2019, March 4th

It seemed it had been pouring summer rain for months. In truth, it began only yesterday. Lady Zoey Arden's world had come together at last. Only yesterday he looked upon her as though nothing and no one could take him from her. Regardless of all the terrible things happening in the world, she could not but be happy. He had opened up her heart and not just for himself, but for everyone around her.

She would mend fences with her father, if only for the sake of the wedding. Her new life had given Zoey something she had never had before. Two somethings. A brother and a best friend. Bart held her hand as she stumbled through every situation since she arrived in Caines. She wanted to be useful to him. This marriage would remove the burden of the Arden claim to the throne from Bart's shoulders.

Knowing this made Zoey all the merrier that things had worked out for her and Aaron. After all, marriage was a sacred thing. This union had the power to change many lives but would define hers and Aaron's.

Smiling to herself, Zoey even contrived to be less sullen to Duchess Arden. For the present, she must remain the Duchess as Zoey could not yet spare her the kindness of endearment.

Lying on her bed, getting ready to call her mother, how was she to know that her life was about to change again? Zoey rolled over to smell the red roses on her bedside table. Aaron, her fiance, had had them sent over yesterday. The word fiance still made Zoey giddy.

As Zoey got lost in thought, Bart burst into her room, shut the laptop and grabbed her phone.

"Hey! I was about to call my mom," she complained.

His eyes gave way to something she had yet to see in them. Those ever problem-solving eyes. Zoey didn't know what it was, but she found it unsettling.

"Pack for a few days. I have to get you out of here."

He was stern and his tone, though always somewhat imposing, now held urgency in it. She grabbed at his sleeve.

"What is it? What's wrong Bart?"

"Now Zo!" he yelled, marching over to her window to close the curtains.

She jumped up and started packing. Moments later, Duke Arden thundered up the stairs. Heavy feet walked the hallway leading to the door of her room.

"What is this!" Duke Arden boomed.

He shoved his tablet into Zoey's hands. She looked down at the headline.

Heated Royal Elevator Kiss.

Zoey was dumbstruck. She scrolled down hastily. They had been careful not to display affection in public. This couldn't be. Her mind was racing. When had they been this negligent and how much trouble would this commotion stir?

Then she saw it and her heart stopped. Her brain stopped trying to pinpoint the moment the photo was taken. It was the last thing she wanted to know. She felt Bart's thumbs on her cheeks and heard the whoosh of a sigh leave his body.

"We have to go Zo," Bart said, more gently this time as he wiped away the tears.

"Go?" Duke Arden started. "After causing such an uproar you would have her run off somewhere? She must issue a public apology for making such as spectacle—"

"She must do nothing," Bart interrupted.

Bart's tone was firm. He did not usually speak to his father this way.

Then again, Duke Arden did not know what he thought he knew. And Bart, himself enraged, had only enough patience to be swift.

She would want some time and she would not get it here. He hardly knew how they would spin this one, but this he could do for her. He could buy her some time.

It was over for them and Bart would not let her think otherwise a second time. Not when he had gone against his instincts the first time and allowed her to be swayed.

Zoey heard them going back and forth about what to do, but she couldn't move. Had Aaron done this? On the night of their engagement?

She knew there wasn't time for this, but all she could do was fall apart. It hit her what he had done once more and she wished that she could unknow it.

"We're leaving. Forgive me, father," Bart said in parting, having finished the packing.

"I cannot understand you. This isn't like you at all. They are getting married. It's the 21st century. This may cause some embarrassment, but people will understand. You are being too protective."

"If you do think so, then you must truly not understand. She will be safe, this I promise you."

Bart took Zoey's hand and led her through the hallways she had now become accustomed to. Down the endless staircase and past his mother, who had no doubt come to the same conclusion his father had. There was no time. He would reveal it to them later, or someone would. Right now, they had to go.

(Elsewhere in Caines)

Forest green eyes. Soft, jet-black hair. A body made to look good in anything and a face chiselled by a higher power. These were the attributes of Duke James Beaumont. When he walked into a room, he made it difficult not to stare.

Add to this his fortune and it was no wonder Duke Beaumont was well-liked, despite not liking many people.

