Chaotic Kingdom: Entangled With Two Princes

2017, June 4th Another insufferable ball. And the excuse for it? It was his birthday. Lord Bartholomew Arden would rather be sitting in his room preparing for midterms than be here with his parents and all of these pretentious people. Duke Arden took Bart around the room, drilling into his head the name of every nobleman and noblewoman in attendance and their current dealings with the Arden House. As though Bart weren't already aware of them all. He would have given many things to not have to endure this night. Grievances aside, there was one thing Bart looked forward to about tonight. He would get to see her. At least he hoped he would. Things between their families were still very unstable and he hadn't seen her since the last time she came home. Mind you, there was no guarantee he would see her tonight. She had elected to spend this year at a prestigious boarding school abroad, intending to shun her father's wishes for her by attending fashion school next year. He didn't know if his birthday was reason enough to bring her home right before midterms. Relief washed over Bart as his mother approached with a friend in tow. “Look who I found,” she said in greeting, shutting down Duke Arden’s potential deal, the nobleman they were talking to excusing himself. “Ethan Maine.” Bart held out his hand, a ghost of a smile on his face. “Hey Barry,” Ethan grinned, picked up his somewhat larger friend and crushed his arms around his ribs. Duke Arden scowled at his wife, whose voice he still had not learned to find bearable even after being married to her for 20 years. “You just have the best timing, don’t you?” Duke Arden hissed. “Play nice, dear. It’s Bart’s birthday,” she said, holding out her hand to him. Duke Arden watched his too serious son’s face soften for the first time in days and took his wife’s hand. “I know,” he said begrudgingly as they walked off. “Don’t hurt yourself now,” Bart said arrogantly as Ethan set him down. Ethan held onto his lower back. He wasn’t a freaking giant like Bart, but being the captain of an army necessitated that he look after himself so Ethan’s own routine was rather rigorous. Still, no one could keep up with this guy. Ethan had never seen anything like it. Didn’t matter what it was, Bart seemed to do it better and more efficiently than the rest of them. Bart kept telling Ethan that he’d probably just been slacking off since he got to Terres Somnia, which was likely true. Ethan was sure combat training would be a bitch to get back into when he went home in a few weeks. “Shit Barry, you must have gained 20 pounds since the last time I saw you three months ago, all of it pure muscle too. Look at you, you’re a fucking beast!” “Mind your language, Your Highness,” Bart chided. “How was the visit back home?” “Oh, you know how it is. King’s on my case about coming back full time. Same old,” Ethan said, shrugging the serious stuff off as usual. “I brought someone with me this time that I want you to meet,” he continued, changing the subject. “Better do it quickly too, I bet the chicks are lining up to check you out." Ethan put his hand on Bart’s bicep. Bart slapped it away. He wouldn’t know if they were and it didn’t matter anyway. They would never be her. “This isn’t UC, you dweeb. And you’re here representing your country. Act accordingly,” Bart whispered, himself straightening up. Ethan was about to respond when they walked in and Bart’s deep blue eyes glazed over. Bart folded his arms and zeroed in on her. She was a 6’1” goddess with long, silky, chestnut brown hair pulled back behind her. Her piercing, blue-green eyes and beautiful fair skin. Everything about her seemed to alert you that she’d arrived even before her party was announced. The dress, the shoes, the tiara on her head. Her stance, every elegant step she took. Ethan had seen enough of them to know when a princess walked into the room. She was definitely a princess. As soon as she heard the announcer say, “Presenting their majesties King Henry, Queen Mary and their highnesses, Princess Caroline and Prince Aaron” she was looking too. Until her eyes found Bart’s. When she found him, she broke out into a dazzling smile. Bart, in true Bart fashion, only continued to stare blankly, making no effort to show pleasure or displeasure. But Ethan was becoming familiar with reading his new best friend. “That's her then. Your girl,” said Ethan, watching Bart intently. “She’s not my anything,” Bart returned sharply, turning his back on her. “Someone should maybe tell her that then. She's coming for you, dude," Ethan said, watching her make her way through the crowd. Every few seconds, she threw a glance back up to where they were standing on the second floor. Bart struggled against his rapidly beating heart, telling him to turn back around. To go out and meet her, to give himself a dance with her as a birthday gift. A dance was hardly a proposal. A dance was okay. But Bart was an Arden and Ardens made decisions with their heads. So instead, he pulled Ethan towards him, so that his back was now to her too. “That bad, huh? Hey I get it. She certainly is a bombshell,” Ethan grinned, throwing another glance at her over his shoulder. “Stop looking at her,” Bart growled. Ethan snickered, raising his hands in the air in surrender. “It’s not me you should be worried about.” Caroline (CC) Condor was about halfway through clearing the lower level of the Arden House’s grand ballroom, steadily making her way to the stairs. He came out of nowhere. Was in front of her before she knew it. She tried to sidestep him, the way she had every man who had tried to ask her to dance up until now, but this one was not to be turned away. This man was a prince. He bowed gracefully for her and she gave a quick curtsy, before trying to escape again. “Prince—” he began. “I know who you are,” she said hastily, stopping in her tracks. The prince smiled. “A woman after my own heart. No introductions needed then, Princess Caroline,” he said, bowing gracefully once more before holding out a hand to her. “However, I certainly wouldn’t say no to a dance.” Five minutes passed, then ten and Bart finally admitted to himself that he was waiting for her to show up. Why hadn’t she reached him yet? His curiosity getting the better of him, he turned back around and instantly wished he hadn't. It was a waking nightmare. The kind where she laughs at something he said just as you turn around to look at her and you suddenly realize you should be the one holding her, the one making her laugh. That she should be dancing that dance with you. Ethan threw another glance over his shoulder, saw what was happening and put a hand on Bart’s shoulder. “Better luck next time man.” The longer Bart watched, the angrier he got. With the guy, with himself and especially with her. The angrier he got, the less able he was to turn away. Her eyes met his again. She could always see past the deadpan poker face. He knew she knew that he was fuming and that just made matters worse. As the dance progressed, their eyes remained fixed on each other. With the ending of the melody, CC pulled away abruptly. Bart was about to run out to her and ask her a million unfair questions. Make a scene. Hopefully not kiss her. As if by divine intervention, before Bart could make his move, CC and her partner ran into her brother. Aaron had a girl on his arm, as Prince Aaron always did. It was a mercy really, when it was just one. As soon as Aaron laid eyes on CC, the redhead was all but forgotten. Bart’s eyes had somehow managed to unglue themselves from CC as he followed the redhead up the stairs. As she ascended to the second floor, the redhead watched Aaron be joined by Emily Maine moments later, her own existence evidently entirely forgotten. She let out a cackle of laughter, as though Aaron being a dick was amusing. Now on the same floor as him, her eyes met with Bart's. There was hurt in her warm amber eyes as she approached the two men. She blinked once and it was gone as her gaze shifted to Ethan. “Hey there stranger,” she said, pasting a smile on her face. Ethan’s mouth broke out into a goofy grin as he picked her up and gave her a similar greeting to the one Bart had received. “Aria!” he yelled, setting her down with a thump before taking her hand and presenting her to Bart. “Ria, Barry. Barry, Ria. My sister, who is also a princess,” Ethan said, giving Bart a wink. “He’s never subtle, is he?” Aria said with a giggle as she held out her hand for Bart to shake. “No, he really isn’t,” said Bart, taking Aria's hand. Bart was about to shake her hand, but then thought better of it. The pity swimming around in his eyes was unmistakable as his lips touched the back of her hand. She pulled back sharply, hurt flashing in her eyes again. Ethan rolled his eyes, took her hand and put it back in Bart’s. “Good! I’m glad you’re both aware. Now do my bidding and dance!” Ethan ordered. Aria was about to pull her hand away again when Bart pulled her into his arms. “It’s just a dance,” he said, stroking the vivid, red hair flowing down her back. Aria's small smile didn’t make his heart hurt as she put her head down on his chest the way CC's did. She wasn’t as beautiful as CC either. Bart understood that that wasn’t her fault. To him, no one could be. Ethan patted himself on the back, giving Bart a thumbs up when he was out of earshot of the pair. “I’m sorry about Prince Aaron. It is unfortunate that you have made his acquaintance so soon after coming to our country for the first time,” said Bart. “Are you in the habit of apologizing for other men, My Lord?” “No, I just don’t do well with crying women,” he replied in earnest. “Ethan has you pegged alright. You are just what he said you’d be. Handsome, strong, honest. Where do I get one of you?” she flattered boldly. She looked down to where Bart had been discreetly stealing glances at a couple dancing together and said, with a jab to his chest, “Clearly this one is unavailable. Just my luck.” CC and Bart were trading outright glares now. It seemed she didn’t appreciate his dancing with another woman either. Bart didn’t like how CC was looking at him, or maybe he did. Maybe he liked it a lot. He wasn’t sure. She was getting into his head and he was having trouble focusing on the woman in his arms. Aria Maine had been slighted once too many times tonight. It was one thing for The Casanova of Casanova to ditch her for her cousin on the dance floor, but she didn’t appreciate being danced with by a man who was gawking at another woman. She was a damn knock out and she bloody well knew it. Feeling somehow like she knew this man, what with Ethan talking about him nonstop, she felt she could do it. So she did. She pulled Bart’s distracted head down to her and kissed his cheek.

