Chapter Eleven

"I-I never met him! How could he be fond of me?" I said.

"You are the daughter of the knight who saved his brother. I'm sure the news of you going missing, and on your wedding day no less, made it to his ears." He said with a growl.

I set my gaze to the floor. How could I be the one person holding so many from peace? I couldn't let that happen, my happiness doesn't outweigh the safety, prosperity, and happiness of so many others.

"I already got in a war for you once. I'm willing to do it again." He says in a snarl.

"N-no!" I say, my gaze shoots back up to him. "I won't have any bloodshed in my name, there has been too much already. I can't live with that."

"I won't give you up." He says as he pushes the hair from my face and pulls me close to him. "Not when I've just found you."

"T-tell him I don't want to go back." My heart was beating so hard it felt like a drum beating in my chest. "T-there has to be a peace talk between you two, right? To talk over terms and sign a treaty? Write to him and say I will appear in person to confirm…that I'm here of my own free will. He won't be able to refuse then."

"Are you staying for peace…or are you staying for me, I wonder?"

"Why can't it be both?" I asked.

"Because I want you to want me Ari, like I want you."

"I-I do though…"

"Do you? I want to hear it."

"H-hear it?"

"I want you to say that you want me."

"Th-that's too embarrassing Aidan."

"There's no one here but us Ari. I have to know you're sincere, that you're not just stringing me along until you have a chance to escape."

"Did you forget I had the perfect chance the other day and yet all I did was go find books."

"I need to hear it Ari…please." He was pleading with me, holding me tight as if I might disappear in front of his eyes if he let go.

"I…I want to be with you." I say in a hushed tone.

He let out a low groan and kissed me.

"Again. Say it again."

"I-I want you." I say and he kisses me again. He pushes his tongue into my mouth. My head gets hot as his hands start to roam my body, touching everything. His hands land on my breasts as he begins to massage them.

"Ai-Aidan." I say as I push him away gently.

"Sorry…did I go too far, too fast?"

"M-maybe…just a little."

"I'm sorry I just…" He lets out a sigh and composes himself. "I've just wanted you for so long, wanted you to say my name, say you wanted me too…we'll have our night under the stars again. We just have to be a little patient."

I let out a slight laugh. "We?"

"Ok, I do…"

"S-so, what will you do now?"

"Well," he said and cleared his throat.

"A-about the letter!"

"R-right, I know."

"That's not how it sounded to me." I say and gently push him arm lengths away.

"Well, I'll send him a response – exactly as you said, you're happier here. We'll plan a peace talk and you can tell him yourself in person…but by then you'll be mine."

"Y-yours?" I ask.

He smirks and opens his mouth to speak.

"N-no, I don't want to know."

"Aw, come on." He said and tried to come in closer.

"No way, you need to focus on planning for that meeting."

He groaned. "How can I focus on that when you're here?"

"By having patience."

"Oh you…" He says and clicks his tongue. "You've always been clever."

"Now," I say and turned back to the horse, "when do I get to ride this beauty?"

"Soon. But we have to focus on planning that meeting remember?"

I laugh and just pet the horse.

"Are you going to give her a name?"

"She doesn't have one?"

"I didn't ask. The new owner picks the new name."

"Maybe you should pick my new name then." I joke.

"Ok." He sneaks up behind me and embraces me from behind. "Ari Shaffer." He says and the tips of my ears must've turned bright red because they felt like they were on fire.

"Ai-Aidan." I said.

"What? You asked for a new name. That's the one I'd give you."

"Th-that's your…name."

"My last name yes." He said and started nibbling on my ear.

"S-stop." I start to squirm out of his grasp but he wasn't budging.

"Didn't I already tell you that you wouldn't like what happened if you kept squirming?" He said.

"Ai-Aidan."

"And if you keep saying my name in that flustered tone I won't be able to keep my urges in check." He whispered in a husky voice in my ear. I swallowed hard and just took a deep breath.

"We…should go back." I finally said.

He chuckled. He gave me a kiss and a final squeeze before he let go. He grabbed my hand and led me back to the castle.