She turned back three times, checking to see if he was still watching her. Troy waved at her the first time. Not trusting himself not to do it again when she inevitably looked back a second time, he stuck his hands into his pockets. She did look again, like he knew she would. This earned her a naughty wink for her bravery. When she turned back for the last time, she was holding onto the wall, biting back a grin, about to enter the castle. He blew her a kiss, sending her into a fit of giggles. She didn’t even know why she was laughing. He laughed too, at how ridiculous they were being, two future monarchs putting off a trip to make eyes at each other. “Get a grip Aria,” she scolded herself, as she all but ran down the corridor, suddenly in a hurry to be done with her packing. Aaron advanced towards Troy, but Bart stonewalled him. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me,” said Troy, taking off too.“You’re just going to let her go?!”“I don’t li
As he took her around the room, Troy started paying attention again because he loved how excited she got when one of them won. The first time she did it, he was thrown, returning her enthusiastic embrace a second too late, as she had already started pulling her arms away from around his neck. While the thrill of gambling was going to her head, her touching him was going to his. The more they won, the more she touched him. Aria made no attempt to initiate holding hands, kissing or hugging before, but now she was all over him like they hadn’t just had their first date yesterday. They were having such a good time that when they got up to their hotel room, Troy realized that he hadn’t thought this through after all. Yesterday she was the woman he was going to marry, end of story and he would have gone to bed with her in a heartbeat to seal the deal. But then he met her last night, really met her, met the her not at war, saw different things in her eyes, new things. She even
“Believe this if you believe nothing else I say. I came for you. And maybe I got sidetracked along the way, maybe we both did, but all that was before last night. I hadn't met the incredible woman from last night yet. Hadn’t decided that I don't care about the other guys as long as you say I'm the one you want yet. Hadn't kissed you yet. Hadn't decided that this woman really needs my help learning poker yet.” She finally laughed again. “I’ll teach you whatever you want me to, but it doesn’t have to be all at once. Isn’t it about time we gave our time to people who actually want it? To each other? I’m here Aria. I want you and I’m not going anywhere unless you ask me to.” Her lips, her tongue, the warmth of her mouth were all so uninhibited as she slammed them against his and flew into his arms that he was second guessing himself, afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold back after all. He wasn't wrong. There was another guy, but this time she didn't want there to be anymore. There
2017, October 9th “Rule number three, CC. This is especially important tonight. The person you’re about to meet is no joke. He’s barely even human. He will exploit any little weakness you show,” Troy warned. “Sounds familiar,” CC said sarcastically. She was still angry about the way she’d let him play with her, the way he’d handled the proposal, something she may never get again if she did end up married to him in three days. Glass houses though. She was going to use the night as a means to a literal end herself, but he ended up one upping her. What’s worse, when it was happening she could almost see it, being married to him. Troy was smart, passionate, took control of a room and handled things. Clearly she had a type because all the things she liked about him reminded her of Bart. If there was no Bart, she was sure she would have fallen for him that very first night, because unlike Bart, Troy came for her, and continued to come for her. Even now when they were fighting, he was w
This little speech gave Troy pause. He didn’t know if Dean would tell him, but he had to ask. Maybe something would slip out, maybe he could make his older brother show his hand a little. Troy went up to Dean, watching him closely as he stuck his nose in Dean’s face. “Isn’t it about time we inspired something else? What would you rather we do Dean? Who would you like to hand Diane’s crown to?” “Diane is lovely, truly the apex of my heart, but she’s as naive as her fiance. Monarchs need to be made of a certain something. Like you, like me.” Troy grabbed his brother by the throat, squeezing mercilessly. “Let me be clear Dean. If Diane or Ethan or anyone from this household come to any harm because of you, if you reach for the crown, if you even think about it, I will make you my enemy for life. I won’t stop until you’re dead.” The brothers were staring each other down. Their eyes were the mirror of each other’s, dark death in them, as Dean ripped his brother’s hand from his throa