James could afford this luxury. Corporations from around the world knocked on his door in want of doing business with Copia. Famed for being a separate entity from the crown, Copia's people wanted for nothing. What they could not make themselves, they imported. That was the extent to which Copia had allowed anything past its borders in the last five years.

Newly a duke at age 26, His Grace's mother, Lady Cassandra Beaumont, was adamant that he marry. To her delight, he agreed.

He allowed himself to be confident that he might have Lady Emily Maine as his wife. The couple had gotten engaged. Despite her father needing persuasion, after seven years of friendship, it finally happened.

James convinced himself that this was his due. Now titled, he was her family's equal. His rival had proposed to another woman. This meant that they were in the clear and he might at last love whomever he wanted. How wrong he had been.

He knew the whole of it without needing confirmation. James Beaumont was such a sort of man. Though he could hardly predict how people would behave, rarely surprised by them.

James stared at the monitor, looking at the title millions had read by now. As he scrutinised the photograph everyone had seen by now, James felt his heart break one more time. It was so familiar a sensation that he almost didn't feel it anymore. Or maybe he deceived himself into thinking so. He didn't know.

He knew only what he saw. Caught in the embrace of the engaged Prince Aaron. Their lips were locked. The photo captured her in a coat. It was nighttime. Aaron's body and dishevelled clothes covered her. The lighting in the elevator was poor. These factors contributed to the woman in the photo being mistaken for Lady Zoey Arden. James knew better. He would know Emily anywhere.

Both women were blonde, attending a masquerade ball. It wasn’t such a stretch. Besides, who could imagine them doing something so stupid at Aaron's engagement ball?

James understood all too well what would happen now. The houses of Arden and Condor were already on poor terms. 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.

Terres Somnia's darkest hour might come soon 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, James called for his car. He had to leave before his father found him and tried to manipulate him. He knew about the scandal that had resulted in Aaron's fiancee being born the bastard child of Duke Arden. Having been labelled a bastard before, James thought of the girl from Rosa. She would not be treated kindly.

He remembered how he'd spent his childhood being hidden away by his parents. Only to have to go on the run five years ago when The King's Guard came after him and his mother. He recently re-emerged into noble society. That too, not as his father's son, but as the infamous Duke of Copia.

With his grandfather Duke Byron's death, James came back under his mother's maiden name. He risked his now peaceful life to do so. He had done this for Emily. She who had long held his heart. Had he then not enough of hers to prevent this?

She claimed to always love him, but things were always somewhat up in the air between her and Aaron. Still, James had let go of his reservations. In return, she betrayed him.

As he drove down the quiet streets of Caines, he thought about her again. This girl whose golden locks smelled of her innocence. James met Zoey at CC's last birthday ball. And though he was spoken for, he was only a man. There was no denying her beauty.

As time went on and James caught up with Aaron, it became clear that Aaron intended to marry Zoey. Unusual as it was for Aaron to take orders, he seemed so taken with her. James was certain he had let go of his attachment to Emily. How idiotic of him, to make plans for a life based on Aaron's words instead of his actions.

Zoey's big, round, bright, sparkling hazel eyes lit up by her smile would not leave him.

Then suddenly, they were before him again. She was staring out the window of a car in the lane next to his. Her eyes filled to the brim with tears and devastation. They looked as he felt. Life on the run had taught him that his survival had to come first, but the urge to protect was strong as he looked at her.

It was like looking in a mirror. In a moment, he went mad. Being in the public eye would wreck his mother. He didn't need to be part of this war. To disappear again was wise. Yes, it made no sense and yet he could not stop the impulse to stop hiding and help her.

James told himself he was out of his mind as he cut the other car off on the quiet streets of Caines. Zoey started. Bart glared and even bared his teeth in a low, threatening growl.

And if James hadn't had the night he had had, seen the things he had seen, he might've turned back and gone home to pack. But he had seen the fruits of his faith in Aaron and Emily. He had laid eyes on her again. Those innocent eyes would haunt him forever if he didn't get out of the car.

