Another Chance for the Luna Queen by Aurora Starling

Chapter 0098

Alexander POV

I gasped in surprise as Ella put her arms around me.

I hadn’t expected it. I thought she’d call my bluff, put her hands out and push me away, or pull back in some way. But instead, her big, dark eyes had closed with anticipation

The soft press of her lips against mine, the warmth of her arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer–it was too much. A mistake.

Gently, and with more reluctance than I cared to admit, I pulled away from the kiss.

Ella’s hazy eyes blinked open, staring at me with a mix of confusion and something else–something softer. I stepped out of her embrace, bending to retrieve the ridiculous plush bunny that had fallen to the ground. I brushed off the dirt carefully before handing it back to her.

She took it with both arms, crushing it against her chest, her expression full of embarrassment and confusion. “What was that?” she asked, her voice quiet but firm.

“Acting,”

“I replied, though my voice sounded strange, even to me. “We’re in public, after all. This is supposed to a romantic moment between us, and even though no one’s close enough to hear our conversation, we should assume we’re always being watched.”

Ella’s eyes narrowed slightly, and though she didn’t argue, could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced by my explanation.

It was only natural that she would be skeptical–because I wasn’t confident in my explanation either. The truth was, I had meant to tease her, but my true motivation had been the growing affection I felt for Ella–an affection that was becoming far too strong for the arrangement we had struck.

Something about her tested my resolve without her even trying. She didn’t play games, didn’t manipulate, and yet, she got under my skin in a way I couldn’t understand.

It wasn’t a Ella was doing intentionally, this was my problem and one I needed to handle. I couldn’t afford

to mess this up.

my partner in this, and we both had our secrets. I wasn’t going

derail everything. I had to maintain control or risk losing everything I’d worked

Ella POV

of the evening with Alexander was pleasant, but there was an unspoken tension

acting, but I wasn’t about to challenge his explanation. I understood why Alexander didn’t want to escalate things between us–he had his reasons,

to either. We needed to stay focused on what mattered: protecting the kingdom from an unworthy king by making sure David never rose to power. Our partnership was built on that, and it was crucial that we

each other’s company, I needed to keep my perspective clear. This

1/3

+25 BONUS

Chapter 0090

nearby hill, where other couples had

head against his shoulder and hugged the plushie he had won for me. Neither of us spoke, both lost in our own thoughts. Yet, there was a warmth and comfort in simply being near him that I allowed myself to indulge

lights as they exploded above us, by my thoughts were entirely on how good it felt

through the crowd toward the parking lot, it was already very late. Alexander, still holding my hand, opened the back door of the

for coming with me today,” he said softly.

I had a lot of

then stepped back to allow me into the

house since it was too late for Alexander to drive me himself, as

tomorrow, and although I could tell he would’ve preferred to

in his hesitation that tugged at my heart, and before I got into the car, I stood up on my and kissed him lightly on

night,” I said quickly before slipping into

Ella,” he said softly, closing the door behind

toes

him through the tinted window as he stepped back, and then the car began to pull away from the curb, leaving a bittersweet feeling

pink inside its ears and on the tip of its nose -firmly tucked in my arms. It was a