The hour-long drive to the restaurant didn’t stop Eden’s rollercoaster of emotions, but it did give her enough time to compose herself. Sure, it had involved a few tears and a dent in the back door, but all that mattered was she got it out. Eden waltzed into the restaurant with the same poise with which she always carried herself. The maître d’ guided her to the reserved table, where Darian was already sitting. Upon seeing her, he leaped from his chair and put on a charming smile.

“Eden, you look stunning,” he greeted, reaching out his hand in invitation. When she placed her hand in his, Darian instantly raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss into the skin.

Eden forced a smile. “Nice to see you.”

The staff member waiting at the table pushed in her chair before excusing herself. “I hope you don’t mind, I ordered us some wine to start,” Darian chuckled, as if embarrassed by the gesture.

Eden’s eyes glanced to the glasses of dark purple liquid. She plucked up the glass. “I actually prefer white wine.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time,” he nodded, his grin still plastered on his face. “Gosh, it’s just great to see you. It’s been too long.”

“Really? I was thinking it hadn’t been long enough.”

“I see you still have your quick wit,” he laughed with raised eyebrows.

Eden drank down a gulp of the wine to stop herself from responding to that. For the first time since getting there, she took Darian in. He was rather handsome, with jet black hair combed neatly in a businessman’s pompadour, silver-coin eyes, and a sharp jawline. There was no doubt in Eden’s mind that there were many women in the Kingdom pining over the warrior. Yet, all it did was unsettle her.

When it became clear that Eden wasn’t going to respond, Darian pushed forward. “So, tell me, what have you been up to these days?”

“Same as I have always been. Healing training.”

“That’s amazing,” he purred. “I must say, your dedication is something marvelous.”

“Thank you.”

His fingers drummed on the table briefly as he pondered more. “Have you explored the city lately? It’s ever expanding. Feels like every time I go out, there’s three more restaurants opening, and a handful of shops, too.”

“I don’t go out much.”

Darian nodded. Eden could tell he was growing frantic over her lack of communication, but the same stupid smile remained. Before he could say something else, the waiter came over with two plates and sat them in front of them. As Eden began to tell the waiter he must have the wrong table, that they hadn’t ordered yet, Darian interrupted.

“I must confess, I took the liberty of ordering our dinners as well. This is my favorite restaurant, and I wasn’t sure if you had tried the beef wellington. It’s a must. Especially with the wine pairing.”

“I don’t like people ordering for me,” Eden stated coldly as she picked up her fork and knife. “If you liked it so much, you could have suggested it and not robbed me of choosing my own meal when I did not even have the liberty to pick the person I was going to dine with.” She emphasized the word he had just used on her. She knew he meant it as a romantic gesture, but it irritated her to have the smallest amount of control taken from her in a situation that was apparently already out of her hands.

“Sorry, sorry.” Darian raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll remember next time.” They ate in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again. “So, how are your brothers doing?”

“Why don’t ask you them yourself?”

“Do you still spend a lot of time at the lake?”

“Do you think that’s changed?”

“How have you liked the weather?”

“Weather small talk? Really?”

Darian let out a sigh. “Well, you’re not exactly talking about anything else. Have I done something to upset you?”

“This entire situation is upsetting,” Eden snorted.

“I know it isn’t ideal, but I think it can work.”

“Oh, I’m sure you do.” The ice in her voice was more than clear.

Darian’s hand came down on the table, causing their glasses to slightly rattle. “You’re being unreasonable, Eden. Come on, I’m trying to have a pleasant time with you, and you are being nothing less than sour toward me when I have done nothing wrong. This wasn’t my idea, I merely agreed to it. Do not sit here and blame me for this. If it wasn’t me, then it would just be one of the other warriors. Since there’s nothing you can do about it, can you at least pretend to enjoy the meal?”

She couldn’t enjoy the meal. She didn’t enjoy his company, and she had never liked beef.

