The Lunar Queen [ON HOLD]

I've Been Shot

Chapter 13

Cinder POV

Why did I kiss him back!

I sat on my bed, covering my eyes with my hands. I couldn't believe this. If anyone finds out... Oh stars.

I didn't know if Kai was still out there, so I was afraid to leave, but I had to tell the crew. My ear pressed to the door. There was no sound. I slowly slid the chain over and slipped out.

Nothing, good.

My bare feet padded on the carpeted floor.

I rapped on the door, "Thorne? Cress?"

"Come in!" they chorused.

I walked in to find everyone here. Good, I'll only have to say this once.

"Hey, urm.. I have something to say because I think you deserve to know.." I smiled sheepishly. Some of them looked excited, and the rest looked worried, "Um, Kai, he.. Well, I invited him in my room and h-he kissed me."

Everyone stared at me like I was going to yell "April Fools!" or something stupid like that.

"So.. Yeah. That's it."

"You're serious!" Cress whispered. I nodded.

"AWWW!" Iko squealed, "How Cute!"

I bit my lip hard. Thorne was smirking at me. My retina told me I was blushing slightly. "Shut up."

"I didn't say a word." Thorne raised his hands in the air, palms up. "So, did you like it?"

I blushed more. "I don't know. Why does that even matter? I'm more worried about what will happen when the press finds out."

Wolf spoke up, "Who says they will find out?"

"When have they not?" Iko muttered. "Nosey, no good-"

"Back to what I was saying, you better decide real quick whether you liked it because when the press does find out, that's the first thing they'll ask you." Thorne said, turning serious.

My face must have looked disgusted, "Why?"

"Because, the whole universe is waiting on you to choose a suitor. Everyone knows that the Emperor is one of the most likely choices, especially since you've both previously shown affection for one another." Wolf chimed in. He cradled a can of tomatoes in one arm and had the other around Scarlet. I was glad he was happy again.

"Yeah well, I was saving his sorry back-side from Levana at the time."

Everyone chuckled. I shuffle out of the room and back towards mine. Halfway there, I run strait into the Emperor and Torin themselves. Torin froze and bowed to me. I try to smile.

"Hello Torin."

He visibly swallowed, "Hello your majesty. How are you this evening?"

"I'm well, thank you. I just finished having a meeting with my crew."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kai tense up.

"Hello Emperor." I address him with a very un-Cinder-like sweetness. I see a slight blush on his neck. I don't understand why, though. I'm probably just one of hundreds of girls that he's kissed.

Kai nods in my direction. He lifts my hand up and touches his lips to it gently. I lift my fingers up slightly and brush his chin as I pull away my hand. Torin doesn't seem to notice anything. "Your majesty, perhaps you would like to take a walk? It's a particularly beautiful night." Kai offers.