Civil war 2

Civil war 2

“No chance. I'll finally get a chance to thoroughly explore all of you. Might need a little longer than a month, actually.”

I would probably need forever.

“Aah, so that's what it is. You just want to get laid. And here I was thinking you missed me.”

(Aria)

We both went quiet. I did miss him and he missed me and it was getting really bad. But not nearly as bad as the situation with Warlanda and Sartis Est. He truly stuck to me like glue over the last five months, even if we weren't actually together. What if something happened to me? He wouldn't know where to look, who to look for. I should tell him. Let go of the idea that he wasn't coming back. He needed to know.

“Aaron—”

“Why do you have to be so far away right now?” he sighed, longing in his voice.

And just like that, I remembered all the shit we had going on, how hard everything was for both of us right now. How all I wanted was for him to tell me it would be okay. That was why I just couldn't ignore the call, not today.

“Warlanda's king is dead. Dean finally managed to take him out. Ethan is taking the throne tomorrow,” I choked out.

I was absolutely terrified. How could I be so caught up in one person, one man? I needed him to make me feel safe.

“And here I was thinking things were bad on my end.”

“I'm scared, Aaron. Prince Dean is ruthless. He's been at war with King Edward and Prince Troy for months now. What if something happens tomorrow?” Silence as he contemplated my words. "Aaron?”

“I'm coming, Adele. I'll figure it out. I'll be there tomorrow.”

“Are you crazy? The last thing I want—”

“Don't care. I never should have left in the first place. Henry and Duke Arden are being shitheads. You've got real problems. I'm coming to be by your side.”

I didn't want to endanger him, but damn if that wasn't exactly the right thing to say. Maybe I should have argued with him, but the words wouldn't come.

All I could manage was, “Then I'll be waiting for you in the usual place. Come if you dare.”

(Aaron)

There was no way Henry was going to let me go given everything happening in Terres Somnia. My only prayer of getting to Adele was going to Emily with it and asking for her help.

“Absolutely not,” said Emily. “I'm not taking you to a place that might become a warzone at the drop of a hat.”

Emily had been blocking myview, so I hadn't noticed before, but when she moved the slightest bit, I spotted a suitcase.

“Right. I can't go, but you can?” I said, passing her and holding up her suitcase.

She sighed. “This is family business, Aaron. It's dangerous.”

I grabbed her hands and looked at her with pleading eyes. “All the more reason to take me with. Adele is my family, Em. Please.”

(Emily)

I put a hand on his cheek, looked into his desperate eyes. When had he started having that look in his eye about another woman? I decidedly could not stand it, didn't know why it rubbed me the wrong way quite like it did. Because Aaron had spent the last six months doing everything right. He worked himself into the ground to stall, delay, try to avoid the war. The partying, the women, all of it stopped. I almost never saw him anymore. That was the part that really stung.

“You really care about her, don't you?” I asked.

“Like I've never cared about anyone.”

“Fine. We leave tomorrow morning.”

Aaron pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.

“Thanks, Em. You're the best.”

Capital City, Warlanda

(Troy)

Shortly after receiving the news, I found myself in a standoff with Keira. She was the first to lower her gun. Knowing that she could just take mine from me anyway if she wanted to, I lowered my gun too.

“Was it you?” I asked.

“You really think I would take out Ethan?” she asked, a rare quiver in her voice.

“Are all of them dead?”

“No. Ethan made a last second decision to leave Adele behind to take care of things while he was gone.”

“How?”

“Gunshot to the head. Execution style. Looks like Neil if I had to guess.”

“And Diane?”

“You know how much Dean loves your big sis. Plus, if it was Neil, he wouldn't take out Diane. Not even for Dean.”

“So now what? Why are you here, Keira?”

“Isn't it obvious? They killed Ethan. I want blood. Their blood. I'd like to stay alive long enough to make that happen, so here I am. Command me, Troy.”

“Then go and get her. She's a queen now. She's a sitting duck. One that may be of use to me later.”