The Chase 1
1257 Words
2018, December 4th
Caines, Terres Somnia (Aaron)
Three months before the scandal broke
"f**k," I screamed in agony.
"It was just a little jab. You will be okay." Zoey justified her actions to me as she lifted her 4-inch heel off of my shoe just as Jesse was slamming the brakes on the car.
Jesse whipped his head back, panicked. "Are you okay, Your Highness?"
"Fine," I grunted through my teeth.
Zoey was out of the car before I could recover. My grimace soon turned into a smile as I watched Zoey's younger brother, Bart, take his sister's hand and try to lead her off like she was a naughty schoolgirl. Zoey, however, was done taking orders. She marched her way right up to the gates. The guards bowed.
"Open it up," she demanded.
The guards looked sheepishly at Bart, who was standing behind her.
"I, Lady Zoey Arden, demand that you open the gates right now."
No one could have been more surprised at her words than Zoey herself, but both Bart and I were watching her now, stunned.
"My Lady." Both guards bowed and did as they were told.
The gates began to open. The guards looked at each other nervously and then back at Bart. Bart was watching Zoey, who had turned back around. She hesitated for a moment, before marching right out the gates.
Bart dropped his folded arms and stepped up to the men, who again bowed. "My Lord."
"You're both fired. Get out."
"But Lord Bart," one of them began.
Bart, however, had lost interest. He had more pressing concerns. Any moment now, our fathers would both be there with a dozen soldiers following at his heels. Would he send a car after Zoey himself? Caines was a big place for a small-town bumpkin like Zoey. The aristocrat wore an annoyed expression that intensified when his eyes met mine.
Bart made his way up to my car.
"Get out," Bart said flatly.
"Quite fond of those words, aren't you?" I quipped.
Bart opened the door of the car and, hovering over me, he said, "If so much as a hair on her head is harmed, I will personally make it my mission in life to see you lose the crown."
I laughed. "I didn't think you wanted to be a prince, Arden."
"I have no interest in your crown, Your Highness. We both know, though, that you weren't exactly daddy's first choice."
I flinched. The kid had caught me off guard.
"The word is that the House of Beaumont has a new duke." There was something in the way Bart spoke. He was enjoying the irritation on my face, clear evidence that he had struck a nerve. He leaned in closer. "I'm sure you know him well, Your Highness. Duke James Beaumont," Bart said, slow and deliberate.
Two virile men locked eyes and glared fiercely. Belatedly remembering my mask, my face relaxed into a smile and I gestured towards the seat next to me.
"What is your game, Arden? You can't seriously want me for a brother-in-law."
Bart took a seat, staring straight ahead. "Did you know that despite not being the royal family, the House of Arden has greater political influence over at least half of Terres Somnia than the king? Such influence means that the people trust us and because of that trust, they do business with us."
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes. The Arden empire is one of the richest in the world and second only to that of the House of Maine in Terres Somnia. I am aware."
Bart loosened his tie and sat back to look at me. "So, there's not just fluff between your ears. It seems you do read."
"I'm not marrying her."
"Let me be clear. She is not some hostage. I will not allow any of you to force her into anything."
"My, my, tough Bart, looking out for his big sis. Cute."
Bart grabbed me by the collar. "If you go after her and treat her like a plaything, this marriage will never happen. In fact, I will consider it a declaration of war. I will take your crown from you, one way or another. I will break you."
Bart did not waver. He might have been the younger one of us two, but Bart boasted a bigger build and smarts to rival my own. He would not hesitate to make good on making himself a nuisance. Nonetheless, I wasn't about to show weakness to an Arden.
I shoved Bart back. My pulse was racing, the air thick and suffocating, but neither of us blinked.
Maintaining my cool, don't care demeanour, I threw my hands up in surrender and pointed out, "What do you want me to do? Our dads have practically signed the marriage licence already. I can't just tell the king no."
"No, I suppose that might require some balls."
"You have no idea what it's like being me," I snapped.
"And you have no idea how to treat a woman like she's human. She's not like one of your usual girls. She is stubborn, headstrong and smart. This whole bad boy thing is not going to cut it." Bart got out of the car just as swiftly as he had gotten in. "Cheer up Aaron, this is the part you are good at. Find the girl, get her to like you." Bart turned his gaze on the driver.
Jesse bowed his head quickly. "My Lord."
"Make sure he finds my sister and brings her home. You have until sunset. I will stall until then."
"And if I don't?" I asked defiantly.
Bart's face took on an eerie, aristocratic smirk. "If you don't, I'm sure the king will love meeting Duke Beaumont."
For reasons Bart Arden could not understand, I was more shaken by the brat than I would ever admit. We had barely left the Arden estate when I saw her. Her face was red from the heat, but she was stomping along, no doubt regretting her decision to leave, but probably too proud to go back.
Not that I had any right to judge. The stupid kid had been right, after all. I didn't have any stones. I had been meaning to ask for Emily Maine's hand in marriage as a prince, because I knew I could not do it as just Aaron. No doubt the candle she held for my brother was still burning fiercely, even if I did sometimes manage to make the flame flicker.
James was back, too. Did Emily know? Of course, she knew. I never thought my brother would set foot in Terres Somnia again after he and Cassie fled the country five years ago, but he was back after all.
Zoey sat down on the pavement, her legs crossed and screamed, "What is this fresh hell? It's the bloody middle of winter."
I was startled as her screaming pulled me right out of my brooding. We had been following her for a good half hour from a safe distance. I watched the sweat drip down the side of her face. She was right. It had been an uncommonly hot day for this time of the year. With a cocky grin, I got out of the car.
"Your Highness," came Jesse's voice from the driver's seat.
"Wait here," I ordered.
"But Prince Aaron–"
"I won't be long."
Zoey opened her eyes as an umbrella suddenly came into view above her head. Then, seeing who was holding it, she groaned.
- Writer