He meant to be thinking of Emily, but Emily's face now brought him pain. Was it so bad that the girl in front of him quieted the dull ache in his heart?

Cautious not to make any sudden moves, he got out of the car and raised his hands in the air as if in surrender.

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

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

Their eyes met and in a moment Zoey's body heated up. She'd been cold, numbed by the image of Aaron kissing another woman. More than kissing for all she knew.

Those greener than green eyes drew her in until there was nothing but him. His pain, his anguish. They were all so familiar. It comforted her.

When Zoey looked away, James found he could speak again. Bartholomew, being privy to the details of James' upbringing, was justified in his suspicion. James' mouth moved on its own.

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

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

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

Still, James heard. So focused was he on her. Bart drew his fingers through his hair as he contemplated what to do. He gave Zoey a look before he got out of the car and went over to her side of the car to open her door.

"Five minutes," Bart said to James as he watched Zoey walk over to James' car.

Bart turned his head to his sister.

"I will be right here," Bart promised, folding his arms and leaning against the hood of his car.

Zoey smiled at him and nodded. Why Duke Beaumont wanted to talk to her was another puzzle to be added to the mystery that was him.

After some hesitation, Zoey got into James' car. It wasn't that they were acquaintances at best that unsettled her. It was how familiar he continued to seem despite it. This thought nagged at her.

"What is it you wish to discuss?" she asked.

It snuck up on her. Perhaps she had made a poor decision agreeing to speak with him. The familiar feeling was almost painful.

What was James doing? Even he didn't entirely know. This was new for him. James Beaumont knew which companies he wanted to do business with. What clothes he would buy when he walked into a store. He knew how to solve a problem before it had been reported to him. What he didn't know was what he was doing in a car with Aaron's fiancee. Especially on a night like tonight, when they were both sure to be missed.

He watched her fidget. She played with her fingers, looking for all the world like she would burst into tears at any moment. For the second time in his life and that night, James' mouth worked faster than his brain.

"Marry me."

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

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

The words continued to flow, as though without permission.

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

2018, December 4th

"Are you people out of your minds?" Zoey couldn't stop herself from yelling.

"I met the lot of you two days ago," she sucked in a much-needed breath. "Now you want me to marry some dude I have never even met?"

His Grace raised his hand in dismissal and said, "You are of the House of Arden and you will accept the prince's hand. There will be no discussion on the matter."

Duke Arden, however, was not accustomed to Zoey's temper.

"The hell I will! You know what? How about you keep your money and I keep my hand and we call it even? Cool? Dandy."

She stormed off, well aware that she was bound to get lost in the mansion and not caring at all.

"Why that little... You come back here this instant!" Duchess Arden shrieked.

"She seems to have the right idea," Bart said with a shrug, fishing his keys out of his pocket.

"She shouldn't be having any ideas and neither should you. We do not have the luxury of her throwing a tantrum right now. His Majesty and His Highness will be visiting soon," said the duke.

The lack of gentility displayed by Zoey soon turned the duke's annoyance into anger.

"Ready the Lady Zoey!" He bellowed. "She must be presentable for the visit."

The butler and the maids scattered in search of the lady in question. The place was hardly small and she not knowing her way about it would not help their chances of discovering her.

"The nerve of the man! Does he want to meet me? No! After 23 years, he doesn't want to get to know his only daughter. He wants to use me, as he did with mom. Silly me, thinking it might be different with me," Zoey ranted.

Storming down an unknown hallway, Zoey felt a tug on her hand. She found herself in a room furnished in an arrogant, immoderate style, much like her own. It was well kept, though she could find no evidence of it being in use.

While she examined the room, someone had been watching her. Recalling that she had been brought here, Zoey sought the unknown entity. She spun around and lost her balance. He caught her just as she might have fallen. Her eyes widened as he did, the warmth of his hands seeping through onto the skin of her arms.

"Shush!" he hissed, wrapping his left arm around her waist while covering her mouth with his right hand.

A wink and grin seductively spreading across his face followed. The voices that hit her ears next made her stifle a protest.

"Lady Zoey, Lady Zoey" echoed the maids.

"We require your presence. Please say if you can hear us," the butler, Thomas said, his prudent voice giving way to agitation.

