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
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
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, October 9th Aaron was lying in the middle of a field of flowers on a hill that offered a view of ruins of a castle. They had been headed that way, were still he thought, only he didn't want to ruin the moment. He liked having her so close, liked watching his fingers go up and down her body without her protesting. She'd even let him drag his fingers through her silky, long flames like he'd always wanted to. This was not what he should be doing, not at all, but when Adele showed up this morning declaring that there was peace at the castle after all and asked him out on a date, he was so flabbergasted that he ended up just watching her, letting her drag him along wherever she wanted. "It turns out Duke Dormer was meeting with Diane to relay messages from her brother Dean to her. The royal palace is hosting a ball to welcome the so called Prince of Wars, Prince Dean, tonight. Also, now that that's settled, want to go out with me?" she'd said all in one breath. Aaron grinned, ze
When Aaron got to Elegantor Ludo, Emily had already made it up to her room. He walked through the doors like he owned the place, past The Purple Guard soldiers who didn't dare intercept the pissed off prince and banged on the room door. When she didn't open up, he shot the lock and kicked in the door. He walked straight up to Emily and grabbed her shoulders. "Talk!" "Trust me, you don't want to be involved in this," said Emily. "I'm sorry, did someone else just save your ass? Explain yourself!" Troy and his men showed up then. "Secure the room. Find the kid," he said, watching them fill the room. Emily whipped her head in Aaron's direction. "You called him?!" "What kid?" Aaron asked. Emily and Troy exchanged heated glances. "You know what? Forget this. What does all of this have to do with Adele?" He'd meant to say Aria, but Aaron was tired and confused out of his mind.
2019, December 22ndWhen CC got home that morning, the sun was already high up in the sky. Bart was waiting for her on the porch of the Arden Mansion. This was home now. They'd started living together because CC wanted to be with Bart so that she could hold him at night when the loss of Ethan overwhelmed him. How things had changed. They'd been at each other's throats for the last few days and it always ended the same way. It needed to stop. They had to actually talk. "I'm sorry Caroline. I don't know what else to say. Aria called and said-" CC sighed. "Can her name not be part of the first sentences that come out of your mouth right now? I'm super wasted and I just want to go to bed." Bart turned around and squatted in front of her, offering her a piggyback ride. She smiled. It was a start. She could be mad and still want to touch him. CC wouldn't look at him, but she'd gotten onto his back. Her hands had slipped up his shirt, onto h
2019, December 19thAaron was burning the candle at both ends. He and Jesse had been following both Emily and Troy around for the last 10 days and it was starting to take its toll. He honestly didn't have the foggiest what the big fuss was about, but they were both on the move constantly. And they were both packing some serious heat. Emily had Hotel Elegantor Ludo's penthouse suite drowning in Purple Guard soldiers and Troy wasn't being shy about showing off his manpower either. This was it. Whatever or whomever the big hype was about, shit was going down today. He now knew the identity of the woman in the photograph. Once his head cleared after his drunken night in Maine, he had Jesse find someone to clean the photograph up and find out who she was. She turned out to be Troy's dead sister, Diane. Aaron had been stewing, turning this information round and round in his head. Was that it? Did she somehow survive the war after all? And what would become of Aria and h
When at last he did quiet down, she got up and went to him. Troy got up too and walked away. He remembered what last night had been like. He could have really hurt her. And talking about this stuff that he really shouldn't have talked about, especially not with the woman who he could have choked to death last night, left him shaking with dark rage. All this time spent worrying about who was watching and he had been the one holding her life in his hands. She wanted to say the right thing, to say so many things, but when she finally laid her head against his back all she could say was, "You were right. Your dad was a dick and so is Dean." This earned her a little chuckle. He focused really hard on stilling himself, the anger. She'd seen it once and not flinched, but Troy didn't want her to see it again. Even her acceptance of it was dangerous. He kept going back and forth on what to do, whether they should be together. "I'm sorry I didn't ask before. I ju
