C8 the chase pt 1

2018, December 4th

"Fuck!" Aaron screamed in agony.

It was only for a brief moment. Just a little jab. He would be okay. Zoey justified her actions to herself as she lifted the heel of her 6-inch stiletto off of his shoe just as Jesse was slamming the brakes on the car. Jesse whipped his head back, panicked.

"Are you okay, Your Highness?!"

"Fine," Aaron grunted through his teeth.

Zoey was out of the car before Aaron could recover, but his grimace soon turned into a smile as he 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 Aaron were watching her now, stunned.

"My Lady!"

Both guards bowed and did as they were told.

The gates began to open. They looked at each other nervously and then back at Bart. Bart was watching Zoey, who had turned back around, 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, the king and his father would both be there with a dozen soldiers following at their heels. What was he supposed to do with the spoiled brat in the car in front of him? Should he send a car after Zoey himself? Caines was a big place for a small-town bumpkin like Zoey. How annoying.

Bart made his way up to Aaron's car.

"Get out," Bart said flatly.

"Quite fond of those words, aren't you?" Aaron quipped.

Bart opened the door of the car and, hovering over the prince, 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."

Aaron 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."

Aaron flinched. The kid had caught him off guard. Aaron was never caught 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 Aaron's 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.

The two young men locked eyes and glared fiercely. Then Aaron's face relaxed into a smile and he gestured towards the seat next to him.

"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."

Aaron rolled his 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 Aaron.

"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 the prince 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 the two, but Aaron knew that he was smart, quick, a man with a bigger build and at least equally good a fighter as Aaron. He would not hesitate to make good on making himself a nuisance. Nonetheless, he wasn't about to show weakness to an Arden.

Aaron shoved Bart back. Their pulses were racing, the air was thick and suffocating, but neither of them blinked.

Maintaining his cool, don't care demeanour, Aaron threw up his hands 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," Aaron 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 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?" Aaron asked defiantly.

Bart's face took on an eerie, ugly smirk.

"If you don't, I'm sure the king will love meeting Duke Beaumont."

Aaron had been more shaken by the Arden brat than he wanted to admit. They had barely left the Arden estate when he 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 he had any right to judge. The stupid kid had been right, after all. Aaron didn't have any stones. He had been meaning to ask for Emily Maine's hand in marriage as a prince, because he knew he could not do it as just Aaron. No doubt the candle she held for his brother was still burning fiercely, even if he did sometimes manage to make the flame flicker.

James was back, too. Did Emily know? Of course, she knew. Aaron never thought his brother would set foot in Terres Somnia again after he and Cassie fled the country five years ago, but he was back after all. He didn't know how to feel about it.

Zoey sat down on the pavement, her legs crossed and screamed, "What is this fresh hell?! It's the bloody middle of winter!"

Aaron started as her screaming pulled him right out of his brooding. They had been following her for a good half hour from a safe distance. He 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. Everything about this girl just made him want to laugh. With a cocky grin, he got out of the car.

"Your Highness," came Jesse's voice from the driver's seat.

Right, Jesse was here. What a pain.

"Wait here," Aaron ordered.

"But Prince Aaron-"

"I won't be long."