believe they could assist in this investigation.”

“You don’t need them,” Nicholas said.

“I’m flattered by your high opinion of me, believing that I can handle this all on my own. However, it remains that this is too important to fuck up. I need more eyes on this, just in case. I can’t afford to be wrong. Any one of the girls might be the one who uncovers the truth.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“That’s why I thought to invite you, Nicholas. You’ll keep Piper safe. You know how prone she is to trouble. I can keep an eye on Tiffany and Veronica.” Julian sighed. “Listen, I will admit it’s dangerous. But if it could potentially save our soldiers from battle and the border towns from invasion, isn’t it work a little risk?”

Nicholas didn’t say anything.

I wanted to stand tall and speak my own mind. It is worth the risk, especially since we don’t know for sure that

anything will happen. I would walk into danger if it had a chance of keeping two kingdoms for war.

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But if I stepped into that room, they would know of my presence, and –

“You might as well join us, Piper,” Julian called.

The blood drained from my face. I froze. Maybe this was a trick to see if –

“I can see your shadow on the floor,” Julian added.

Oh, shit. Okay. I had been so worried about Nicholas that I hadn’t taken the time to properly conceal myself. It didn’t help, of course, that Julian was so damned observant.

With a steadying breath, I stepped out of my hiding spot and into the room.

Julian immediately grinned at me. Nicholas had his back to me, yet even as I came to stand beside him, he avoided looking at me.

Likely, he had known I was there as well.

I lowered my head in shame. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping.”

Julian waved his hand at me. “Who cares about any of that? I’d rather have your opinion than worry about any of that.”

Nicholas finally turned to look at me. He gave me a withering glance. “You already know, Julian, that she will agree with you.”

I wasn’t going to be intimidated by Nicholas’s words. I don’t think I was capable of being intimidated by him, even though I could admit he was intimidating. I loved him, and though he hadn’t admitted love for me, he had spoken of great affection.

Nicholas would never hurt me, physically or with words.

He could be somewhat careless though, hurting me slightly with his desire to protect me. I didn’t much care for being lied to.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the bear?” I asked him. “Even when Elva suggested it…”

“We didn’t have all the facts yet. As wolves and bears speak differently, the wolves couldn’t be sure if it was a bear shifter or simply a lost bear,” Nicholas said. He glanced away, embarrassment coloring his own cheeks. “But mostly I didn’t want you or her to worry.”

“I would always prefer the truth,” I told him.

*Then you should understand now why I am truly worried,” Nicholas said. “We cannot rule out that the bear was a shifter scouting the borders of our palace. We cannot assume that it meant us no harm.”

“Nicholas,” I said, turning fully to him. He did the same, facing me. “I know you want to keep me safe. But I also know that you have an obligation to keep your people safe as well. If going with Julian could help stop the war, then it is something I have to do. Something that we have to do.”

Nicholas sighed. “If those are your thoughts on the matter… I do not like it but I will defer to your opinion. Though, if you go on this venture, I will not leave your side.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said and gave him a small smile.

Julian cleared his throat. “Yes, well. This is lovely. Does this mean you both are up for the adventure?”

Nicholas gave me a look. He disapproved, but he would allow me this if my mind was made up.

Which it was.

I rose up to my full height, pushing my confidence forward, and said to Julian, “We’re in.”

The next morning, all of the candidates, as well as Elva with me, were called into the sitting room for an announcement.

Elva had brought one of her toy stuffed animals, a teddy bear with a polka-dot bowtie. She held him to her chest with her arm wrapped around his.

She squeezed it tighter as Nathan began the announcements.

“Bears have been spotted in the area,” Nathan said. “More than are typical for this time of year.”

Some of the girls whispered and looked at each other.

“If anyone sees a bear, you are to immediately report it,” Nathan said. “This is no joke, and no game. This, I’m afraid to say, is war.”