“Aria Maine will be our guest at the palace for a little while,” Aaron explained, watching Bart’s face do things he’d never seen it do before. “She’s just recently become queen after her family got killed in a war-” “Is she here yet?” Bart asked, an urgency to his voice. He looked devastated, like Aaron had just told him a friend had died. “Should be arriving soon,” Aaron answered. Zoey looked at her brother worriedly. “Are you okay, Bart?” Bart started running, not hearing Zoey, not seeing CC on his way out. “What the hell?” Aaron frowned, as he watched Bart go. Aaron and CC followed Bart out to the front door, where King Henry was greeting the young queen. “Ria,” Bart gasped. Queen Aria smiled a small smile when she saw him. “Lord Batholomew, how good to see you again.” Queen Aria was not prepared to see him so soon. Their last meeting was still burned into her brain, one of few happy memories she had to cling to these days. She’d heard of his engagement. His wedding was to be in two months, so he didn’t make the list for potential King Consorts, but seeing him now, so distraught for her, his eyes shimmering as he was approaching her, the queen couldn’t help but put him back on the list and forget that any other names had ever made it on in the first place. “I’m so sorry Ria,” said Bart, putting his arms around her right there and then, no regard for the king and whomever else might be watching. “So sorry about Ethan, about your parents.” She stroked his neck, feeling the first tear she would shed as queen fall down her cheek. But she was standing in front of a king, in front of the king’s children. She could not afford to show weakness. So she wiped the tear away and pulled back. “Thank you, My Lord,” she said, her voice hoarse. She smiled at him brightly, just like he was used to, and that made his heart hurt more for her. King Henry would have said something, done something, if he only knew what that something should be. Cassandra came up to them, seeing her husband struggling. She and Henry were friendly these days, or at least civil. Even after eight months of living at the palace, she wasn’t quite sure that she was ready to just overlook the last five years. Henry was only glad she hadn’t left. “What the hell is happening?” CC asked, dumbfounded. She’d never seen Bart’s eyes make tears before, never seen him so distraught. “Who is this woman?” “Aria Maine is now the sole surviving heir to the throne of Sartis Est, an ally of Terres Somnia’s. She’s asked for refuge in Terres Somnia while she looks for a King Consort to secure her rule. It’s really tragic, actually. She’s just lost everything, including her home. There are people who don’t think she’s fit to rule. If she doesn’t return to her country and claim her throne with a king consort in four months, she’ll forfeit the throne, to her uncle, Duke Maine. That’s if they don’t find her and kill her first. Her country’s very conservative. While she may rule, it may not be without a man by her side,” James answered. There was silence. “Well, looks like she’s found herself a potential king consort,” said CC, watching Bart with her. It was like looking at another person altogether. She found she could not watch for long. This new Bart was confusing her, making her think that they really were too young for this after all. Not knowing what else to do, CC simply walked away. “We’re coming home,” said James. “It’s not necessary,” Aaron replied, taking her in. She was more striking than beautiful, but he thought that that was by design, a trick in the way she wore her hair or her makeup or something. Her hair was shoulder length and she was shorter than her cousin. It was like looking at Emily, if Emily were a tomboy who cared a little less about her appearance. “Aaron, don’t do anything stupid. This is not just some wounded girl who just lost her entire family. If you thought Emily Maine was a handful, this woman, this queen, is ten times worse. Her reputation precedes her. She’ll see you coming from a mile away.” Aaron looked at CC, still walking down the corridor, listless. He thought about what she’d been through to finally get to a point where she was even ready to talk about a wedding. “I’m the Casanova of Caines. Her being a challenge is half the fun. I’ll handle it.” “Aaron-” Zoey began. “I wore you down, didn’t I? This is what I’m good at, get the girl to like me. Queen or not, I don’t care how smart she is, I can get her to cave. They always cave.” James and Zoey exchanged a look. She didn’t know if she wanted Aaron to manipulate her brother into a marriage. He could see it on her face. He didn’t want that either, but CC had had such a rough time of it lately. “When you fuck this up, the minute you do, call me,” James said. “Your word, Aaron.” But Aaron had already stopped listening. His eyes met with Aria’s. Maybe it was just because he had declared a war of sorts on her too, but he felt an electrical charge between them. Aria stared at the prince turned bastard’s dark eyes and winked at him. This little signal started Aaron on a dark road, one of deception, seduction, cunning, winners and losers. But once he took the first step, he found the next was easier to take and the next easier still until he was jogging to her, down the stairs. He went right up to her, brushing past Bart, took a knee, took her hand and kissed it. “My condolences, Your Majesty,” he said, looking up at her, winking back. Bart was about to chastise him for hitting on a grieving woman, when he saw CC standing in the doorway. There was an uncertainty in her eyes he had never seen before, not when she looked at him. He went to her without a second thought. Not for her but him, because it burned him. He didn’t know why, but it hurt him. He pulled her to his chest and asked, “What’s wrong?” She hugged him back and told her first lie to her fiance. “Nothing.” As Queen Aria watched the exchange, she looked back down at the man holding her hand and said, “Well, I suppose it’s not a list if there aren’t at least three names on it.” December 3rd, 2019 (Caines, Terres Somnia) CC's birthday was coming up. She had only recently started getting her dress ready for her birthday and planning for the next fashion show. Bart was glad to see it. The queen's absence finally seemed to be weighing on her less. CC even applied for fashion school next year. Bart liked watching his fiancee. Shortly after they got engaged, he got himself a too comfortable bean bag chair that he placed in her office. When he dropped by and she complained that she didn't need a babysitter, he swore that he just needed somewhere to study. And he did study. He got through tons of material during his time at the fashion house. Did it take him twice as long as usual because he spent half of the time watching her work? Yes, but she didn't need to know that. It might not seem sensible that it pleased him so much just to watch her, but then there was a time when he would have given anything just to lay eyes on her. A time when they were forbidden. Even now their families thought that they were moving too fast. “You’re too young,” his father had said. As long as she showed up two months from now to marry him, Bart didn't care. A 20 year old man had never been as sure that he wanted to marry someone as Bart was that he wanted to marry CC. "Ouch," he heard her whisper under her breath. As much as Bart liked watching her, he loved going to her even more. She already had the bandaid out by the time he got to her. He looked into her face as he took it from her and put it on her newly pricked finger. "I can take care of my own needle pricks you know,” she complained, ghost of a smile on her face. "I know Caroline," he said, bending over to pick her up. Caroline. Her name out of his mouth made her putty in his hands. He knew it and she knew he knew. It made her furious. His saying her name undoubtedly meant he was going to make her do something she didn't want to and she would allow it, because really there was nothing he wanted to do with her that she didn't want to do with him. "Time for bed, you're exhausted. You can pick it back up tomorrow," he said, taking the unfinished dress from her. "I'm not sleepy," she protested with a yawn, her arms wrapping around his neck as she snuggled up against his chest and her eyes fell closed. "Right, of course not," he said, as he carried her out of the office. Bart took CC to the room next to her office. He had turned it into a bedroom for her to take naps in when she had a show coming up and didn't have time to go home. It was one of many attempts at getting her to come back to work. He probably should have gotten her something bigger than a ¾ bed. CC ended up spending quite a lot of time at the fashion house after James and Zoey's coronation. Being at the palace all the time was still too hard for her back then and she didn't want to put Bart's parents out. Besides, she liked the effort he'd put into the place. It was cozy, she'd told him. She clung to him as he tried to lay her down. "Stay," she whispered, kissing his cheek. Bart swallowed. She'd been especially clingy the last few nights, insisting he stay with her. There was this unspoken agreement between them that nothing beyond kissing would happen until they got married, so he didn’t usually stay the night. He loved her and wanted her to be happy and comfortable, but damn she was driving him crazy. Ever since the first time he saw it, the uncertainty in her eyes, it was like CC no longer wanted what he thought they agreed upon. She was finally getting back to basics and that pleased him, but now there was this. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Did they need to talk about it? But he didn't want to embarrass either of them. He couldn't go there with her. Not while that persistent look of uncertainty left him so confused about what was going on in her head. Bart needed to find a way to make that look go away before they could consummate their love. The moment she asked him to stay, he knew it was coming. Just like the previous two nights, she was straddling him and her warm touch alongside her eager mouth told the story of her intent. He restrained himself, giving her free reign as he fought to not to explore beyond her mouth. For all the good it did him. Tonight her fingers weren’t satisfied with feeling out the buff chest, broad shoulders and rock hard core that hid under his shirt all day. As evidenced by the way she locked eyes with him, bit the corner of her lip as her shirt accompanied her arms up above her head, tonight CC wanted more. Bart gulped as he watched her shirt hit the floor. What was he supposed to do with her shirtless and on top of him, threatening to take off more as she kissed her way down his body? The last two nights he'd managed to get her to fizzle out while spooning her and she'd fallen asleep in his arms. He’d hoped he had deterred her. Instead having caught on, CC only became emboldened. She already had them both half naked. His fingers dancing to the tune of her melody up her back, heading for her bra. Stop. Tell her they needed to talk. He wanted to, he really did, but all his willpower went into not flipping them over and tearing the rest of her clothes off. "I love you," she said, innocent eyes staring down into his. The hot air from her lips mixed with his as he felt the bra he didn't know he had unclasped give way under his fingers. Fuck. He was going to stop now, wasn't he? Her lips pulled up into a smile as she pulled the zipper of her shorts down. He found himself helping her, caressing her shoulders as he dragged her bra straps down her arms. Bra joining the rapidly increasing pile on the floor, his hands went straight for her breasts, squeezing and massaging her chest as her head fell back and she let out the most alluring moan to escape her lips in their eight month engagement. Carefree. Out of control. These just weren’t things Bart ordinarily associated with himself. She just sat up there, taking it all, enjoying herself, lust tainting the love in her eyes. If this was wrong somehow, he'd deal with it later. If she wanted him to stop at any point, he would, but he was done restraining himself. "I love you too Caroline," he said before he cupped her neck and pulled her mouth down onto his, wrapping his arms around her to pick her up and lay her down on her back. She had her shorts down before he'd managed to pull his shirt all the way off, her legs wrapping around him as she welcomed his tongue into her mouth. CC had finally gotten Bart to respond the way she wanted him to. He wasn't gritting his teeth, finding excuses for them to stop. Not tonight. Tonight he was all over her, kissing her and touching her like a mad man. She felt his lips heat up every inch of her skin. Starting with her lips, he moved onto her cheeks, her ears, her neck, her breasts. Tugging on her rapidly hardening nipples with his teeth. “Bart,” she moaned softly. “Don’t stop.” He was everything. Gentle but passionate. Generous and considerate. He kept looking at her, as though to ask her if she was sure. And she was, she really was, but by the time Bart pulled his pants down she found she couldn't keep her eyes open, not even for his ridiculously ripped body. .

