Marry me tonight... and I will protect you

I understood all too well what would happen now. The House of Arden and the House of Condor were on poor terms as it was. The House of Arden must know about the prince's betrayal by now, or soon would. It would be all about reaction and politics and the dormant feud flaring back up between the two houses. And they were both, King Henry and Duke Arden, merciless men.

It seemed Terres Somnia's darkest hour had come after all and there might be war. How could Aaron be this reckless? Couldn't he at least have been discreet if he had to revert to a past hubris at such a crucial time?

With one more sip of whiskey to wash down the heartache, I called for my car.

I had to leave before Henry found me and tried to manipulate me. I had to buy some time to think. I knew about the scandal that had resulted in Aaron's fiancée being born the bastard child of Duke Arden. Having myself been labelled a bastard on occasion, I found myself thinking of the girl from small town Rosa. She would not be treated kindly. I'd spent my childhood being hidden away by my parents, only to have to go on the run five years ago when The King's Guard came after me and my mother. I had only recently again emerged into noble society and that too, not as my father's son, but rather as the infamous Duke of Copia.

I risked my now peaceful life to do so, all for Emily. She who had long held my heart. She claimed to always love me, but things were always somewhat up in the air with her and Aaron. Still, I had let go of my reservations, only to be betrayed.

I spent time catching up with Aaron. It was evident that he did, in fact, intend to marry Zoey. And though it was hardly usual for Aaron to take orders, he seemed so much taken with her that I was certain he had let go of his attachment to Emily.

How could I have made plans for my whole life based on Aaron's word, which had all our lives been unreliable? Zoey's big, round, sparkling hazel eyes lit up by her smile, would not leave me.

Then suddenly, they were before me again. Her hazel eyes were staring out the window of a car in the lane next to mine. They were filled with tears, shock, and devastation. They looked as I felt. I had to save myself somehow, but an overwhelming urge overtook me as I looked upon her. It was like looking in a mirror. In a moment, I went mad. It was instinct; it was primal. It made absolutely no sense. Being in the public eye would wreck my mother. I didn't need to be part of this war. I could simply disappear again. Yes, it made absolutely no sense, and it absolutely had to be done. I had to help her.

I told myself I was out of my mind as I cut the other car off on the quiet streets of Caines. Zoey was startled. Bart glared and even bared his teeth in a low, threatening growl. And if I hadn't had the night I'd had, seen the things I'd seen, I might've turned back and gone home to pack. But I had seen. I had been betrayed, and I had laid eyes on her again. Those innocent eyes that would haunt me forever if I didn't get out of the car right then and there.

Flashes of uncertainty accompanied images of Emily's face in my mind, but the pangs of betrayal won out.

Cautious not to make any sudden moves, I got out of the car and raised my hands in surrender.

"Move, Beaumont," Bart yelled, sticking his head out of the window.

The words may as well not have been said, because I was looking only at her. This time she looked back, too, seemingly as transfixed as I was.

At last, I found I could speak after all. Bartholomew, being privy to the details of my upbringing, was undoubtedly justified in being suspicious of me. My mouth moved on its own. I had said it before I even formed the thought.

"I wish to speak to the lady, if she will allow it," I said.

"This is neither the time nor the place, Beaumont. The lady—"

"Will speak with you," she spoke, almost too softly to be heard.

But I heard every sound that she made, so focused was I on her. What could have possessed her to agree to my request, I did not know. She seemed petrified at the very idea, and yet determined to go through with it all the same. Bart drew his fingers through his hair as he contemplated what to do. He gave her a look before he got out of the car and went over to her side to open her door.

"Five minutes," Bart said to me as he watched her walk over to my car. Bart turned his head to his sister. "I will be right here," he promised, folding his arms and leaning against the hood of his car.

She gave Bart a smile and nodded, then her eyes landed on me. Uncertainty and curiosity flooded them as she took unsteady steps towards me.

"What is it you wish to discuss?" she asked in a shaky voice.

What was I doing? I didn't know. This was new for me. I knew which companies I wanted to do business with. I knew instinctively what clothes I would buy when I walked into a store. I knew how to solve a problem before it had even been reported to me. What I didn't know was what I was doing in a car with Aaron's fiancée, especially on a night like tonight, when we were both sure to be looked for.

I watched her fidget, playing with her fingers and looking for all the world like she would burst back into tears at any moment. For the second time in my life and that night, my mouth worked faster than my brain.

"Marry me."

The words came out, and I wished them unsaid the next moment. Her large, vulnerable hazel eyes grew even bigger.

"I'm sorry. What did you just say?"

Still the words came, as though without permission.

"Marry me tonight," I said, "and I will protect you."