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.

she wanted. Whatever she needed. I would be the one to deliver it and

Not Julian’s. Mine.

in comparison was

would be strange to have them dangling at my sides. Maybe this was what she was thinking of too: what we might look like

deepen the kiss. Nor did she try to pull away.

statues, pressed together at the lips. And we’d stay that way until the cameras happened upon

the seconds until this nightmare would end. It felt like centuries.

bustle of the camera crew.

There they

Finally.

out onto the patio with 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

was a world–class taker.

looked unhappy, because that was how I felt. I wanted for the world

producer jamming a microphone toward my face.

rendezvous!” the producer said with glee. “Does this mean

Do the other girls even stand a

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

microphone.

“And the way he kisses…” She pretended to be embarrassed again, lowering her head. “He’s a

this. There