He felt her body go limp against his and gave a short laugh. She was lying under him, nothing but panties on with her brief clad fiance hovering over her. His head cleared quickly. He was an idiot. It never should've gone this far. As he pulled the covers over her, he couldn't help getting in next to her. Frustration and pure lust rushed through him as he took her into his arms, but he stayed anyway. She’d be mortified in the morning and he didn't want it to be without him next to her. So he stayed to reassure her. This might have to be the last time he brought her to bed for a while thoughMeanwhile, back at the palace, Aaron and Aria had been making eyes at each other for three days straight. She flirted readily and responded to his little light touches with little touches of her own. Aaron didn't know what James was talking about. She may just be one of his easiest conquests yet. It gave him morbid pleasure to discover that Aaron Condor, The Casanova of Caines, still had it. Aria had gone out to get a haircut that morning, just when Aaron was getting used to the hair too. He decided it was in fact the hair that he didn't like. When he saw her again the day after meeting her, he went right up to her and pulled her hair out of the rigid ponytail she had it in and let it fall down onto her shoulders. As her hair spilled down, Aaron had to admit she was more than striking. She was gorgeous/ This was no small thing. He almost never changed his mind about these things. Aria didn't strike him as shy, so Aaron figured an aggressive approach would be good. Hell, she'd all but invited him into her bed last night when she got into a hot tub with him with nothing but a tshirt and black thong on. There was no touching allowed this time, but damn the way she was looking at him before she opened that book and started reading, then completely ignored him for two hours. It did things to him. Aaron was usually the hunter, but somehow even as he got between her sheets buck naked, he felt a little like her prey. "Get out," she said, taking one look at his greek god-like body and apparently deciding she was going to pass. She sat down at her dresser and took in her new hairdo. And as she did, so did he. His mouth went dry, jaw dropped to the floor. She was wearing a knee length, violet dress. On her feet she wore classical black high heels. Aaron had always had a thing for black heels. Everything came together with a charming diamond necklace to subtly draw attention to her rack, which ladies and gentlemen, was also fantastic. And then of course there was the new haircut. Gone was the girl next door. There was no ponytail today and probably wouldn't be for a while. The way the chin length haircut framed her face made it look like red hair was invented for her. Wait, did she just tell him to get out? Aaron promptly slipped out of the bed and went to stand behind her, making sure she got a good look in the mirror. She looked, of course she did, she ran her eyes all the way down his body, surveying him like she was considering buying a slave and then went back to looking at herself and touching up her makeup. "Impressive," she said apathetically. "Five stars." What the hell was happening? This was not a response Aaron Condor was used to. Stay calm Aaron, she's just playing with you. On the inside, she's a wreck. A complete mess. They always are. "Usually this goes a little differently," said Aaron, turning on the charm. "Usually I show up in someone's bed and I get a 'how do you want me?' not a 'get out.'" As he approached, Aria felt her pulse quicken. Of course his body was doing things to her. She didn't think he would go this far this quickly. Hell just last night he was a being a fucking gentleman, as much as Aaron Condor could be asked to be a gentleman at any rate. He had looked, boy had he ever, but he didn't try anything. Now here he was ambushing her in her bedroom! He was standing right behind her now, bending his head down to her neck, staring down her dress as he watched her in the mirror. "Sounds like your usually is screwing a bunch of airheads," she answered, turning around, just as his lips grazed her neck. She stared straight at his package, put a finger just above it and dragged it up his six pack before putting her finger in her mouth and sucking it. "Like I said, impressive," she said, her eyes darkening. She got up, grabbed his head by his hair and pulled his face down to hers so that she was looking him straight in the eye. "Still not impressed though." He snaked an arm around her waist, his head dipping down to her chest. She inhaled sharply as she felt the skin of his face, his hot breath, make contact with her breasts, her chest, shoulders and neck, felt his hands go down her arms, down her sides before he slid them down and grabbed her ass. He looked into her eyes. They were dark with lust, but there was no emotion in them. She was attracted to him, wanted him, but not like this. He was wrong about her after all. This victory, even if he did get her into bed somehow, would be short lived. He was sure he would blow her mind and she his, but then where would they be? She wasn't some airhead, as she'd put it. She wouldn't be begging him to come back. If anything, sleeping with her now would probably only get him out of her system faster. Aria saw it in his eyes. She'd won this one. She hadn't the foggiest why. He probably could've taken her right there and then and she would no doubt have let him, but he had found a reason to fall on his sword and she wasn't about to question it. She needed to get Adonis the hell out of her room. "Next time, try harder. At least make some effort," she said, licking his cheek before sitting back down. He stepped back, gave her a naughty crooked grin as if to say challenge accepted and turned around. He pulled up his pants and walked right out the door. Aria let out the breath that she'd been holding. She was here to find a King Consort, not play hot and cold with Aaron Condor. What the hell had she been doing the last three days, acting like a child, making him think she'd spread her legs just because he came calling? She needed sanity. Something concrete. Reliable. Someone who would help her keep order. Aria needed someone that hadn't been at the palace lately. She needed Barry.