"You're a wanted woman, Lady Zoey," the handsome stranger whispered.

His hand withdrew from her mouth, but without missing a beat, his eyes and lips soon neared hers.

Zoey was a smart woman. She excelled in any endeavour she took on. Unfortunately, Zoey had never taken on dating. Despite ample interest from many suitors, Zoey always seemed to run from the idea. No man, be he handsome or smart or funny, had ever captured her interest. Until now.

Those alluring, ocean-blue, naughty eyes held hers. Nervously searching for elsewhere to look, she found nothing was safe. His long, sandy-brown hair neatly combed into place made her want to make a mess of it. The way his arm enveloped her waist made her want to take a step closer, to curve the rest of her to him. Even his suit wasn't safe. His jacket was open with the first four buttons of his shirt undone. Seeing this made her want to undo more of them.

For the first time, the lady found she wanted for breath because of a man. But Zoey would not remain so for long.

"What do you think you're doing?" She snapped when the voices had passed.

When she took a step back, he only took one forward. This was too much for her and she slapped him. Her mouth fell open. It took effort not to raise her hands and cover her face in horror. He watched a string of emotions dance across her face before he burst out laughing.

"Feisty one, aren't you?" he quipped, mischief swimming in his oceans.

Oh, the things he wanted to do to her! She might've been a mere commoner, but she was beautiful. The way her long golden locks moved with her when she got all worked up was enough to drive any man insane. She was a tiny thing. With inquiring, big, hazel eyes and an hourglass figure. Sparking sexy librarian fantasies in his head.

Seeing how he looked at her, she went back to being angry and stormed off again.

"Wait, wait, wait," he called after her, still laughing. "I was so eager to meet you. When I heard you were at present detained, I thought my heart would burst. I had to come and find you."

He all but sang the words, holding his hand to his heart. When that failed, he jogged a little ahead of her, blocking her path.

Zoey didn't see the danger that was him. It didn't matter who he was or what he wanted. She wanted to leave.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Way!" she demanded, yanking at the doorknob.

"Where will you go? Everyone's looking for you. The moment you step outside of this room, someone will find you."

Aaron grasped his chin between his thumb and index finger and feigned concern.

His question gave her pause. Zoey searched her angry brain for the way out of the conundrum she was in. She was not going to be married off and used as some sort of bargaining chip. No, they would have to find another way. She would have to as well. Perhaps a part-time job or selling off all her mother's bags and shoes.

Aaron could see the gears moving in her head as she contemplated what to do. Her hand was still on the doorknob with only his body preventing the door from swinging right open. He had done this many times, come for some girl in the depths of the darkest nights. But it wasn't night and this girl wasn't pining after him.

Even if he could persuade her to leave with him before the maids found them, how would he get her out? He was not acquainted enough with the Arden mansion to pull off such a feat. It housed not only the Ardens, but a respectable number of servants. If that wasn't enough, there was The Red Guard, His Grace's noble army.

He could make her whereabouts known. This would allow him to look at and speak to her like he wanted. It would also mean she would look at and speak to others and this was the trouble. He was never very good at sharing.

So he did what he always did when he found himself in a pickle. The absolute wrong thing.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Aaron asked, breaking the silence.

This caught her attention. She gave him a questioning look. Her eyes darted to the window and then back to his face.

"Wait here," he said with a nod, as though in answer to an unasked question.

"What? Wait, where are you going?" she called after him.

It didn't matter to her, she told herself as she stood there frozen. Less than a minute later, the loudest alarm she'd ever heard filled her ears. The sound must have reached every corner of the estate, which was at least half the size of Rosa.

Next came the panic and screaming as the maids rushed to get outside. Soldiers poured into the vast mansion to ensure that it was empty. The stranger burst back into the room, a hoodie pulled over his head.

He grabbed her hand and said, "Time to go,” before breaking into a run with her in tow.

"What the hell is happening!" Zoey yelled in frustration.

"It's perfectly alright. A mere ruse to get you out!" he yelled back over the screaming voices and blaring alarm.

"What is it with you people? Are none of you sane?"