2017, June 4th(Caines, Terres Somnia)Another insufferable ball.The excuse for it?It was his birthday.Lord Bartholomew Arden would rather be sitting in his room preparing for midterms. Duke Arden took Bart around the room to meet with the nobles in attendance. Their dealings with the Arden House were drilled into Bart's head. 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 might get to see Caroline. Things between their families were still very unstable. Bart hadn't seen CC since the last time she came home from boarding school.Unknown to King Henry, electing to spend the year abroad was step one in shunning his wishes for her. She intended to attend fashion school next year.Bart didn't know if his birthday was a good enough reason to bring her home right before midterms.Relief washed over Bart as his mother approached with a friend i
Caroline (CC) Condor was halfway through clearing the lower level of the Arden ballroom. As she steadily made her way to the stairs, he came out of nowhere. He was in front of her before she knew it. She tried to sidestep him, the way she had every man who tried to ask her to dance up until now. However, 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 once more. He held out a hand to her. “However, I 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 wished he hadn't. It was a waking nightmare. The kind where she
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 did he? 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. Being danced with by a man who was gawking at another woman was something else altogether. 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.Even Bartholomew couldn’t not look. Her amber eyes demanded attention as he towered over her. When next he laid eyes on CC, he had to do a double take, they both did.“Wow, you guys are liberal about what happe
This little speech gave Troy pause. He didn’t know if Dean would tell him, but he had to ask. Maybe something would slip out, maybe he could make his older brother show his hand a little. Troy went up to Dean, watching him closely as he stuck his nose in Dean’s face. “Isn’t it about time we inspired something else? What would you rather we do Dean? Who would you like to hand Diane’s crown to?” “Diane is lovely, truly the apex of my heart, but she’s as naive as her fiance. Monarchs need to be made of a certain something. Like you, like me.” Troy grabbed his brother by the throat, squeezing mercilessly. “Let me be clear Dean. If Diane or Ethan or anyone from this household come to any harm because of you, if you reach for the crown, if you even think about it, I will make you my enemy for life. I won’t stop until you’re dead.” The brothers were staring each other down. Their eyes were the mirror of each other’s, dark death in them, as Dean ripped his brother’s hand from his throa
2017, October 9th “Rule number three, CC. This is especially important tonight. The person you’re about to meet is no joke. He’s barely even human. He will exploit any little weakness you show,” Troy warned. “Sounds familiar,” CC said sarcastically. She was still angry about the way she’d let him play with her, the way he’d handled the proposal, something she may never get again if she did end up married to him in three days. Glass houses though. She was going to use the night as a means to a literal end herself, but he ended up one upping her. What’s worse, when it was happening she could almost see it, being married to him. Troy was smart, passionate, took control of a room and handled things. Clearly she had a type because all the things she liked about him reminded her of Bart. If there was no Bart, she was sure she would have fallen for him that very first night, because unlike Bart, Troy came for her, and continued to come for her. Even now when they were fighting, he was w
“Believe this if you believe nothing else I say. I came for you. And maybe I got sidetracked along the way, maybe we both did, but all that was before last night. I hadn't met the incredible woman from last night yet. Hadn’t decided that I don't care about the other guys as long as you say I'm the one you want yet. Hadn't kissed you yet. Hadn't decided that this woman really needs my help learning poker yet.” She finally laughed again. “I’ll teach you whatever you want me to, but it doesn’t have to be all at once. Isn’t it about time we gave our time to people who actually want it? To each other? I’m here Aria. I want you and I’m not going anywhere unless you ask me to.” Her lips, her tongue, the warmth of her mouth were all so uninhibited as she slammed them against his and flew into his arms that he was second guessing himself, afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold back after all. He wasn't wrong. There was another guy, but this time she didn't want there to be anymore. There
As he took her around the room, Troy started paying attention again because he loved how excited she got when one of them won. The first time she did it, he was thrown, returning her enthusiastic embrace a second too late, as she had already started pulling her arms away from around his neck. While the thrill of gambling was going to her head, her touching him was going to his. The more they won, the more she touched him. Aria made no attempt to initiate holding hands, kissing or hugging before, but now she was all over him like they hadn’t just had their first date yesterday. They were having such a good time that when they got up to their hotel room, Troy realized that he hadn’t thought this through after all. Yesterday she was the woman he was going to marry, end of story and he would have gone to bed with her in a heartbeat to seal the deal. But then he met her last night, really met her, met the her not at war, saw different things in her eyes, new things. She even
