#Chapter 70: She’ll Never Be Luna

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