"Afraid not," he replied with a laugh.

As they rounded a corner, he pulled out his phone and said into it, "Jesse my man, ready the car."

Zoey's calves were to her the only thing louder than the screams of panic. It felt like they'd been running for hours by the time they made it back to a car the stranger had waiting. That is to say, Zoey assumed it was his. She honestly didn't think she could rule anything out at this point. The driver, a slim-looking young man dressed in a formal black suit, got out of the car and bowed.

"Your Highness."

Zoey did a double take.

"Your Highness?" she echoed.

She looked between the two men in disbelief. The prince's crooked grin made him look even more mischievous as he bowed elegantly.

"At your service, my princess."

The driver turned to Zoey and bowed too.

"My Lady."

"Well, we'd best be off," said the prince.

Taking advantage of Zoey's shock, he bundled her into the back seat before jumping in right next to her.

"Jesse, let's make like the wind and be gone."

Zoey reacted a moment too late. When she tried to open the door, she found it locked and the car had already started moving.

Elsewhere on the estate, everyone was in an uproar, but no one more so than King Henry. With his position not as secure as he might like, he was always afraid of assassination attempts.

"When will we hear what's going on?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Captain Fields, captain of The Red Guard implored with a bow.

Duke Arden stepped forward and said, "Report."

Again Captain Fields bowed.

"Your Grace. The house is clear. The fire alarm was sounded, but there is no indication of fire in the main house. Rest assured, we are currently checking the rest of the premises."

Upon receiving this news, King Henry and Bart came to the same conclusion.

"Where is my son?"

"Where is the prince?"

Jesse was speeding towards the gates of one of the biggest estates in Caines. He was sweating profusely. There was never a dull moment working for Prince Aaron. Jesse had become accustomed to being less of an assistant and more of a getaway driver to the prince. It would take at least 10 minutes to make it to the gate. Jesse wondered what kind of trouble His Highness had gotten into this time as he raced to outrun The Red Guard. No doubt Captain Fields and his men would be at their heels any moment now.

"Your Highness?" Zoey spat the words out as though they were an insult, glaring at the prince.

"Please, it's Aaron to you. We should be on a first-name basis. We are engaged, you know, Zo. "

He winked at her. It annoyed her, but then everything he did was starting to annoy her.

"I am not your fiancee. I will not be bullied into marrying... well you."

"Okay," Aaron shrugged. "Unlock the doors, Jesse."

Jesse rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Okay? Just like that?"

Even him agreeing with her was annoying.

"Zoey, my love, I have no need to bully women into doing anything. They naturally fall for my charms," said the cocky prince.

They were about two minutes away from leaving the estate when Bart stepped out in front of the gates.

"Oh boy. Well that complicates matters," said Jesse.

Any sensible person would have stopped, but Jesse knew better than to ask Prince Aaron if he should.

"Bart," Zoey said the name under her breath.

She wasn't sure if she was glad to have Bart intercept them or not. How could one not be torn when all one's options were lousy?

"Your Highness, please," Jesse pleaded, so nervous that he stepped on the gas instead of the brakes.

Despite her train of thought, the way forward seemed obvious to Zoey.

"Is he going to pull over?" Zoey tapped Jesse's shoulder. "Why aren't you pulling over?"

They were inching closer, but Bart made no effort to move. He stood tall with his arms folded and a bored look on his face.

"You are too cute!" Prince Aaron chuckled.

"What?" Zoey mumbled through a gasp.

"Would you like Jesse to stop?" Prince Aaron asked, delighting in watching her squirm.

"What do you mean? Of course, he should stop," she said, flabbergasted, looking at Aaron like he was a madman.

Prince Aaron's face drew close to Zoey's, until little separated his lips from hers. Her crazed eyes became subdued, hypnotised as her heart rate climbed.

"Are you sure?" he cooed, the words soft and velvety.

He ran a finger along her burning cheek, his eyes on her lips as he watched them part.

"If you're found like this with me, there'll be no discussion about it. You'll definitely be stuck with me then. Are you sure, princess?"

2019, March 4th

Twice now, proposals of marriage had come to Zoey under unusual circumstances.

