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.

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

name. Not

with Lilliana in comparison

them dangling at my sides. Maybe this was what she was thinking of too: what we might

try to deepen the kiss. Nor did

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

seconds until this nightmare would end. It felt

I heard the bustle of the

they

Finally.

appropriately embarrassed, covering her mouth with her hand and lowering her eyes demurely. But there was no blush in her cheeks. No

a world–class

was how I felt. I wanted for the world

with the producer jamming a microphone toward my face.

producer said with glee. “Does this mean Lilliana

girls even stand a

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

microphone.

sweet, the things he says to me in private,” Lilliana said. “And the way he kisses…” She pretended to be embarrassed again, lowering her head. “He’s

was going to be sick after this. There was no other way around