2017, June 5th The drive from the airport to the castle took Bart's breath away. True to its name, Sartis Est was exceptionally beautiful. He took in the hills, mountains, pebble roads, streams, old ruins and knew that coming had been the right choice. "Father, allow me to introduce Lord Bartholomew Arden," said Ethan as they entered the drawing room. The king and queen were just sitting down to tea. "I never met a straighter arrow. I'm sure by the end of his stay you'll wish he was your son instead of me," said Ethan, chipper as ever. Aria gave Bart a concerned look as she went to sit next to her mother, holding onto her shoulders as both women watched the situation unfold with bated breath. Undeterred, Bart stuck his hand out to the king and said, "Thank you for having me, Your Majesty." The king looked at Bart's hand, sizing him up from every angle as he walked circles around Bart, staring him down. "Are you truly the son of a nobleman? You should know better than to offer a king your hand. Show some respect!" King Victor boomed sternly. Bart shrugged. "Born and bred to be a crown prince, I'm afraid the etiquette of bowing was never one I was raised to adopt. I have offered many kings a good old fashioned handshake though and it usually goes okay." Duke Arden had been taking Bart with him to meet with kings and world leaders alike for the last five years. King Victor was not the first king to protest against his lack of decorum. It didn't bother Bart anymore. They eventually got over it. But because this king was Ethan's father, Bart added, "Forgive me for having offended you, Your Majesty, but Ardens bow to no one." Bart didn't flinch as he gave King Victor this frank response, even as the king's eyes continued to bore into his. The room went silent as Bart withdrew his hand. "You bowed your head to me," Aria argued with shining eyes. Only she would say that in the face of danger like it was nothing. Bart's gaze shifted to her. "No, I bent my head briefly to kiss a beautiful woman's hand. It's hardly the same thing," Bart argued back. Only he could flirt with a woman in front of her angry father and somehow make it seem noble. The family exchanged mysterious glances as Bart went back to folding his arms. He took a seat like absolutely nothing had happened, the deadpan poker face perfectly in place. "Alright, that's time!" Ethan exclaimed with a grin, sticking out his palm. "Cough it up! Five bucks each!" Bart looked around the room as everyone burst into laughter and the atmosphere turned merry. King Victor and Ethan dropped on either side of Bart. Ethan grinned at his father. "I told you he wouldn't budge. Now give it!" Ethan insisted, sticking his hand out under King Victor's nose. "Alright, alright," King Victor conceded, slapping the fiver into Ethan's hand as he put an arm around Bart's shoulders. "Where did you get this kid? He's got nerves of steel!" "Wait until you see him do literally anything else," said Ethan. He jumped up and dropped next to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. Queen Elaine smiled warmly at Bart, apologizing for her family as she handed her son a note. Bart allowed himself a smile of his own while he watched Ethan chase Aria around the room as she held out the note for him to claim. Soon Bart found his attention soley taken up by Aria. Listening to the sound of her musical child-like laugh, watching her ponytail swish back and forth as she tried to outrun Ethan. Aria must have felt Bart's eyes on her because she looked at him and it was her undoing. Ethan soon caught up with her. She was so busy watching Bart watch her that she didn't even feel the money slip out of her hand. Yes, coming had definitely been the right choice. "So how about it? Want to be a prince after all?" King Victor asked, squeezing Bart's shoulder as he looked between him and his daughter. Bart was spared the pain of having to answer this very uncomfortable question by the appearance of a woman. "Welcome home," she said cautiously. The uneasy atmosphere returned to the room, this time without a hint of pretense. Ethan went to her and kissed her forehead, pasting a smile on his face. She tried to smile back, but it was a strained exchange. "This is Princess Diane, Ethan's fiancee,"said Queen Elaine. The queen's voice was as kind as when she'd apologized for her family's silliness, but it was troubled too. The king and queen were both somewhat uneasy, watching Aria's temper flare up. Before Bart or Diane could acknowledge each other, Aria snapped. "Why is she still here?" Bart had never heard Aria sound angry before. The hurt behind the anger however, was familiar. "Aria, don't start," King Victor warned witb a sigh. Aria brushed past the engaged couple and stomped right out the room. "Ria!" Ethan called after her. Diane looked at Ethan guiltily and pulled away. She curtsied to everyone in the room and tried to smile again. Ethan put a hand on her back and gave Bart an uneasy look. "She's just having a bit of a hard time with the idea of me getting married, that's all," Ethan explained. There was obviously more to the story. The woman next to Ethan looked uncomfortable, like she didn't want to be here any more than Aria wanted her here. Was it an arranged marriage? But that didn't explain Aria's lashing out like that at the sight of her. "I'll go and get her," Bart offered, watching Aria's retreating back. "Sure. Thanks Barry," Ethan said with a defeated nod, leading Diane towards his parents. After excusing himself, Bart took off after Aria without much thought about where she might be leading him. When Bart finally caught up with Aria, he found himself in front of an indoor pool. She was floating in the middle of it, in nothing but the shirt she had been wearing and a pair of panties. His eyes fell first on the little puddle that was her shorts, shoes and bra at his feet and then onto her hardened nipples imprinting on the shirt. "Shit, I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, immediately looking away. Aria smirked despite her concerns. Ethan was too trusting and her father couldn't see past this damn treaty. It made her blood boil. But there Bart stood, ever the gentleman. Somehow that fact made her feel better. She couldn't take her eyes off of his embarrassed face, now covered by his big hands. Cute was probably the wrong word for Bart, but she could think of no other word to describe him just then. She let her feet hit the surface of the pool. "You can look now," she said. He pulled his hands away from his face cautiously. Her playful eyes and curled up lips came into view. "You really have to stop apologizing for things that are out of your control," she teased. The water covered every inch of her except her head and yet he still felt like he was doing something wrong as he looked at her. "Want to talk about it?" he asked, his question followed by a gulp as he tried to figure out where to look. "Want to come in?" she countered, her flirtatious eyes daring him to refuse. "I could always come out if you prefer." Saw that coming. Bart's brain flashed back to the state he'd found her in and he turned his back on her. "Are you going to tell me about Diane if I do?" A light giggle fell from Aria's lips. She couldn't see the man who kept turning away from her coming in after her unless he intended to do it fully clothed. "Okay, but you have to strip down to your undies. No tricks," she said, calling his bluff. His jacket hit the floor and it was her turn to gulp. He undid one button and then another until his shirt was on the floor too. Aria inhaled sharply. She knew he was completely ripped under his tailored suits, but damn if seeing it wasn't something else. Aria was not a stranger to shirtless men. She had sparred with her fair share of them. Bart didn't sparr without a shirt though, so this was all new to her. When Bart stood before her in nothing but briefs, she found herself unconsciously taking a step back. He hadn't moved yet. He just looked at her with that arrogant, stern gaze. Aria found she was suddenly extremely hot. Wasn't the water ice cold a moment ago? Bart dove into the pool head first and swam a lap before popping his head back up in front of her. She watched his perfect form as he glided through the water. "That's just not fair," she muttered, watching the water he'd brought up with him pour down his burly body. He grinned at her stunned face, enjoyed the fact that he'd finally one upped her. "So? A deal's a deal." She smiled back at him, reaching out to touch his chest. Aria wasn't thinking about Ethan or Diane or their messed up situation. All she wanted was to be wrapped around him. "You should probably talk to him about it yourself." Bart had been getting looks like that for years. He didn't know it of course, because he didn't usually get close enough to women to see it. He'd certainly never stripped down to his underwear for one. The more her hands explored his torso, the less he wanted to talk about Ethan and Diane. Aria had tied her hair up into a bun, presumably for the swim. Having last seen her hair down at his birthday ball, it suddenly seemed very important to him that she had it down and not up. His hand went to her hair and he undid the bun, pulling the scrunchie onto his wrist as he brought her hair down. "You should wear it down more," he whispered. She looked up at him and found his deep blue eyes staring down into her amber eyes. Unguarded tenderness greeted her. Okay fine, so maybe he was the one making her all hot and bothered. So, so hot and so damn close. "It looks better down," he added, running his fingers through her knotted hair carefully so as not to hurt her. What was she thinking inviting him in? She was a total fake, a complete flirt and nothing more. Aria didn't do stuff like this. Why hadn't she been as on edge as he was when he got here? She might have been laughing then, but she certainly wasn't now. "Diane doesn't love Ethan, certainly not like he loves her," she caved. Aria wasn't sure why she was telling Bart their personal family drama, but it seemed to distract him enough that he didn't mind her arms going around his neck. "Then why—" "Remember the prince from the ball? The one who was dancing with your girlfriend?" Having CC brought up stung. Suddenly Bart realized that he hadn't thought about CC since his arrival. It had been a whole day. Bart's thoughts had been all Aria and Ethan until now. And while the idea hurt, Bart knew that he would be thinking of CC even less in the future. Seeing Bart frown, Aria pulled away. This Bart was surprised to find, stung too. "Looks like you do. Well Princess Diane is his older sister. Ethan and Diane's engagement, it's purely political. A way to unite nations or whatever," Aria said with an eye roll, splashing at the water in frustration. "I see," Bart answered, waiting for her to carry on. "I just don't want Ethan to be unhappy. There are rumors about Diane having a thing with someone from her home country. That's probably why she freaks out every time Ethan goes near her. Stupid idiot fell for her the moment he laid eyes on her." Bart was smiling at her again, resulting in her directly her frustrated splashes at him. "I'd put those pearly whites away if I was you." "Was I smiling?" Bart chuckled, mesmerized by her pouting lips. "Yes, you've been doing that a lot lately," she answered, laughing too, splashing him again. Bart needed to stop smiling at Aria so much, it was unfair. His body, his laugh. The way he'd already won over her entire family. Just a few seconds ago he was depressed again about the princess from Caines. His princess. Aria's heart couldn't take the back and forth. He made getting hurt look so good though. Taking action for the first time since he'd come to stand before her, Bart slipped hos arms around her waist and lifted her up. She gasped as her legs naturally wrapped around his waist, her hands cupping his neck as her thighs tightened around his hard core. He'd made the move, but now his eyes seemed to be wavering. "It's just cute how worried you are about your brother," Bart said, his gaze dropping to her lips. "But he's a grown ass man. He can take care of himself." As their lips neared each other's, she let out a sigh. He wasn't going to kiss her. This just wasn't their moment. "Guess I'm being a hypocrite. I'm always in the boat he's in with Diane, even now." "Ria—" When he started pulling away, she tightened her hold on him. "Get me out of here, won't you handsome?" Bart pressed his forehead against Aria's. She was beautiful, fun, smart and packed a mean punch. Bart had never smiled or laughed so much in his life. Why couldn't it just be enough that he wanted to kiss her? Why did he have to go thinking about bloody consequences? She saw the internal conflict on his face and kissed his cheek. "Just walk Barry." As Aria clung to Bart, he laid his hands on her back, holding her in place as he crossed the pool. His feet and mind were at war, debating whether to get to the end quickly or drag it out. She laid her head down on his chest like she had the first time. His arms tightened around her as he endeavored not to say anything and just do what she asked.

