2018, December 4th

Five minutes before sunset, Aaron set Zoey down in front of the Arden residence.

Aaron had Zoey pegged at first sight. Naive and innocent to a fault, she would have a difficult time as a royal. He liked her all the same. Envied the way she did things for no one but her and spoke her mind. He spent his life pretending about so many things. It was refreshing to know there was another way to live. In another life, he might have been more open-minded about the engagement.

"One Lady Zoey Arden home on time," he said, pulling some leaves out of her hair.

He locked his hands behind his back, in case he misbehaved, before he asked, "Lunch tomorrow?"

Zoey weighed her options. The idea of getting into another argument with George was unappealing. Besides, meeting Prince Aaron made Zoey curious about how other people lived. Her whole world was books. Over the years, with her and mom always jetting off somewhere, she learned to accept that it was safer. People left. Books stayed.

"Take me with you, where you're going.”

She was feeling bold. Tempted by his flirtatious charm. Aaron had that impact on women. He made them want to make choices they would later regret. He took a step forward, analysing her face. Intrigued and pleased by this change, he baited her.

"Bart would have a cow if I took you to Fortunae and His Grace would not be too pleased either."

"You aren't afraid of my little brother, are you Your Highness?"

He chuckled. They did need to talk and tomorrow was so far away. Aaron pressed on in an attempt to gauge if she was serious about going with him.

"You aren't playing very fair you know."

"You don't look like the type to turn away a pretty face."

This time Zoey took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"Am I not pretty enough to bring the rebel out in you twice in one day, Your Highness?"

Somehow she'd turned things around on him and was now goading him. Aaron couldn't take his eyes off her. The more she did it, the more he wanted to whisk her away.

Realising in the nick of time that they were about to be spotted by a pair of guards, his arm slid around her waist. He pulled into the shadows. Luckily Jesse knew better than to park in a visible place, so they were safe on that front.

She gasped. He pressed a finger to her lips and winked.

When the guards had passed, he whispered, "You're quite the rebel yourself, Lady Zoey. I'm impressed."

Zoey looked up at him in that innocent way that made it clear a man had never held her before him. Zoey tried to push Aaron away. He held on tighter.

"Are you sure you want to go with me? Fortunae may not be exactly... to your taste."

Excitement played across her face as she answered, "Yes."

Making sure that they weren't seen by any guards on patrol, he took her by the hand and they made a run for the car.

"Out," he told Jesse.

Jesse looked back and forth between the youths.

"Your Highness! Reconsider, please," he begged.

Aaron opened the door and waited. Reluctant, Jessed stepped out.

"Call CC. Tell her I'm calling in a favour. She needs to make a detour at the Arden house," Aaron ordered, jumping into the driver's seat.

By the time Jesse had closed Zoey's door for her, she was back to being anxious. She remembered how it had been at university. People asked her on outings often. When it was study groups or pizza at a diner, she was okay, but the bigger the crowd got, the poorer Zoey fared.

"Still want to do this, princess?" Aaron asked, starting the car.

"Yeah."

"Then let's bounce."

The alleyway they stopped in smelled like alcohol and cigarettes. Of all the places Aaron could have brought her, a club was sure to stress her out the most.

Aaron saw her anxiety start to increase. He jumped out of his seat, went over to her door and opened it.

Holding out a hand to her, he said, "Relax. I'll be with you the whole time, okay? Let's have some fun tonight."

Zoey took another deep breath before placing her hand in his.

Meanwhile, back at the Arden mansion, things were getting heated.

"Aaron, that irresponsible child. Bartholomew, you said you would have them back here by now! Where are they?" Duke Arden raged.

"I hardly think Aaron would have held a gun to her head. If she is with him, well it takes two!" King Henry thundered back.

"Darling, do calm down. Stress isn't good for your health," said Duchess Arden, holding onto her husband's arm in concern.

"Unhand me. My health is fine. I survive listening to you every day."

"Bartholomew, is there any word about dispatching The King's Guard to find them?" Queen Mary asked.

"Not yet, Your Majesty. I will find out what the hold-up is."

The hold-up had been Bartholomew himself. He hoped Aaron would be sensible and have Zoey back by now, but it was an hour after sunset and there was no sign of them.

