LOGIN“Sartis Est is just your speed, Troy. How about we make a deal? I'll let you have this pathetic little country and you back off of Warlanda. I'll even let you keep her, Troy, let you keep them. Your precious new family.”
“You listen to me, you life sucking asshole—” “No! I'm done listening to you, letting you manipulate things to happen just the way you want. Watching everyone fawn over the great Troy Pierce. Even Diane—” “Don't you fucking say her name!” “Either step away from my throne, or she meets me, Troy. I'll make you watch while I kill her, just like last time.” This was the last straw. Dean could take everything, might win tomorrow. Troy didn't give a shit anymore. Her living was not negotiable. Keeping her alive trumped everything. He didn't care if he was being selfish anymore. Dean was never taking her from him, never taking another person from him ever again. “You want me out of WarBut she didn’t do any of that on her own. He was with her, at her side, every step of the way. Troy was her salvation. He carried her through the loss of her family, losing Aaron, the wars and finding baby Ethan. All that while stealing her heart, no matter how hard she held onto it for someone else, no matter how badly she didn’t want, didn’t mean to give it to him, he just kept asking, kept demanding it, kept making her need him. He always told her how strong she was, but Aria only ever felt that way because he was there. Where are you, Troy? I don’t care that it makes me weak to want you. Protect me, come for me, save me, tell me what to do, make me fall in line, anything as long as it’s you, as long as I can be with you. There was a knock on the door before Keira came through it. “We can’t wait anymore, Aria. You need to get ready.” Maids and beauticians flooded the room. Tears aren’t for monarchs, she reminded her
2020, January 11th “You know it’s not that simple, Troy. The House of Dormer worked really hard to give you this shot to take Warlanda. You know Madz won’t just let you leave,” said Nathan, backing Emily and Troy back into the chapel. He had neither the patience nor the time for this shit. Troy walked right up to Nathan, took his hand and the gun he held in it, and pressed the muzzle up to his forehead. “Are you ready to kill me, Nathan? Are you ready to die? Because one of those two things is going to happen tonight if you don’t get the fuck out of my way.” He’d made promises, told her he would come for her and Troy would be damned if he wasn’t doing at least this much for her. There was no point to any of it without her, anyway. He didn’t care if he lived or died as long as he could save her, as long as Dean died. Emily lifted her dress and pulled the gun strapped to her thigh. Nathan’s eyes traveled up
“Sartis Est is just your speed, Troy. How about we make a deal? I'll let you have this pathetic little country and you back off of Warlanda. I'll even let you keep her, Troy, let you keep them. Your precious new family.” “You listen to me, you life sucking asshole—” “No! I'm done listening to you, letting you manipulate things to happen just the way you want. Watching everyone fawn over the great Troy Pierce. Even Diane—” “Don't you fucking say her name!” “Either step away from my throne, or she meets me, Troy. I'll make you watch while I kill her, just like last time.” This was the last straw. Dean could take everything, might win tomorrow. Troy didn't give a shit anymore. Her living was not negotiable. Keeping her alive trumped everything. He didn't care if he was being selfish anymore. Dean was never taking her from him, never taking another person from him ever again. “You want me out of War
She gave him a little smile. The second time really was just right. Aria was glad that Aaron got to meet Ethan, even if they couldn't stand each other. When they fought over her, she felt the affection behind it. Those moments were precious to her now. Even Ethan would have been at peace with her choice, with the incredible man Aaron had become. “Even when I did see Ethan, I didn't care that your brother couldn't stand me. Because it was you, Adele. The woman with the flames down her back. The woman who took things from me I didn't know I could give just by dancing with me. Just by being with me, you made me better. Helped me heal, want more, want to be more, want to be awake, alive for your love, want to spend forever wrapped up in it. Say I can spend forever taking up all the passionate love in you, Adele. Let me be your king, be my queen, like I decided you had to be within days of meeting you again.” She wouldn't be human if she didn't give him bac
She was getting engaged today. He'd been watching her with Aaron, was powerless to stop himself. The smiles were put on. Very well done, but put on just the same. Why did he promise her the world? Why did he show her his all-consuming love, only to take it from her? It was always going to happen this way. Warlanda and Dean were always going to get in the way, to ruin them. He should have left well enough alone. She and Aaron would have figured it out in time. Her naïve heart had no idea just how wild they were for each other until he showed her. Troy never should have shown her that it was them, could only be them. “Indeed, I have, and she should be here any moment.” Troy finally turned around, and even Bart found himself pitying the man. He looked as bad as Aria. The tormented look in his eyes was begging to know how she was. “She'll be okay, Troy. She's marrying someone who loves her. He'll take care of her,” said Bart.
2020, January 11th (Sartis Est) As she changed into dress after dress, seeking his approval for tonight, Aaron's thoughts went to how differently it had gone the last time he had seen her in multiple dresses on the same day. Would they ever reach that place again? “So? This one?” Aria asked. Aaron got up and went to her. “You look absolutely gorgeous in all of them, like you always do in anything you wear,” he said. He knew he shouldn't touch. Heaven knew how she would react, but damn if he didn't want to, if he didn't really, really want to. “You're absolutely useless,” she chided. Aria had put it off long enough. It was time. She reached for the necklace around her neck with unsteady hands. He was still watching her struggle, feeling powerless to help her. She needed more than he was giving her. Aria needed him to put his feelings aside and just be him. So