James' phone rang and the screen lit up to reveal Emily's name.. Zoey stared at it, propped up against the windshield. When the ringing stopped, she found he had 53 unread messages and 71 missed calls.

"Shouldn't you call her back?" Zoey asked.

"She's the woman in the photo with Aaron," James answered, his agitated voice in stark contrast to her timid one.

His face morphed into a look of disgust. Emily would never be sweet Emily to him again.

"I see," Zoey answered, looking down to her feet. "She's your girlfriend, right?"

"Fiancee." James held up a hand, made a fist and bit into it. "Former fiancee."

James watched as Zoey's neurons unravelled. They barely knew each other. That didn't matter though. This was a business agreement and in business, it was good to have your partner be at ease.

"I have no expectations of this marriage. It would be just for show. Much the same thing as what was going to happen between you and Aaron."

Just for show.

Is that what people thought about her marriage to Aaron? Regardless of what the truth of her situation was, James had failed to soothe her. His proposal forced her mind into thoughts of a future without Aaron. Not a single precious moment with him had been just for show to her.

"This is as much for me as it is for you, of course."

"For me?"

Zoey had been so silent that her response took James by surprise. Taking a moment to clear his throat, he went on to clarify.

"A marriage to me will protect you from becoming a pawn in this political war between King Henry and Duke Arden."

James' eyes had glazed over again, his body stiffened and his face hardened. Zoey could feel the chill coming off of his body.

George Arden. More questions popped into her head at the mention of her father.

How had she ended up here? How naive was she to let things spiral out of control the way they had? To give in to George's request of marriage to Aaron?

That was it though. She hadn't meant to. James, George, none of them understood the allure of Aaron Condor.

Zoey looked at the man next to her. James would form no warm attachment to her, nor try to please her or make her laugh and feel alive. Could she live that way when she'd been promised the moon and the stars and been foolish enough to believe it?

Her car door opened. James was leaning over her, his hand on the car door handle. Their eyes met. It was that same look he gave her when he saw her a few minutes ago. He felt so eerily familiar. A moment later it was over and Bart was knocking on the door.

"Come on Zoey. The place is ready," said Bart, looking between Zoey and James with inquiring eyes.

"Yeah, sure," she said, stepping out of the car.

James tugged on her hand. A persistent warmth spread through her as his hand held hers.

"In two hours I will come back to this spot. If you wish to accept my offer, be here."

Zoey nodded.

James closed the door and sped off. The rage was coming in hot and heavy and he didn't want to scare her any more than he already had. Besides, he had to prepare. It was by no means certain that Zoey would accept his proposal, but if she did things would progress quickly.

He would have to put everything away. This was business now, nothing less, nothing more. James felt his pounding heart slow at this thought as he called Emily.

"Hello? James?"

Emily clung to her phone like it was life or death.

"Meet in ten at the place," was all James said before tossing the phone onto the passenger seat.

He sped up again, his face hardening into rock.

Emily's hands shook so hard that she dropped her phone. She picked it up and called back. The phone rang endlessly like it had been doing for the past few hours. Now and then it would say the line was busy.

"What did he say?" Aaron asked, seated on the bench behind her with folded arms.

"He's coming here," she replied, pushing the phone to her chest, in an attempt to stop her hands from trembling.

"And you're sure this is what you want to do?" Aaron got up and stepped up behind her. "You know he won't forgive this."

Aaron rested his hands on her shoulders. Resisting the urge to lean back, Emily pulled away.

"You should go now," she said, looking down at the ring on her finger.

"Emmy..."

"This is between me and him. We owe him this much at least. Let him come to you when he's ready."

The look on Emily's face pained Aaron. This was a new low, even for him. He'd fucked them both over. The woman just out of his reach and the one who gave him her heart. Zoey. Would she understand if he told her his truth? And James, how would he face him again?

"Okay. Call if you need anything."

Aaron's hesitance to leave Emily faded when he spotted James by the fountain in the centre of the garden. Emily drew in a sharp breath and her knees turned to jelly. Aaron stepped back, hiding in the shadows and nodded to her to go.