Bart stepped outside to consider his options. Aaron had to bring Zoey home now or the engagement that she hadn't agreed to would never happen at all.

"Why so tense, Bart?" a voice asked.

Bart became alert. Who was this intruder?

"Calm down, I come in peace," she said, appearing before him.

Bart took her in. She wore a sparkling, baby blue wrap dress. His eyes lingered on the sash a moment too long, before rising to her face.

"CC," he said with relief.

"In the flesh," she cooed. "So, what do we got? What's the 4-1-1?"

"Did Aaron send you?"

"No one sends CC anywhere. I was simply made aware that you may need help dealing with the old people."

She slipped past him like it was nothing. Bart sighed and reentered the house after her. He kept a suspicious eye on her, folding his arms as she entered the room.

"So, he sent the master manipulator. What are you playing at, Aaron? Where the hell are you?"

"Daddy! Mama!" CC exclaimed, throwing her arms out.

"My dear, sweet girl," Queen Mary returned.

"Is that Caroline Condor?" Duke Arden asked in delight, he and King Henry bumping shoulders on their way to say hello.

"It's about time they sent you home," said King Henry, his tone soft and gentle.

"Very good to see you, Duke and Duchess A," CC said with an ever-widening smile. "I brought back the most wonderful tea. You must all have some with me."

"This isn't the best time dear," said King Henry. "Aaron has disappeared with the Arden girl. That kid. He hasn't answered a single call! I should have him on a tighter leash. The streets are no place for a future king."

"Nor a future queen," Duke Arden added.

"Hell must have frozen over twice. You two aren't at each other's throats and in agreement to boot," Bart muttered, still watching at CC.

"You haven't a thing to worry about father," CC assured. "Aaron called me when I got here."

As she spoke, a maid ushered in a pot of tea with six cups.

"I found the most excellent Rose Grey Black Tea on my travels. Please, have a cup with me, everyone," CC persisted, not stopping for a moment.

"He did, did he? He will have an earful from me when he gets here about not taking my calls," said King Henry.

"And from me for having my daughter out at this hour," Duke Arden added.

Bart picked up a cup after the maid poured the tea. He locked eyes with CC. A strange but familiar smell hit his nostrils as he took a sip.

"Finest tea I ever had," he said, hoping he'd live to tell the tale.

The queen and the duchess did the rest. The men were soon persuaded to join in. Within an hour, the old people were out cold.

"What's in this special tea of yours? You didn't drug our parents to get your brother out of trouble, did you?" Bart asked as they covered their passed-out parents with blankets.

"Nope. Got them drunk instead. Spiked the tea with some potent Rum I picked up before I got here."

She pulled the sash of her dress and he looked away instinctively.

CC grinned, waiting for him to look back. Even Bartholomew Arden was only a man.

And of course, he did look back. He knew there was something odd about the way the dress fit her. Underneath it, she wore black denim shorts and a white tank top.

"Where are they?"

"Business as ever, huh Arden? Want to take a ride with me to come and find out?"

Zoey had fallen silent in the group of people that had come to surround her and Aaron.

Noticing her discomfort, he put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Alright guys, I'll see you around. Zoey's new here and I want to show her around."

Mario was about to protest when someone broke through the group and threw herself at Aaron. It wasn't her arms looping around his neck or the kiss on the cheek that set Zoey off, because how could it have been? She hadn't even known the prince for a day.

"Are you ignoring me or something? I haven't heard from you all day. That's never happened before."

The multitude of speakers pumping music into the club made it difficult to converse. A saving grace, as the awkwardness of this moment, snuffed out the group's voices.

"Em, come on," Aaron said, breaking the silence.

Aaron peeled the woman off himself. He gave Zoey an apologetic look.

Zoey's attention turned to the woman. Her midnight-blue, strapless dress ended mid-thigh. She wore her strawberry-blonde hair in a high ponytail. There was no getting away from it. 'Em' was a goddess.

"This is my date, Zoey," Aaron said, moving to stand behind Zoey.

Aaron's hands came to rest on Zoey's shoulders, catching Emily's attention.

"Zoey huh? Where did you find this one?" Emily scoffed.

"Excuse me?" Zoey asked.

Emily's tone left Zoey feeling insulted. Why was she getting mad? She hardly knew the man.

"Well you know you're the flavour of the evening, right? They usually know Aaron. Does she not know?"