She turned back three times, checking to see if he was still watching her. Troy waved at her the first time. Not trusting himself not to do it again when she inevitably looked back a second time, he stuck his hands into his pockets. She did look again, like he knew she would. This earned her a naughty wink for her bravery. When she turned back for the last time, she was holding onto the wall, biting back a grin, about to enter the castle. He blew her a kiss, sending her into a fit of giggles. She didn’t even know why she was laughing. He laughed too, at how ridiculous they were being, two future monarchs putting off a trip to make eyes at each other. “Get a grip Aria,” she scolded herself, as she all but ran down the corridor, suddenly in a hurry to be done with her packing. Aaron advanced towards Troy, but Bart stonewalled him. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me,” said Troy, taking off too.“You’re just going to let her go?!”“I don’t li
2019, December 8th Bart and Aria ran into each other during the morning sparring session. He gave her a warm smile and she returned it. She looked better than she had in the corridor yesterday. He was happy to see her in such good spirits. “Are we doing this or what?” “You and I both know I don’t have a chance against you on my own,” she grinned. “Excuses,” he said, charging at her, wrapping his arms around her waist and picking her up the way Ethan used to. “This doesn’t exactly seem like a fight to the death,” she laughed. “It’s been a minute. I wanted to check in on you,” he said, looking up at her, his eyes softening. “Do it with your eyes then and stop being so hands on,” Aaron snapped, walking up to them. “You two look like you’re screwing.” Anger was coming off of Aaron in waves. He’d been going crazy all night wondering what happened last night between Troy and Aria after they left the fountain, dripping wet and laughing like a bunch of fools. She’d never l
They’d never danced together before, but that night CC and Troy danced for hours, all but forgetting what they were supposed to be doing here until the announcement came. They shared a look. She was suddenly uncertain and in that moment, Caroline Condor was just a girl. Troy looked at the ring that had been brought to him, the one he meant to give her tonight. He went down onto one knee and pulled a box out of his coat pocket. She gasped when he opened the box. The ring he held, the one he was about to propose with, was his grandmother’s. Caroline wanted to bolt. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t say yes, certainly not to that ring. “I met you over four months ago and it was the most terrifying night of my life. Not because your brother punched me, although that wasn’t very fun.” The crowd laughed. CC smiled too, her heart in her throat. “But because I laid eyes on you, heard you speak, held you in my arms and knew alm
Here we go,” Aaron sighed, watching the dance and shaking his head. He felt her arm tighten around his as she linked them. She was pulling him onto the dance floor before he knew what was happening. “Far be it for me to refuse a woman, but what’s happening right now?” he asked, as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I’m not exactly supposed to be here,” she whispered. Aaron chuckled. “Oh, it’s my mystery woman. I was wondering when you’d show up. What’s with the funny hat?” he asked, laying one hand on her lower back and the other on her head as he swayed to the music with her. “You didn’t know who it was, but you just let yourself be pulled along? Just let some random woman—” She stopped short. Aaron smirked, swallowing his laughter. He was super tempted to pull her head back and kiss her again. He’d known the moment she laid her arm in his that it was her. No other woman would demand, take quite like her. “Are you going to show me your ridiculously cute je
Troy pulled her onto the dance floor. She went without protest, something CC had never done before. They hadn’t danced together since the ball he met her at a few months ago. “Alright Caroline, I’ll play. Rule number two. What are you up to?” he said into her ear. Troy didn’t keep his distance like he had the night they met. He held her as close to his body as he could. CC had danced with countless men, but never like this. Never had any of them taken such deliberate steps to hold her like a man holds his woman. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, pulling away subtly. Not subtle enough though. Troy pulled her even closer to him somehow. She gulped. She didn’t realize there could be a closer. “You woke up this morning and just decided you were ready to spend the rest of your life with the man who’s been making you stay with him for the last four months by threatening to go to war with your country?” He spun her out and twirled her back to him. Their eyes met. Did