Emily walked up to James on unsteady feet. She wanted to be moving faster, but slower at the same time. Would begging for forgiveness only end things faster?

In the minute it took her to reach him, she saw the last seven years flash before her eyes. All the time she'd waited to touch him and claim him as hers. Her mind went back to the moment James had asked her to marry him. Lowering her guard led to her thoughts diverting to another memory.

Aaron's lustful lips moulded to hers. His hands up her dress. Her fingers drawing up his back.

With every step she took toward James, she replayed more of herself kissing another man. With effort, Emily shut her eyes and pushed Aaron out of her mind.

She was now close enough to James to see his face. It was tight and devoid of emotion. His hooded eyes opened and looked into her sad, stormy ones. The warm, forest-green eyes she knew so well were empty blackness.

"James, I'm so sorry. Father found out about you and-" she started rambling.

James stuck his hands into his pockets. Emily knew what that meant. His power move. The final nail in the coffin of their relationship.

"The House of Beaumont hereby withdraws its proposal of matrimony to the House of Maine."

His voice was robotic, like a walking telegram. She didn't know if it would ever sound like anything but again when he spoke to her.

"James please," she pleaded, a single tear running down her cheek.

"Under the circumstances, I have decided that it is in my best interest if I marry someone else."

He looked her straight in the eyes as he said this, watching the woman he loved come apart.

His fingers itched to reach out and touch her. The words were on the tip of his tongue. It doesn't matter. I understand. James learned about Duke Maine's outburst and pieced together what must have happened.

If only she had come to him. If only he was staring this betrayal down for the first time. But he had already looked the other way once before. Played the fool for her.

"What?" her voice fell in disbelief.

"The marriage will become public knowledge within the next 12 hours."

"You can't be serious."

"Lady Zoey Arden must marry a prince of Terres Somnia. This will display a lack of lingering animosity between the houses of Condor and Arden."

Emily felt like the blood in her veins had turned to ice.

"What are you saying? Whom do you intend to marry?"

She screamed questions she knew the answers to over the sound of loud rain as it soaked them both through. James looked right past her.

"Come morning, I will claim the title of the crown prince of Terres Somnia. I will also announce my marriage to the new crown princess of Terres Somnia, Princess Zoey Condor."

Emily was choking back sobs.

"Jimmy, don't do this. What will become of you if your claim is disputed? Don't you remember what happened five years ago?"

He remembered alright. That day might haunt him forever. James turned his back on Emily and started walking away.

Then he stopped, looked over his shoulder and said, "Let them dispute it if they dare."

Not staying for the rest, Aaron started running. He dialled and redialed, even though he did not expect Zoey to pick up.

"Damn it, Zoey!" he screamed, pushing his burning calves to run faster. After a string of failed attempts, someone picked up.

"What?"

"Don't do it, Zoey. Don't marry him," Aaron yelled into the phone as he slammed the door shut and fumbled with his car keys.

Bart ended the call and turned to look at his sister. Zoey was staring out the window, lost in thought.

He came to stand next to her. She spared him a glance, then returned her eyes to the gentle rain that had started up again.

"Zoey, what did James want?"

"From the look on your face, it seems you already know the answer," she replied calmly.

Bart grabbed Zoey's shoulders and turned her towards him.

"Did he ask you to marry him?"

Her silence was confirmation enough.

"And? You said no, right? What is he thinking? I know he's upset, but he can't be this stupid."

Zoey's silence continued.

"You aren't actually considering this, are you?" Bart asked, sticking his face into hers.

She allowed her eyes to find his.

"A handsome, rich man asked me to marry him. Tonight. Why shouldn't I?"

"Tonight?" Bart could not contain his incredulity. "Zo, you listen to me. Do you want to get crazy drunk? Marry someone else? I don't care. Marry some random dude off the street. Dye your hair purple. Get a crazy, embarrassing tattoo for all I care. But you cannot marry this man."

"Why not?" she asked, feeling completely detached from the situation.

A vein on the side of Bart's face was now engorged. He inhaled sharply before answering. "Because Zo, James Beaumont is Prince Aaron Condor's half-brother. James Beaumont was born Prince James Condor."