Troy entered the nursery first. He took baby Ethan out of his crib and sat down with him on the carpet."Hey kid. You've been waiting a long time for your Aunt Aria, haven't you? I know how you feel. I think I've been waiting a long time for her too."This earned him an eye roll and a smile."You're that guy now? You're going to use your mad baby skills to hit on me?"Troy shrugged, holding out his hand to her."Not much else he can do at this point other than get me into your pants."Her eyes widened and she chuckled. Taking his hand was as effortless as the night he'd offered it to her for the first time, even as she faced this difficult situation. He sat across from her, the baby in between them as they held hands. The moment didn't feel like Aria was afraid it would. It would always hurt that Ethan was gone, that they all were, but this was her family now. The little guy laying his hand into hers and the big goof behind him, watching her and the baby, alw
2019, December 22nd"So which one was it? Boyfriend A or Boyfriend B?"Aria smiled, taking her place next to Troy by the piano."You know, A for Aaron, B for Bart," he said, handing Aria her violin."You're just full of surprises, aren't you? I suppose you really are the jealous type."Only when she held her violin up to her shoulder and started playing did Troy's fingers find the keys of the piano. Was it silly how she liked that he just assumed she would play with him now? Aria was so angry over the last two nights that she didn't see how intertwined they'd become, how he gave her little bits of himself everyday. They hadn't played together in two nights, which meant that neither of them had played at all because they almost never played alone anymore."Which one?" he persisted. "So I can know how jealous I should be.""If you must know, Barry came by to see the baby."She still couldn't say it, couldn't call him Ethan. Troy brushed off his concern.
The oceans in his eyes were on fire and if he was lying, those flames made his lies her truth."How long do you mean to drive me crazy like this? Can't you see what you're doing to me? What you've done to me? Just say you'll be mine, tell me I can be yours," he begged desperately, leaning his body against hers again.What was she supposed to do now? He was leaving today and she meant to reject him, to protect her heart. Aria laughed at herself. She had always known. He'd had her from their first dance in that club. She was already his. Why did he have to make her say it?"I can't do what Diane did, Aaron. I can't look the other way. I can't wait and hope that it'll just be me someday.""Then don't," he said softly. "Let it just be you and me now, from today and everyday after this."He had waited long enough, been looking for her eyes to say yes long enough. If she couldn't get there with his words alone, he'd have to resort to his old tricks. He didn't care
2017, October 12th Aaron had sneaked onto the castle grounds the way Adele had taught him to and then into the castle itself. Diane and Ethan's wedding had just ended and he was meeting Adele in her room like they'd planned. This last second wedding meant that they had even less time together today, so he wanted to get to her quickly. Things back in Terres Somnia were moving fast. Henry was being even more persistent now, so they were leaving tonight instead of tomorrow. The wedding was very low key. Aside from the king, queen, Troy, Caroline, Keira and Adele, there were no other guests allowed, not even Aaron. He wanted to go to spend more time with Adele, but Troy was still being overly cautious with Dean at large. As Aaron made his way to the room he'd spent yesterday in with Adele, he stumbled upon Keira and Ethan making out in the hallway. Sensing someone's presence, Ethan's eyes went to Aaron. He pulled away from Keira. "Please, don't stop the p
When Aria left, it took Troy a minute to decide what to do. People usually did exactly what Troy told them to, especially women. This was new territory. When at last he decided he was going to go after her, he didn't have the foggiest idea where to start. This was feeling eerily like chasing after Caroline and Troy hated it. Everything with Aria had been different up until now. Everything she did with him was of her own volition, even if he did sometimes coax her into things. Aria liked her time with him. What was he going to do when he found her? Would the rage in his eyes scare her? There was no holding it back now. She was not with him. She was out in the open somewhere being an idiot just to spite him. He should've held on harder, been more persistent. He wouldn't make that mistake twice. Aria was about to tell the Red Guard Soldiers she'd been left with that she was ready to leave when she saw him. Troy had just entered the club, looking livid. The way he walked, moved, hi