December 4th, 2019 James: So she shut you down? Zoey came up to James and wiped away a bit of cream off of the corner of his mouth and stuck her finger into her mouth. James grinned at her. Aaron: Okay, that's really gross. Save the foreplay for the 23 hours of the day during which I'm not looking at your faces. Aaron picked up his tablet as he started pacing again. Aaron: And no, I shut me down. It just felt like she was one upping me or something. Zoey: The cream's from the cake we just had. Get your mind out of the gutter. The blush on her cheeks said otherwise. James looked at Zoey's red face and he took a deep breath, wrestling with the words he was about to say. James: You talk to him. He's freaking out that his new play thing is owning his ass. I'm going to finish up with dinner. James got up, kissed his wife on the cheek and left for the kitchen. Aaron: Dinner? He cooks? Zoey: He does. He's pretty good too. Aaron: Naturally. Zoey: Ron, do you like Aria? Aaron's face scrunched up in denial. Aaron: What? Of course not. This is all about getting CC and Bart hitched, period. Zoey: I spoke to Bart last night and they're doing just fine. More than fine from the sounds of it. An exasperated Aaron raised his hands up into the air. Aaron: That's because they haven't been to the palace since Aria got here. CC's probably freaked out about seeing her again. Zoey: She's not a porcelain doll, Aaron. She can handle an ex-girlfriend. At that wording, Aaron stopped pacing. Aaron: Bart told you that? He actually said that they were a thing? Zoey: It's complicated. Aaron: What the hell does that mean! Zoey threw a look over her shoulder, pulling the tablet closer to her face as she bent forward. Zoey: Do you know why I fell in love with you? Aaron: Zo, you aren't changing your mind, are you? I mean it's a little late, but— Zoey: Forget it. You're on your own. Aaron: Okay, okay. Goodness, you and James are so touchy. I'm listening. Zoey: The Aaron I met that first day wasn't trying to pull a fast one. He wasn't just trying to get into my pants. Aaron: Speak for yourself. In answer to Aaron's amused smirk, Zoey gave him a frustrated glare. Zoey: If you want her to really like you, there can't be any tricks. You gotta give a little to get some. Aaron snapped his fingers, a light bulb going off above his head. Aaron: That's it! She has to like me! Like actual feelings and shit. Usually women just like me anyway, but she's going to need some work. That way even after I sleep with her she'll still have a reason to come back, leaving Bart and CC in the clear. Problem solved. Zoey: That's not exactly—" Aaron: Thanks Zo. Got to go. Love you guys. Aaron ended the call. Zoey:... what I said. James chuckled, adoration coloring his facial features as he leaned against the door frame, watching Zoey sigh. He walked over and laid his head down in her lap. He looked up at her as she stroked his hair with a worried look on her face. James: Dinner is ready. Zoey: Maybe we should go home after all. James shook the can of whipped cream in his hand up and down. James: You worry too much. So he has a little crush. Big deal. You said it yourself. Bart and CC are fine. What's the worst that could happen? Zoey: Now, they're fine now. I have a bad feeling about this. This woman is going to eat him alive. James: Speaking of. James filled her mouth up with cream before shoving his tongue into it, pulling her mouth down onto his as he kissed her hungrily. James: I think we've indulged my brother enough. Phone call ban is back on. Zoey: But Jamie— She let out a little purr against his lips. James: No buts, wifey. Do you have any idea how many things you are wearing right now? Takes too much time to get to you these days. He sunk one knee into the sofa, brought his face back up to hers then let his other knee come down on the other side of her, straddling her. She pouted. Zoey: But you made dinner and I dressed up and everything. James: Oh I noticed, believe me I did. He growled, pulling the spaghetti straps down her shoulders, his lips following his hands, leaving behind feather light kisses in their wake. When the kisses, light little licks and nips at her neck and collarbone had gotten her all worked up, he got up and walked back out the way he'd come in. He turned back around at the door, a smirk on his face as he watched her compose herself while staring daggers at him. James: You coming? I made dinner, you know. Meanwhile, back at the palace, Aaron was making dinner plans of his own. He didn't know if Aria would come, since he'd sent the invitation, yes a physical invitation, a bit late and it was already eight. Who was he kidding? He didn't know if she would come even if she did have advance notice. Ten minutes after the appointed time, Aaron heard the clicking of heels. Aria wore a black dress with an off shoulder neckline, the same diamond necklace as yesterday around her neck. Her hair was styled into perfect elegant locks. The heels were blood red. Her outfit was more conservative than the things she'd been wearing around him of late, but that just made him want to take it off more. He shook his head. He had to remember that there would be none of that, not until she begged for it. Since the moment he laid eyes on her, they'd been ice cold. He endeavored to change that. Aaron had had dinner set up in the most underused place in the palace hoping for privacy. He'd had the rose maze garden lined with candles to light the way so that she could find him easily. She had to give him credit. He certainly seemed to be trying. When the invitation arrived, she was in two minds about coming. The Aaron Condor she'd met over two and half years ago now didn't seem to remember her, leading her to believe that nothing had changed. That he would drop her like a hot potato when he was done with her. Normally that honestly might not have been such a big deal breaker, but she was a queen now with a bounty on her head. She needed a husband, not a fling.

I do hope you don't burn the garden down with the fire hazard you've created back there," she said with a smile. Damn that was some smile he thought, as he pulled out her chair for her. She wasn't playing with him or trying to tempt him. At least he didn't think she was. This smile was soft, maybe even real. It reached all the way up to her amber eyes, making them sparkle. She took her seat and went straight to eating. "What do you want Aaron?" Aria asked bluntly. "We're on a first name basis already? Straight for the jugular, I like it," Aaron said, pouring champagne into their glasses. He could have sworn anger flashed in her eyes for a second, but it was gone before he could make sure. He really didn't remember her. What an asshole. She told herself she wouldn't get emotional about it, but now as he used the same lines on her that he'd used back then she couldn't help it. She was furious. "You have until I have finished consuming this delicious steak. Use your time wisely." "You got all dolled up just to eat steak?" "I'm a queen seeking a king consort. I can't exactly turn away suitors." Aaron chuckled as he watched her make short work of her steak. "Is that what I am then? A suitor? I'm flattered." She shrugged. "You're either a suitor or trying to prevent me from getting the attention of one. Either works for me." Damn, she had him dead to rights. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked anyway, in his signature I'm giving you all of my attention voice. "Obviously you know Lord Bartholomew and I have a… past connection. If it's option A, I'm happy to smile and coo and show when you deem it appropriate. So long as you are aware of my interest in other potential suitors, we can have all the fun you want. If it's option B, well that's even better. Please, do stick around." She was doing it again, knocking him on his ass. Past connection? What exactly did that mean! Aria already seemed to know where all the cards in the deck were, including the ones in his hand. "He's engaged you know," Aaron said with an edge to his voice. He wanted to take it back, swallow every single syllable, but it was too late. If she had been wondering what his agenda was, she certainly knew now. He'd played right into her hands. To say it didn't hurt that it was option B would've been a lie. She dropped her eyes down to her plate for the second it would take her to mask her hurt and then looked back up at him, a cold smirk on her face. "To your sister, I'm aware, but then she's been engaged before and so were you not so long ago, Your Highness. Is it still Your Highness?" The claws were out now. She was pushing all the right buttons, getting him riled up. Back at the fashion house, when Bart and CC woke up the latter was, as predicted, mortified. She didn't speak for several minutes, despite his knowing that she was awake from how fiercely she clung to him, hiding her embarrassment. "Good morning Caroline," Bart said eventually, laughter in his voice. They might not have consummated their love last night, but waking up to CC in his arms brought Bart a special sort of happiness. He couldn't believe he was going to stop himself from staying with her tonight. "Hi," she said, looking up at him slowly. He was beaming down at her reassuringly. But it wasn't okay. How could she fall asleep while they were doing THAT! She wanted to jump out of bed and run. Even if she tried though, it would cost him next to no energy to stop her. He dove under the covers and tickled her. She burst into a fit of giggles, her rigid body spasming under his fingers. "Better," he said, popping his head back up from under the covers. It felt good to touch her naked body, to shamelessly stare at her naked chest, but he was getting ahead of himself and he could tell she was too. Giving in a little, he kissed her. He counted down from 10 in his head and then withdrew. "We need to go. We're meeting with potential caterers in an hour," he said, getting up quickly. She pulled the covers clean off, lying on her side as he pulled up his pants. "An hour's a lot of time." He inhaled sharply, wondering if they could move up the wedding. It was going to be a long two months. Bart eventually persuaded CC to leave the fashion house. He had been present for every single step of the wedding planning. CC wanted to do it all, so they did. They planned every little detail down to the napkins. Sometimes planning the wedding had been the only thing that made her happy, so even though it took a ton of time and she insisted on ridiculous things like them taking dance classes he went along with all of it. Planning something had never been so rewarding. CC and Bart had agreed that she should spend the night at the palace. Since tomorrow was her birthday, she wanted to wake up at home. She wanted to make everyone stop worrying so much about her. This was her first birthday without her mom. It was going to be tough, but