Although Emily held her liquor well, he could smell it coming off her body.

"Lay off the booze, Emmy. You're wasted," said a frustrated Aaron, taking the glass out of her hand.

"Whose fault do you think that is?" she shot back.

Emily wobbled and bumped into people left and right.

"Give us a moment, okay? I'll make sure she sobers up," Aaron said sheepishly.

"Sure, do what you have to," Zoey returned.

Her tight-lipped smile was dangerous. On a different night, it would have done it for him.

"Mario, take care of the very special Lady Zoey for me okay? Back in five."

Mario half laughed, half shrieked.

"She's not usually like that. They have been friends for years," he said, swallowing his double scotch in one go. "I'm going to grab another, okay? Wait right here."

CC and Bart entered Fortunae as Aaron dragged Emily to an open seat at the bar. Aaron handed Emily a bottle of water as a frustrated Zoey sighed. The group asked her questions that she didn't know how to answer, adding to her discomfort.

"Oh no, it looks like we have an understudy," said CC, observing the scene from above with Bart.

"It looks like Aaron dumped my sister in the middle of a club with nosy people to take care of another woman," Bart said. "Right, that's it. This is over."

"Wait, calm down. It's not over until CC says so," she said, doing a confident hair flip.

She took Bart's hand and drew him into the crowd.

"Hell Emily, you look like you're going to be sick. Why would you get shitfaced like this? It's not even nine!"

"James is back," Emily stammered. "He's finally here, but he feels further than ever before. What if daddy doesn't let me be with James?"

"Em stop it," he said, getting upset.

Of course. She got drunk because she heard about James.

"Stop, please stop!" he screamed, as she wrapped her arms around him tighter than before, pulling him in close.

"What's wrong Ron? I haven't heard from you all day. You didn't answer my calls and now you show up with some other girl and you're being so cold," Emily groaned.

"That's rich, coming from you," Aaron grumbled, gripping her wrists to get her hands off him before he took a step back.

"Why are you being like this? What did I do?"

"How much longer are you going to use me as a stand-in for when he doesn't show up? How much longer am I supposed to pretend, Emily?"

As Aaron finished, the music died. Their eyes locked on each other. A dumb-founded look replaced the pout on her face. The people around them stared and whispered.

As Aaron finished, the music died. Their eyes locked on each other. A dumb-founded look replaced the pout on her face. The people around them stared and whispered.

"Hello, Caines!" CC's voice came booming through the speakers.

The crowd went wild. Frozen in the moment, Aaron and Emily continued to stare at each other.

"CC! CC! CC!" the crowd chanted.

"It's so awesome to be back here with you all! Now it's not actually until tomorrow, but thanks so much for coming out for my 18th birthday party!"

Bart watched CC go to work, captivated by the way she could capture the attention of a crowd.

"Happy birthday CC!" random voices yelled out from the dance floor below.

"Thank you. Thank you all so much. And a special thanks to Prince Aaron, my big brother, for making this happen."

The crowd cheered and applauded. A spotlight landed on Aaron, bringing him back to his senses.

"Ask Mario to take you home once you're sober," Aaron whispered to Emily.

He took a few steps away from Emily, turning his back on her to look up at CC and wave at her.

"Please give an extra special welcome to Aaron's new girlfriend. Isn't she beautiful? Make some noise guys!"

The applause died down, replaced by curious inquiries about the mystery woman.

The spotlight moved away from Aaron and onto Zoey. She stood at the other end of the bar with six tequila shots lined up in front of her. The light hovered for a brief moment over her, before landing on CC.

The crowd went wild chanting CC's name. Aaron smiled at CC and gave her a thumbs up before making his way to Zoey.

Zoey should have marched back into that house and demanded that they take her home. Instead, here she stood, alone in a nightclub, feeling foolish. Facing rejection twice in 24 hours would do that to you.

After she came running when Duke Arden asked for her, what did he do? Immediately decide to marry her off without so much as an apology. How did she respond? By going out in a foreign city with a stranger who ditched her for another woman. So much for her intellect.

The bitter resentment of abandonment seeped in. What was one more bad decision at this point?

She picked up her first shot ever and knocked it back. Appearing out of thin air, Aaron brought a lime quarter up to her mouth.

"Bite."

