The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas

I hadn’t wanted to ask Lilliana on a second date, but after a threatening letter from the King this morning and the way he glared at me all dinner long, I knew I had very little choice in the matter. Especially if I

wanted to help protect Piper.

So I had pushed down the part of myself that revolted against the idea, and publicly asked Lilliana. As expected, she accepted simply and concisely with no outward reaction.

That was for the best, I knew. Emotions only complicated things. We didn’t need love between us to get married. Lilliana was best for the kingdom, so I would fall in line.

Even if my heart wanted something else…

Well, it didn’t matter what my heart wanted. I had shut off that part of myself three years before, and no resolution of misunderstandings was going to change that now. It was far too late to open myself up

again.

I wanted to forget about Piper. I wanted her and Elva safe and happy, but not. near me. They were dangerous. They reminded me how things could be, what happiness looked and felt like.

I couldn’t be happy. I had to be King.

But then Julian flaunted her in front of me. She looked gorgeous in the dress Lilliana had so poorly tried to emulate. Piper filled out the dress in a way Lilliana’s stick figure never could. Piper had such delicious

curves and…

Julian had one of his hands on Piper’s hip. I glared at it, hoping to set fire to it with my eyes. I’d never

that ability before, but

throttle Julian for staking claim on Piper, suggesting she belongs to him. But how could I deny it? I wasn’t in a place

firmly closed on

seared inside my chest.

and I had stood side by side in the kitchen the night

I had leaned forward before I

to kiss her so

+15 BONUS

been a mistake, or a trick of the moment, but it hadn’t been. I had wanted to kiss her then, just as J wanted

kiss her now.

I knew it was impossible.

smiled at me in a vague sort

much harder. He knew what he was doing, playing with me.

–

my

meanwhile, caught it

cleared my throat, gathering myself again. The princely mask easily

for us both, Julian,” I said, hating every word. “That we have both found favorites in the

competition.”

someone,

she noticed. He didn’t say