she was tired of everyone pitying her. They met up again in the evening, having parted ways after their morning appointment. They were holding hands, loitering about in the garden, suddenly having a really difficult time parting after spending the last three nights together. It was completely by accident. They happened upon the candle breadcrumbs and CC's eyes lit up. She was dragging Bart through the maze before he could tell her that they really shouldn't be here, because this hadn't been his doing. "CC, wait!" Bart called out desperately. But CC didn't stop. Before long Aaron and Aria's first date was officially crashed. "Ria? Why are you here with him?" Bart asked angrily. Aaron and Bart were on friendlier terms these days, but after what happened between him and Zoey, Bart simply didn't trust Aaron with Aria. Aria smiled at Bart. It was the smile from before. The one filled with warmth and sincerity. Aaron wanted to kiss it off of her face. "I was just leaving actually," Aria said, setting her knife and fork down. "No, you're not!" Aaron said, red flames in his ocean blue eyes as he grabbed Aria's wrist. "Unhand her!" Bart screamed. "What's it to you who she spends time with?! You have a fiancee!" Aaron yelled back, jumping out of his seat and pulling Aria out of hers. CC remembered stopping the fist fight that would definitely have erupted between Bart and Aaron at Fortunae a year ago like it was nothing. She wasn't so sure she could stop this one as easily. Just who was this woman? Who was she to Bart? Aria didn't need a man to rescue her, but she sure didn't mind the look in Bart's eyes. She'd missed his kind, tender eyes but the angry ones were doing it for her too. Hearing voices while taking in the grounds, Caines' newest royal guest went to investigate. "So this is where the party's at," he said charmingly. Bart and Aaron, both looking poised to throw the first punch, whipped their heads in his direction and yelled, "Who are you!" The newcomer bowed like a prince that hopped straight out of a fairytale. "He's my guest. Surely you all remember him. He came to Caines about two and half years ago looking for a wife," Aria said, peeling Aaron's fingers off of her wrist. Aria went out to her guest and offered him her hand. He kissed it before surprising everyone by letting go and presenting himself to CC. Shock coalesced with guilt on CC's face as her eyes went to Bart. "Troy," CC whispered. "Hi CC," Troy said, smiling as he took her hand and kissed it. "It's been a while." Aaron watched Bart's anger go from 10 to 100, his hands forming fists as realization came over his face. Bart was shaking with rage. It had been over two years ago, but it looked like Bart recognized the man. Prince Troy was the man Henry had almost married CC off to. This time Aaron stepped in front of Bart, not as his enemy but as his friend. "Dude come on, you're going to scare her. Cool it." Aaron and Bart's eyes met and Bart took a seat, not daring to look up. He didn't want her to see him like this, didn't want her to know what her engagement did to him back then. "You, Romeo. Beat it," said Aaron, putting himself between CC and Troy. CC froze. She let Aaron pull her behind him, watched Bart lose his shit and try really hard to regain control. She wasn't feeling brave, but she went to him anyway, like he'd gone to her in the last few months so, so many times. Bart was in hell, remembering the moment she'd let another man kiss her. It wouldn't stop playing in his head and he really needed it to stop. For her. She put her arms around him, like she wished she could have that night. But he couldn't stay, not even for her. So he pulled her arms away. She caught a glimpse of the pain she didn't know still haunted him before he walked away. "Bart, wait!" she called after him. She wasn't just going to let him go, not this time. CC took off after him, but the maze was vast and complicated and Bart soon gave her the slip. Aria laughed at herself, at how she was still very much in love with how in love Bart was with his fiancee. "Are you crazy?! What the hell is he doing here?!" Aaron snapped, turning his anger on Aria. "Was it something I said?" Prince Troy asked with an easy smile. Aaron had had a really charged evening and was just about ready to punch someone and this smug asshole would do as well as anyone. Aria stepped out in front of Prince Troy. "He's my fiance," she announced. "Thank you Aria,” Aaron said, pulling her out of the way, “for confirming that I definitely want to do this," he continued, suckerpunching the cocky prince.

2017, June 4th CC was thrilled to be back home with her family. When she decided to go to boarding school this year after her father had been nagging her about it for years, she didn't realize just how much she would miss them. London was a different world. CC quickly grew accustomed to freedoms that being a princess had never allowed her, the kind of freedom Aaron always seemed to be able to snatch despite being a future crown prince. As amazing as that freedom was, London didn't have him. Coming back right before midterms was asking for trouble, but she didn't care. It was Bart’s birthday and she meant to see him. This was the year she was going to dance with him, consequences be damned. It really had been too long and the yearning was probably going to her head, but she meant it this time. "Watch out Lord Bartholomew Arden, because I'm coming for you," she said to herself, smiling down at the bracelet around her wrist. Bart gave it to her the first time they met. CC and her brothers were at a playground with Cassie and CC got lost. She was sitting on the roundabout crying her eyes out when it happened. A dark-haired boy with eyes a deeper blue than Aaron's came right up to her and put a bracelet around her wrist. It was made of golden beads and had a little blue heart at the one end of it. He plopped down next to her, rubbing her back with his little hand, not saying a single word. The crying stopped and she looked down at her wrist curiously. "What is this?" she asked with a sniff. "I already had the gum," he said, sticking his tongue out to show it to her, "but you can have the bracelet. I was going to throw it away anyway." She asked a million questions. Who was he? When would her family come and find her? Bart didn't speak again. He just sat there, rubbing her back until Cassie showed up. CC jumped up and flew into Cassie's arms. When CC looked again he was already gone. The next time she saw him it was at a ball with his parents. Like that they kept showing up in front of each other, but because of the animosity between their parents Bart did his best to stay clear of her. CC, true to her last name, did no such thing. She looked for him at every ball, every feast, every outing with her family and decidedly would not be ignored. CC loved her brothers like nothing else. They were her absolute favorite people, but even they came second to Bart. Even though they never met for long periods, only exchanging little phrases when she was able to sneak away to find him, she just couldn't stop watching him, looking for little ways to make moments with him. As the years went by, the more he put distance between them because of their last names, the more she sought him out. She didn't need to be told that he cared for her. While most people found him hard to read or simply too intimidating to want to read, she could tell within minutes of seeing him whether he was having a good day or not, whether he was happy or sad. Maybe she wasn't being fair to most people though. After all, they hadn't been studying his eyes since they were eight. "Are you ready to go?" Aaron asked, pulling CC out of her thoughts as he entered her room. "I sure am," she answered, smiling brightly. Aaron took her in. Few women were as truly stunning as CC in a ball gown. "I missed you, you know?" he said, taking her hand and twirling her around. "I missed you too Ronnie,” she said, giggling in delight. He raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes falling on her wrist. "Not taking the toy off tonight?" "Nope, not tonight," she beamed. "You better not be plotting anything. Henry already has some mystery guest he wants me to entertain tonight. I can't be worrying about rescuing your reckless ass too," Aaron warned, raising his hands in the air in surrender as CC’s smile turned into a frown. "Just make sure mother doesn't see it. She'll blow a gasket." CC kissed Aaron's cheek and promptly brightened up once more. "Thanks Ronnie." "Yeah, yeah," he said, holding out his bent arm to her. It turned out King Henry's mystery guest was less Aaron's problem and more CC's. "You're not marrying her off to the son of the King of Wars. That's literally what they call his dad!" Aaron raged. They were on their way to the Arden residence for Lord Bartholomew’s birthday. How CC had talked their parents into coming Aaron had no idea. But CC wanted them in this limo tonight, driving over to this waste of time of a ball and so they were. "Lower your voice! You're not a child. You know how these things work. This is a great opportunity for Terres Somnia to form a mutually beneficial alliance," King Henry returned firmly. "Caroline is not a piece of land, Henry! She'll be miserable marrying some guy she doesn't even know! Mom, come on!" Aaron persisted. Queen Mary looked between King Henry and Aaron, taking a moment to consider her response. "Nothing's been decided yet. He's just here to see CC at this point, nothing more.” CC had gone quiet. She hadn't grasped the courage to tell her King Henry yet, but CC applied to fashion schools. Caroline Condor had no intention of falling in line, especially when the man in question wasn't Bart. When they arrived at the Arden residence, CC decided to find a way to deal with the issue of Prince Troy later. Experience had taught her that she wouldn't get a lot of time to find Bart and ask him to dance. Something would come inevitably come up. Tonight that something would be Prince Troy. She had to avoid him long enough to get to Bart. Even if it was just one dance, tonight was their night. She would make it happen no matter how hard he tried to avoid her or how many dukes, lords and princes came before her. CC saw Bart right after their arrival was announced. For a moment she couldn't make herself move, her face breaking out into a smile. To the untrained eye, Bart's eyes gave nothing away, but even from this distance she knew he was overjoyed to see her. He had positioned himself strategically, on the second level of the ballroom, no doubt so that he could see her the moment she walked in. Unfortunately this excellent positioning served him in more than one way. Bart must know that his being so far from the entrance would make it difficult for her to get to him. This coupled with the fact that he had now turned his back on her couldn't but