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The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story novel Chapter 398

Chapter 0398 

That night, the King and Queen finally made an appearance at the night’s formal dinner. They greeted Bridget like a doting set of parents would, hugging her and kissing her cheek. Nicholas and Julian were right there with them

The rest of us candidates were already inside the dining room waiting and forced to watch

God, I’m going to be sick,Tiffany said. She put her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her hands

Veronica awkwardly patted her shoulder

Bridget and the royal family entered the dining room like some kind of royal parade. The King and Queen took their usual seats. Nicholas and Julian stayed standing as they counted the chairs. None of us candidates had made room for Bridget to sit down

It seemed that was to be decided now

Where should I sit?Bridget asked with innocent wide eyes. There were plenty of empty seats at the table. She could just as easily take one as her own

She batted her eyelashes at Nicholas and Julian

Both men moved at once. They personally asked each girl to move down one seat. When Julian came to me, he didn’t even have the nerve to look apologetic

Please move, Piper,Julian said

But Julian” 

No time for arguments,he said. Everyone’s hungry.” 

It felt strange getting the brush off from him. I wanted to snap back and maybe wake him from whatever witchcraft might have ensnared him, but with so many people and cameras watching, I didn’t dare call him out here and now

Later, I vowed in my head, as I begrudgingly rose from my chair. With all the girls shifted; the only open seat now was on the other side of the table, which meant I would have to watch this terrible show of Nicholas and Julian falling all over themselves to keep Bridget’s attention

My jealousy buzzed under the surface of my skin. Nicholas hadn’t looked at me since Bridget stepped out of that car

I lowered myself into my new seat and tried to withhold my growing anger. I felt 

+15 BONUS 

like I was holding a wolf back with only a paper chain

Bridget found her seat directly between Nicholas and Julian. She smiled at them both, they both couldn’t seem to stop looking at her

Susie, dear friend that she was, moved from her previous seat to sit beside me

She leaned in close to whisper, You look like you need a friend.” 

I can’t believe this is happening,I whispered back, careful not to catch the attention of the cameras. This truly was my worst nightmare. Bridget was here, like she had walked out of my worst, darkest dream

If only Nicholas would look at me once, maybe I could endure. As it was, I felt alone. Abandoned

What a foolish notion. This was just a vision of how things were always going to be. The competition wasn’t going to last forever. Eventually I would have to leave Nicholas behind and return to the diner and my apartment. Two jobs to pay for Elva’s medical bills

A curse that still hasn’t been cured.. 

A sister that was still on the run

A life full of hardship and loneliness

Maybe this wasn’t as bad, considering. At least while I was here, I had three steady meals for me and Elva, as well as help with Elva’s medical bills

Even if Nicholas left me early, abandoning me to the competition, I could endure

For Elva, I could endure anything

We should run,my wolf whispered, and I felt the itch of it deep within me

Yes, a run would feel so good right about now. I could let loose and be free, without these worries and hurts hounding me so closely

No. I had to hold myself back

We promised Elva we wouldn’t disappear again, I replied in my mind

Miracle quieted then, not wanting to hurt our pup

Nicholas proposed a toast, and stood up to deliver it. It’s a wonder,he said, holding his drink aloft, what life hands us when we least suspect it.He lifted his drink higher. To old friends.” 

The royal family replied right away. To old friends!” 

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The candidates were slightly slower. To old friends” 

Olivia didn’t say anything, she just drank

Tiffany covered her eyes as she said it

Susie kept her eyes on me

I whispered, To old friends,but I wasn’t saying it to mean Nicholas and Bridget. Instead, I meant Nicholas and me

Nicholas returned to his seat. Bridget gripped his arm

A wonderful toast, Nicholas,she said

I carefully lowered my drink down to the table

Our salads came and I thanked the server as they lowered mine in front of me. I picked up my fork

Across the table, Bridget let her hand linger on Nicholas’s arms. Slowly, she traced her fingers down from his elbow to his wrist

He glanced at her, a bit of surprise in his eyes

Piper,Susie said in a whisperyell

I looked down at my hand. I had bent my fork straight in half

I quickly lowered it down into my lap before the cameras could catch it

Susie gave me a worried look. It was one that I mirrored as I looked back at her

Again, Miracle whispered, Run.” 

God, I wanted to so badly, even more than before. I did my best to hold it in

I somehow mad it through dinner, but at the end of the meal, I felt like I was at the end of my rope. I had to get away. I had to run. I… 

I had to speak with Nicholas

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