2017, September 5th The last three months had been exactly what Bart needed. Satis Est was beautiful, diverting and lively. They always had something going on, from feasts to street festivals and balls, the party seemed to be non stop. Bart was happy for his friend. In the last three months he watched as Ethan charmed his way into Diane’s heart. They were a completely different couple and even Aria was slowly letting go of her reservations. Bart was on his way to Ethan’s room to check on him. He was late for combat training and despite his goofy, childish demeanour, in the three months that Bart had been here, that had never happened before. Just as Bart was about to open the door and dump a jug of water over Ethan’s lazy ass, the door opened and out walked Diane and Ethan. She blushed and curtsied. “Good morning, Lord Bart,” she said, looking down before disappearing down the hallway hastily. “Good morning, Your Highness,” he called after h
2019, December 6th CC held her head up high as she walked towards Troy's chambers, already knowing that she was about to do something she was going to regret. That she was about to make a deal with the prince of darkness. But her father had already shut her down and she was out of options. CC had to go and get Bart. Bring him back from the clutches of the vixen he couldn’t seem to stay away from. And once she had, she was going to sit him down so that they could talk. Caroline Condor wasn’t about to end up like her brothers. She was second fiddle to no one. Troy was sitting at his desk, attentively typing away on his laptop when CC walked in. Unceremonious as ever, she placed herself decidedly in front of him, slamming the laptop closed. Troy’s sexy brown eyes met hers as she brought her face down to the level of his. He grinned. “Have you had a change of heart, my dear princess?” Troy asked in that voice that was between sultry and charm, the one she h
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