upset her. Still, this was just who he was. Logical, loyal, thoughtful, annoyingly practical. She knew it was madness. Had she loved him half as much as she did, she might have been more sensible herself. But as it was, CC was ruined for other men by their meeting that day in that park and every other encounter since. Determined to have that dance, CC braced herself and picked up the skirt of her dress. She made her way through dozens of apologies and excuses, looking up at him every time she managed to progress even a little. She had just about gotten through the worst of it, the men in the room seeming to take the hint, when he showed up. Out of time. He had been too quick for her. Prince Troy bowed gracefully for her and she gave a quick curtsy. Desire defied reason. Her efforts to escape now would be in vain, but she tried anyway. Everything in her called out to Bart. “Prince–” Prince Troy began, pulling CC out of her thoughts. “I know who you are,” she said impatiently, stopping in her tracks. CC liked princes the least. They were the most entitled and demanding and this one had been sent by her father, so she could hardly say no. “A woman after my own heart. No introductions needed then, Princess Caroline,” he said, bowing gracefully again before holding out a hand for her. “However, I certainly wouldn’t say no to a dance.” The internal panic happening inside her combined with his regal gaze made her unable to think straight. He took a step forward and then two. Their eyes met. Magnetic, warm, hypnotic, brown eyes swept over her. He gave off an aura, something between charming and devious. There would be no denying his arrogant face. She had to be civil. Even the smallest slip could cause offense. Prince Troy didn't know about the man in CC's heart. He only knew what he wanted was a dance with the breathtaking woman whose hand in marriage had been promised to him. He saw the hesitation in her eyes as she contemplated fleeing and chuckled softly. He'd never had a woman want to flee from him before. "No?" he asked, knowing very well that she couldn't refuse him. People were beginning to stare at the pair as they stood frozen on the dancefloor. "I regret that I have someplace to be at present, Your Highness," she answered bravely. She stepped aside once more. He took her hand seamlessly and pulled her towards him in one fluid motion. "Then we'd best make it a quick, little dance," he said, dipping her. The trouble with Bart was that he'd been an indifferent lover. If CC could only put herself in his arms, undoubtedly it would be magical. She had successfully escaped all the others, but Prince Troy wasn't like the rest. He was charisma itself. Dripped confidence. With such a man demanding her attention, not shying away from it like Bart did, how could it not be that there was more than the fear of offending him that made her stay? "Very well," she agreed. "One dance." As they swayed to the romantic melody the orchestra playing in the background had floating through the room, Prince Troy said, "If I am to release you, dear princess, I'm afraid I will have to know what this urgent errand is that takes you from me." She fought with herself not to look at either Bart or Troy. "I'm afraid I cannot share that information with you, Your Highness." Troy spun her out and back to him, tilting her chin up to his face with his index finger. "Then I'm afraid I must, very politely, decline your offer to leave." She laughed without meaning to. No sooner had she done it than her eyes went up to Bart's. As expected, he was looking on with livid eyes, his head ready to explode. The more CC wanted to look away, the angrier Bart seemed to get. When at last the song ended, she let go abruptly. "Forgive me, Your Highness," she said, lifting her gown to curtsy again as she prepared to leave. Showing up almost out of nowhere, Aaron’s voice filled the air. "Aren't you two getting on like a house on fire?" Shit. He was shitfaced, probably because Emily Maine was nowhere to be found. That explained the redhead. "Isn't my sister beautiful, Your Highness?" Aaron asked, flinging an arm around Prince Troy's shoulders. "I never met with a creature as lovely and radiant as your sister, Prince Aaron," Prince Troy said, taking CC’s hand and kissing it. "Good! Dance then! Dance more!" he said, throwing CC at Prince Troy. CC's heart was beating a million miles a minute. Where the fuck was her brother?! The one who was dead set against this marriage. She ripped her hand out of Prince Troy's. "Excuse us," she said, dragging Aaron off the dancefloor. "What the hell?!" "What the hell me?! What the hell you CC?! I saw you making eyes at the Arden kid, stomping your way over to him. What are you thinking?!" "Ronnie..." She looked ready to burst into tears. Aaron knew about CC and Bart's little back and forth. He had known about it since it began, nine years ago, when she was eight. At first it was harmless. Cute even. But CC’s attraction to Bart didn’t fizzle out as she grew older, it simply grew. No matter how many times Aaron warned her not to, she always sought him out. Once she’d succeeded in finding him, which was the case more times than not, Bart was a goner. He had the same tell tale signs that she did. Even the stuck up, responsible prick wasn’t immune to the charms of a beautiful woman. Aaron just wished that woman wasn’t his sister. “Let’s just get through this night with Prince Troy and get you unengaged somehow, okay? We’ll deal with your Lord Bart obsession later,” Aaron beckoned with a sigh. Aaron took her hand and led her back out onto the dancefloor, handing her over to Prince Troy. He made sure not to look back. He himself was not immune to the charms of his baby sister. CC was still wavering as Prince Troy held out his hand for her to take again. She was practically on the verge of tears. He followed her gaze up to Bart. “I see. It would appear that my fiancee’s affections are otherwise engaged,” Troy said. It was not a question, it was a statement of fact. By now Bart was kissing someone else’s hand. Getting ready to dance with her. Who the woman was hardly mattered, because Bart was an idiot. Why didn’t he wait to hear CC’s explanation? After she’d manipulated and schemed to be here tonight, all just to see him. Doubt set in. Were Bart and Aaron right all along? Was there no future for her and Bart? CC gave her attention back to Prince Troy. “Not at all, Your Highness,” she answered, giving him her hand again. Two could play at that game, she decided. “And the answer is yes, not that anyone asked me, but I will marry you,” she said tightly as they started dancing again. Prince Troy looked back and forth between Bart and CC, the latter having gone back to shooting flames of anger at each other. “Is that so?” Prince Troy asked. “Very well. Let’s seal the deal with a kiss.” Prince Troy might as well have been talking to someone else. CC and Bart were both drowning in each other. They might have been dancing with different people, but they were in their own world. As such, they were both blown away when the woman Bart was dancing with kissed him on the cheek. “Sure,” CC said absentmindedly.

CC heard the question and heard herself answer. Who could say if she meant it or not? The poor girl was having her heart broken as she spoke the word. The CC that had said yes to Prince Troy’s proposal of marriage and the sealing thereof with a kiss was watching Bart have their magical moment with another woman. Prince Troy was not the kind of man who made moves without permission and he certainly wasn’t the kind of man who forced himself in between a budding romance. He was, however, the kind of man who took what he was promised. Someone not to be ignored. It really hadn’t been his intent to get so swept up in all this. He’d honestly been leading CC into a rejection. He even knew that she was distracted and didn’t mean what she was saying, but damn if her red lips weren’t calling out to his. The perfect prince convinced himself that she had meant it after all and went in for the kiss. By the time CC realized what she’d done, Prince Troy’s lips were on hers, his hand holding onto the back of her head. Just like that, she had had her first kiss, the one she’d been saving for Bart. As she pushed him away, she felt her heart break all the way. Her eyes flew up to Bart, but his back was already turned to her. He had seen and everything was over before anything could even get started. Seeing CC push Prince Troy away with tears in her eyes, Aaron went up to Prince Troy and, without a second thought, punched him square in the face. “Wedding’s off!” Aaron yelled angrily. If CC and Prince Troy hadn’t already created a scene, Aaron certainly had. Aaron took CC’s hand and rushed her out of the Arden residence before King Henry and Queen Mary could get wind of what happened. No words were exchanged as Aaron bundled CC into the backseat of the limo. “What the hell just happened?!” Aaron screamed once they were on the road. CC was crying silent tears, staring melancholically out of the window. “I agreed to marry him,” she answered blankly. “What?! Why?!” “I don’t know! I don’t know.” Aaron dragged his hand over his face and sighed. “Well, for better or worse, the wedding’s off now.” “I lost him, Ronnie.” Aaron looked at his sister and smiled. No one knew better than him what unrequited affection looked like. CC’s was decidedly not unrequited. “Believe me, the way he was looking at you, the only one losing it was Bart.” Even as the words came out of his mouth, Aaron knew that it hardly mattered. Bartholomew Arden would never date, nevermind marry Caroline Condor. Their fathers would sooner burn Terres Somnia to the ground than see it happen. Perhaps for the first time, Aaron finally understood. CC didn’t have a thing for Bart. She was in love with him, had been for nine years. As he sat next to her trying to figure out what they were going to do about the angry Prince Troy, he put his arm around his sister. “Why did it have to be an Arden, CC? Couldn’t you be into literally anyone else?” “If only. There will probably never be anyone else. He’s my yesterday, my tomorrow,” she said, the tears streaking her cheeks, making her makeup run. Shortly after their arrival at the palace, Aaron and CC were sent for by their parents. Sitting up there on his throne with Queen Mary at his side, glaring down at his children, King Henry looked every bit as imposing as he intended to. “Before, your marriage to Prince Troy was an option. Now, it’s an order,” said King Henry, his ruthless voice bouncing off of the walls of the near empty throne room. With that, King Henry rose and left the room. “Mama!” CC cried. “After the stunt the two of you pulled, Warlanda is threatening war. There are no alternatives Caroline. You will marry this man,” Queen Mary informed her daughtercurtly, promptly following the king out the room.