She coughed, the liquor burning her throat as it flowed through her. Desperate for relief, she covered his hand with hers and bit down hard.

"Why do people drink this stuff!"

"This isn't meant for beginners," Aaron teased with a cocky grin.

What a pair they were. He had given up on his long-time crush mere moments ago. Zoey had what the hell am I doing here written on her forehead. Misery loves company. From the look on Zoey's face though, she wasn't in the mood to share woes.

Zoey pulled her hand away from Aaron's. She was about to pick up her second shot when Aaron stopped her.

"Dance with me," he ventured.

Gently claiming her hand, he kept his eyes locked with hers as he coaxed her body towards his. Something came over her. She watched powerlessly as his hands travelled down her body and settled onto her hips. He led her out onto the dance floor and she followed like she was his puppet.

Fluid movements. His caresses were soft as silk as he manipulated her body to bend to his will. Tenderly he slid up behind her and whispered into her ear, "It's too dark in here for anyone to see. No one's looking at you."

Aaron had Zoey pegged. She didn't do crowds. Being in one had never had her heart thumping in her chest though. Attempting to keep calm, she looked around. Everyone was letting loose and having a good time.

"Well no one except me, that is."

His husky voice was like a call to turn around in his arms. Their eyes met, foreheads pressed against each other's as they began to sway together. Within five minutes they were laughing. Her dancing was completely out of rhythm and she couldn't care less. She was having fun.

Aaron too found himself enjoying the dance. A wave of emotion flooded Aaron's mind as he thought about the implications of marrying Zoey. Old habits kicked in. He wrapped his arms around her waist and moved in for a kiss. That was the end of it. She put her hands up against his chest, shoved him away and ran.

Seconds later Bart bumped into Aaron and shoved him again. This time Aaron ended up on the floor.

"You don't have any class, do you?" Bart snarled.

CC whipped her head around to look at Aaron as he got up.

"Don't you dare lose that woman," she said, stepping between Bart and Aaron.

Aaron glared at Bart, opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it and took off running. CC turned her face back to Bart.

"Do you even want this thing to work?”

"She's my sister! She's not some tool to use and manipulate. She's my sister, Caroline."

"Still loyal to a fault," said CC with a smile. "No one forced her to come here. Let them figure it out."

"If he messes this up-"

CC picked up two tequila shots off the bar and handed one to Bart.

"Then we'll fix it, like we always do," she said, raising her glass to his.

Aaron was a fast runner, but Zoey had a head start on him. Still bitter about the forced engagement, Aaron found himself running after Zoey anyway. He wasn't sure why, but the guilt was eating at him. Having her upset with him was, to his surprise, unsettling.

Aaron watched Zoey speed off in his car just as he made it out into the alleyway. Damn him for leaving his keys in the car. He looked around and saw Jesse waiting in front of CC's hot pink Ferrari. Jesse held out the keys without a word.

"I'll arrange a car for Her Royal Highness," Jesse said dryly.

"Thanks," said Aaron, grabbing the keys from him.

Having had just about enough of Caines of Duke Arden and his demands for her, Zoey sped through unknown roads. Had she known what awaited, she might have rethought that last right. Now driving on an unstable mountain road, she watched the last two days flash before her eyes. The adrenaline pumping through her veins gave her courage enough to accelerate, despite the fear that one wrong move on this narrow road would land her and the stolen car in the ocean. So single-minded was she, that she almost missed the upcoming cliff. Zoey slammed on the brakes hard.

A car pulled up behind her. The door flew open and heavy feet stomped over.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Aaron yelled.

Her car had stopped just short of the edge of the cliff and the adrenaline was fading fast. She yanked open her own door and started running to him. This was the stupidest, most dangerous thing she had ever done. The edge is coming up. Alarm bells were going off in her head. She always stopped. Had always been a good daughter. Done the safe thing. This time she wanted to be reckless just a little more.

"You just had to pick the most dangerous street in Caines! You could have been kill-"

Zoey grabbed Aaron's collar and kissed him. He tasted like sweet sin, like all the wrong things she'd never done and she loved it.

He pulled away almost immediately. Their eyes met. They stared each other down. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. The hard look she was giving him frustrated him. Just as she was about to give him a piece of her mind, he pulled her into his arms and went right back to kissing her.