2017, September 6th Prince Troy arrived the next evening with a man in tow, but she was not at his side. Aria had been anxiously awaiting their arrival, not knowing how she would face her rival. The wound was fresh. She meant to avoid this woman, to not go down for dinner tonight, but now it seems her anxiety had been for nothing. The prince’s anxiety, however, persisted as he was welcomed into the castle walls. “Forgive me everyone, I am afraid I cannot stay for dinner after all. I only came to offer a greeting, apologize in person and beg that you allow me to reschedule,” said Prince Troy. Diane went to her brother and hugged him. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Prince’s Troy’s face softened and he smiled at his sister, kissing her cheek. “You look well Di. I am very glad to see it. It’s nothing to concern yourself with. My fiancee’s… a bit of a loose cannon. It seems she and her brother gave Duke Dormer over here
2019, December 6th The ride back to the palace was completely quiet. She didn’t fight him, kissed him as eagerly as he did her, needed it as much as he did, held on just as hard. But when it was over, it was well and truly over. Aria sat as far as possible from him in the SUV, practically hugging the door. Whatever was wrong between them was still very much wrong. The walls were all the way back up. She was safe now though and once they got back to the palace, he would have time to figure it out, whatever it was, and find a way to fix it. Aaron took Aria back to his room when they got back to the palace. He wanted to stay with her a little longer, talk to her, just be with her. “So now what, Your Highness? Are we going to pick up where we left off in the middle of the road?” she asked, popping one of the buttons of his shirt. Of course. This is why she didn’t argue, didn’t protest, came with him so readily. She didn’t want to let him in, at least
2017, October 7th There was some mystery keeping Troy from taking Caroline and Aaron to that castle. After making such a fuss about taking her over there and her making nice on the first night, he seemed to have decided against them meeting after all. They had already been in the country for a month for goodness sake. All the cancelled dinners and brunches, it must be intentional and CC wanted to know why. Today was the same. Aaron was already being driven past the castle’s gates when he got the call. “Brunch is off. Get out of there,” said Prince Troy, ending the call abruptly. “Good morning to you too,” said Aaron, sticking his phone back into his pocket. He was just about to tell the driver to head on back out when he saw her. Those flames going down her back were unmistakable. He got out of the car and followed after her. When she came into view again she was pulling her shirt up and over her head. Aaron watched as the fabric lifted and revealed her
Aria was out in the courtyard, sparring with the men from The King’s Guard. She wasn’t pulling any punches and they were learning that it was in their best interest that they didn’t either. She needed to clear her head after her run in with CC, after last night, after what she woke up to this morning. Her brain was about to implode. When Aria woke up that morning, she wasn’t sure which was worse: the killer headache or waking up in his arms. He looked so peaceful, so angelic, harmless even, when he was asleep. How was he somehow more lethal asleep than awake? He looked like a man you could give your heart to without reservation and it terrified her. She never should’ve stayed last night. No clothes came off, but something did, something much more important. Aaron Condor was not king consort material. She needed to leave that room. Aria had the thought and it was like he’d read her mind. His arms tightened around her. “Stay a little longer,&r
2017, October 8th “This is a stupid idea,” said Aaron, watching CC as she emerged from the partition in yet another ball gown. “This kind of thing is not for a guy like Troy. He will burn you.” “I’ll take my chances. We’ve tried everything else and we’re out of time,” CC answered, holding out her hand for him to hand her a tiara. “I still think-” “You still want to start a three way war,” said CC, cutting him off. Aaron came up behind her and put a tiara on her head, sighing. “How do I look?” “CC, think about what you’re doing. No matter what you do, in five days prince perfect is going to want to put a ring on it. That’s for keeps.” “I know. I’m counting on it.” Aaron sighed disapprovingly. “You know you look amazing,” he said, frowning as he rubbed her arms up and down. “Remember what I said. If he suspects even for a second that you’re acting out of character, that you’re bluffing, the game’s over. You’re done. You lose. So don’t hesitate and don’t start things you can’t finish. An
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 laughed that loudly o
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, zeroi
2019, December 8th & 9th Things didn’t go well for Aria after she and Troy started their little poker tournament. He was absolutely merciless. His teaching style was more throwing you in the deep end than letting you have floaties. He didn’t stop her from taking her clothes off either. Never one to back down from a fight, she could hardly say no. She had been the one to start it after all. It didn’t take very long before she didn’t have a stitch on. As he watched her underwear drop, Troy felt that he had definitely better leave now. He had to give it to her, she had guts. Too much for his liking just then. He walked over to her, taking her in, appreciating the toned body he wasn't going to let himself have just yet. Troy was a gentleman in the truest sense or at least he wanted to be, was trying to be. No matter how sure he was he was walking into a trap, he couldn't make himself stop going to her. Her tricks weren't wrapped up in deceit. She'd let him kn
2017, October 10th Returning home a disappointed man that morning after Adele was a no show, Aaron Condor was about to be a shocked man too. Henry and King Edward, the king of Warlanda, were in a video conference call with Troy and CC. “I’m afraid that with the appearance of Prince Dean in Sartis Est, a union between our countries at this time will not be feasible. I fear for Caroline’s safety,” said Troy. CC gave Troy a confused look. “What are you doing?” “Unfortunately, your fears may be justified,” said King Edward. “Your brother’s amassed quite the following. There are talks of a rogue army. I’m afraid of what he’ll do if he can’t bring Diane home.” “If it pleases Your Majesties, I would like to send Caroline back to Caines, at least until the matter has been resolved,” said Troy, refusing to look at CC. “Absolutely not!” CC exclaimed. “What she means is put us on a