2019, December 5th Aria woke up that morning not knowing what to do with herself. Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed that last button and told Aaron that Troy was her fiance. Did Troy consider what she said to be acceptance of his proposal? And if he did, what was wrong with that exactly? Troy was a future king. He could protect her and her people. Aaron was the bastard son of a king who had yet to address the issue of his title as a prince being restored. Not that it mattered. He had no interest in marrying her, she had to keep reminding herself. This was all about him keeping Bart from her. As thoughts of the former two men swirled round and round in her head, Aria didn’t have the energy to add Bart into the mix too. He had a fiancee with a birthday happening today, one Aria was supposed to be attending. Aria was decidedly not on the Bart bandwagon today. Especially since seeing him last night made her think of Ethan and Aria was not ready to think of Ethan. Not yet, not until she was safely married and her crown was secure. Bart was waiting on a swing in the same park he first met her all those years ago, looking at the one next to it where she should be.They didn’t talk about what happened that night when CC came back to Caines. She was in front of him again and for the first time their families were on civil terms. He could have her and the rest wasn’t important. But it had been important after all. As he thought about what happened last night, he realized what an ass he’d been. He was the one that spent nine years telling her to find someone else and then when she did, when someone else was forced on her, he got mad about it, was still mad about it. It wasn’t fair and he knew it, but his mind would not let him erase the image of another man touching her, kissing her right in front of him and then having to see that man again, it just completely messed him up. She wasn’t even his then. He’d spent two and a half years trying to get it out of his head and couldn’t quite say he had, but it no longer mattered. Because she wasn’t marrying some other guy, she was marrying him. For a moment, he had forgotten that no matter how hard he pushed back then, she always came for him. Even that night she was there just for him. For a moment, he had forgotten that when she said yes to marrying him, he promised himself he would spend forever going to her. “Hi,” said CC, sitting down on the swing next to him. Neither of them slept a wink the night before. It was their first fight, the first time she didn’t hear him say “Goodnight Caroline”, the first time she didn’t put her arms around him before he left for the night in almost a year. He took her hand and replaced the plastic bracelet around her wrist with a real gold one, a little blue diamond heart charm dangling from it. “You’ve probably outgrown this one,” he said, pocketing it. “Happy birthday.” She looked at her wrist with the same wonder that the girl from nine years ago had. His girl. Maybe she wasn’t always, but she sure as hell was now. And he meant to keep her. He’d already spent too much time without her. “It’s lovely,” she said, tearing up. “I like the old one though.” He laughed a little, got up, went to stand behind her and leaned over to put his arms around her. “I don’t though and you never take the damn thing off. The kid who gave you that was an idiot, running from you for so long, when we both knew I was never going to get away from you, never going to want to. I’m sorry. What happened that night, your engagement to another man, all of it. It never should’ve happened. I never should have let it.” His arms closed around her and she felt her heart start beating again. He was here, saying he understood, holding her like she always wanted him to. Last night terrified her. It was like being right back there that night, when she felt Troy’s lips on hers, the moment she knew she’d lost him. But she found him again like she always had. She didn’t regret a second of waiting for him, going after him. It gave them the last year, this moment and every other perfect thing that would come afterwards. “My engagement to Prince Troy was a nightmare. Aaron and I spent months in Warlanda, trying to figure a way out of it. It was never-” “I know. I should have stayed, I should have been there with you. Things were so different back then. I couldn’t make myself fight for you, fight for us. I convinced myself I was doing the right thing for you, that you didn’t deserve the hardship being with me would bring. That was obviously idiotic, because you got hurt anyway. How could I not know being without me was hurting you just like not being with you was hurting me?” She choked on a sob she was holding back. He spun her around and leaned in, wiping her tears away, a deep, tortured frown on his face as he looked at her. “Forgive me Caroline. I swear you’ll never be alone in anything ever again. My life is yours. I swear that no matter what, I will always come for you, come running for you.” She jumped out of the swing and into his arms. He had to restrain himself to not hold on with everything in him like she was, lest he hurt her as she cried her heart out. “Hey come on now,” he said, sitting her back down in the swing, stealing a kiss. “Birthday girls can’t have puffy eyes.” “Maybe you should just say sorry like normal people then,” she complained, laughing against his lips. He laughed too, went to stand behind her again, pulled the swing back and pushed her forward. “There’s nothing normal about how I feel about you, Caroline.” “Ditto.” He took her home so that she could get cleaned up for her video call with James and Zoey. They wanted to come out for her birthday, but CC assured them for the umpteeth time that she was doing okay, more than okay in fact. Bart wasn’t his normal, stoic self during the phone call today. He just couldn’t stop smiling at her. It was like a weight he didn’t know was there had been lifted. They packed up everything CC would need to get ready, which was no small feat and slipped away quietly for the day. He took her to the Arden beach house wanting to be alone with her because he would have to share her with everyone all night. This was the wrong thing to do. High off of the feeling of just making up for the first time, CC was even worse than she had been the last few nights that they’d spent together. They’d spent time alone together many times before and his hands were always all over her, but CC had never been brave enough to initiate a full on make out session, not like now. He knew he was in trouble as she sat down on his lap. Something she’d done for eight months without kissing him like that, without looking at him like that. That look was dangerous. Did she always wear such plunging necklines? He couldn’t exactly control the way his body was responding to her, so he had to keep finding ways to get away from her, to keep her busy. Being outside did nothing to deter her. It was a private beach, so they were the only ones there. After half an hour with her in the water, he was convinced inside had been safer after all. He told her he didn’t want her skin to burn or something, he couldn’t remember. She was making it difficult to think. Bart had helped CC get ready for countless balls, pulled up a hundred zippers, so why did it feel like the zipper was going the wrong way today as he pulled it up for her? Back at the palace, Aaron was anxious to see Aria. She refused to leave her room after last night’s incident and if she did leave it at any point during the day, it was not to see him. Operation romance had 100% tanked. What did she mean that asshole was her fiance? And if that was true, why wasn’t he happier about it? If she had a fiance, it meant that CC and Bart were in the clear and he could stop this whole thing altogether. So why was he so paranoid that she wouldn’t come tonight? Why was he imagining her in her dress? And why did punching Troy feel so damn good? Aaron didn’t get to see Aria, but he did get to see someone. King Henry sighed, looking between his son and Prince Troy and his black eye. “It’s my daughter’s birthday. Is it really asking for too much that the two of you act like adults?!” He turned to Aaron. “You represent this house when you act. The last time you punched him, we almost went to war. Do you really want to be in that position again?” Aaron looked like he was poised for a nasty comeback, but King Henry shut him down, holding up his hand. “And you, Prince Troy. I was under the impression that you were here to engage the attention of Queen Aria so that she might give a favorable response to your proposal, not hit on my engaged daughter. Am I wrong?” Engage the attention of, favorable response. Did that mean she hadn’t given him a response yet? That there was still time? Or was last night her response? Are they now engaged? As Aaron and Prince Troy exchanged glances, it was clear Prince Troy didn’t know any more than he did. Aaron turned his eyes back to his father. “Don’t forget that you’re the one that almost married my sister off to prince perfect over here. He provoked Bart and could’ve cost CC the only person she’s ever loved for a second time. I would throw both punches again in a heartbeat,” Aaron answered. “Besides, he has hands. He can punch back.” King Henry gave Aaron a warning look. Aaron glared back just as fiercely. “I’m a lover, not a fighter. And I apologize for the intrusion last night. I meant no harm. I was simply charmed to see your daughter again, that’s all. Queen Aria is absolutely my only objective, I assure you, Your Majesty.” To Aaron he said, “You needn’t trouble yourself with an apology, Your Highness. I understand that my future queen is a beautiful woman. Who knows what kind of things that face has and can make men do?” Aaron was all fury at his calling Aria his future queen. He didn’t know what Troy was implying by the rest of it, but he was sure he didn’t like it. “Spare me. Keep your charm and your lips to yourself and stay away from my sister.” With that, Aaron got up and walked right back out of the office. He wanted to add “And Aria”, but he had no right to her. If she wanted to marry this prick, that was her problem. It had nothing to do with him. Besides, despite his unstable relationship with his father and his words to him, Aaron didn’t want any trouble with Warlanda. Last time was no walk in the park. They almost lost CC because of his reckless behavior. When Aaron got to the door of his father’s office, he ran into Cassie. She smiled at him. “It’s been a while since I saw that look in your eye.” His anger gave way to a smile. “What look?” “The look of a man in love. Here, I got you something. Women love flowers and heaven knows you won’t apologize with your mouth.” She handed him a corsage. “I’m not giving her that.” She took his hand and put the corsage in it. “Up to you, kid.” *** Entering the ballroom was more difficult for Aria than she had imagined it would be. She watched CC open the dance floor with King Henry and remembered doing things like that with Ethan. Aria wasn’t as close to her father as she was to Ethan. So when she insisted on him taking her out onto the dance floor at her first ball, he obliged happily. He always gave her anything and everything she wanted with a smile. It was funny how a room full of people could suddenly make her feel so weak, when she’d survived fleeing her own country after a war that took her entire family with only a single tear to date. All the smiling faces and happy people made her realize how she didn’t fit with them anymore, because Aria wasn’t happy. She wasn’t sad either. She wasn’t anything. “I got you something. Apparently I’m supposed to apologize or something and I’m not very good at that.” His voice pulled her back to the ballroom. Aaron was standing in front of her with a corsage in his hand. She laughed. Laughing didn’t feel wrong when she was with him. “Isn’t this a little old school for you?” she asked, holding out her hand. “Apparently my playbook isn’t as great as I thought it was. Maybe it’s time to go back to basics.” Damn, he almost seemed like a romantic as he slid the flower onto her wrist. There almost seemed to be depth to him after all. But Aria had changed her mind about him once before and he had changed it right back for her. He took her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor and she let him, because even if he was just playing with her, just then Aria didn’t need a king consort, she needed someone to hold her, just for a little while and he did it so well. She found herself wrapping her arms around his neck. Aaron froze for a second, before responding to this sudden display of intimacy. Just who was playing who here? Were they still playing? As his arms went around her waist, he heard Cassie’s words echo in his head and then Zoey’s. The look of a man in love. If you want her to like you, really like you, there can't be any tricks. You gotta give a little to get some. He couldn’t deny that he liked looking at her, liked the feel of her in his arms. Lately, that hadn’t been the case at all. There hadn’t been a single woman since Zoey and he wasn’t exactly raking them in before her either. He’d been damn near a saint for some time now. He was surprised he still knew how to hold a woman and dance with her at all. His eyes were about to close as he held her close, gave in to how good it felt, when two familiar faces came into view. “Emily? With Troy?”