The Luna Choosing Game

But I was my father’s first born son. I had responsibilities to the throne and to the kingdom over myself.

The expectations on me made it impossible to lash out in the rebellious way Julian, as the second son,

was allowed to.

So I gritted my teeth, and I agreed.

When I arrived at the meeting place, on the patio just outside the dining room, Lilliana was already

there, waiting for me. She walked right up to me, no preamble or greeting, and kissed me full on the

mouth.

It was an awkward kiss. Her lips were too firm, not malleable at all. Her body was stiff against mine. Her hands sat on my shoulders with no grip. No pulling, or clawing. No passion at all.

This kiss was miles away from the spark I had shared with Piper, when I had pulled her to me in that hallway and we ravaged each other’s mouths. Piper had clung to me like she wanted me inside of her. I

had totally lost control of myself to the flames, ready to burn with her in that moment.

needed. I would be the one to deliver it and have her

Not Julian’s.

kiss with Lilliana in comparison was entirely

simply because it would be strange to have them dangling at my sides. Maybe this was what she was thinking of too: what

to deepen the kiss. Nor did she try

We stood there, two statues, pressed together at the lips. And we’d stay that way until the cameras happened upon us.

until this nightmare would

I heard the bustle of the

they

Finally.

us. Lilliana and I broke apart. Lilliana appeared appropriately embarrassed, covering her mouth with her hand and lowering her eyes demurely. But there was no blush in her cheeks. No tremor in

was a world–class taker.

was how I felt. I wanted for the world

I was, with the producer jamming a microphone toward my face.

producer said with glee. “Does

Nicholas? Do the other girls even

didn’t answer with more than a sigh, Lilliana stepped in front of

microphone.

Lilliana said. “And the way he kisses…” She pretended to be embarrassed

this. There was no other