That was that. Eden forced herself to hold in her emotions, knowing that if she were to lash out at that moment, she would cause a scene. Reinstating her filter for the time being, she shot Darian a painfully fake smile and pushed around the food on the plate, refusing to take even one bite.

Eden hardly slept that night, trapped inside her own head. The next morning, she went through her usual routine as if a zombie. She knew she had been a horrible shrew to Darian at dinner, but she couldn’t help feeling justified in her bitter disposition. Eden was being propelled into a life she did not want, and while it might not be Darian’s fault, he was playing a hand in it. To be subjected to his sickly-sweet demeanor as if to coax her into liking her forced fate had been cruel.

Once she was finally done with breakfast and a phone conference to keep up appearances in the family business, Eden could hardly keep herself from breaking into a full-run toward the lake. Just as always, she stripped down into her bathing suit and walked into the water. She laid on her back and attempted to resume the peace she had been so horrifically ripped from the day before. It was taking longer than usual, her mind clouded with thoughts of Darian.

She willed herself to focus on her senses, thinking hard to tune into her body instead of her head. With each passing minute, she managed to lose herself in the moment. Once again, she was entering the blissful state of awareness. Her breathing relaxed and became one with the gentle rock of the waves.

Something tickled Eden’s side, causing her eyes to pop open to see what it was. Much to her dismay, it wasn’t a fish nearing the shore—it was Darian. How had he managed to get so close to her without Eden even realizing it? She groaned and resumed her position, closing her eyes in hopes that he would get the hint. Not a minute later, the tickling sensation returned.

“Can you not see that I’m busy?” she asked in a deadpan tone.

“Yes,” Darian chuckled. Eden could hear him moving around in the water then, and she said a silent prayer to herself that he was taking the hint and leaving. Of course, she wouldn’t have such luck. He tickled her other side.

Eden let out a hefty sigh and sprung herself up. “I guess I will return when I can have some peace and quiet.”

Then, a wall of water shoved into Eden from behind. It startled her, causing her to slip on the muddy surface of the lake floor. Her arms flailed as she fought to keep her balance, her head sinking underneath the surface and water rushing into her mouth. A strong arm looped about her torso and pulled her back up. Instinctively, she gasped for air, sucking in the mouthful of water deeper. With just a few thumps on her back, the water shot from her mouth, and she took in several deep breaths of fresh air.

“Edie, I’m so sorry!” Darian exclaimed. “I was just playing around. I didn’t mean to frighten you!”

“Well, you did!” Eden snapped, pushing away from him as she continued to cough. “Don’t call me ‘Edie,’ either! No one calls me that.”

“Sorry, sorry. I hope you know that I had the best intentions coming here. I just wanted to spend some time together and hopefully make up for the awkward dinner last night.”

“Apology accepted,” Eden grumbled before continuing on her path out of the water.

“Come on now, you can’t expect me to believe that you’re genuinely accepting it when you’re walking away like that!” he persisted, grabbing her bicep to pull her back toward him.

“Take a hint,” she hissed. “I don’t know what makes you think that just because I’m being forced into this, I’m going to pretend to like it. Just for the record, by the way, you can drop the charade, too. There’s no reason to act as if you’re genuinely interested in me.”

“You think I’m not interested in you?” Darian questioned, his brows pushing together, as if he was truly captured off-guard by her statement. He shook his head in disbelief, his lips parted like he was struggling to find the words. “I-I… I really don’t know what to say to that, whether I’m offended or merely shocked.”

“Oh, please.”

Darian took her in both of his hands, his fingers clasped around her slender biceps.

“I mean it, Eden. I’m nothing short of flabbergasted that you would think I wouldn’t want you.” At the roll of her eyes, his grip tightened to get her attention. She peered up to see his gray eyes piercing hers with a look of such severity, it was as if he were about to murder her. “Eden, you’re wonderful. You’re gorgeous, yet not jaded by the fact. You’re dedicated to your studies in the healing arts. By God, and you’re honest, on top of that! Sure, it’s aggravating sometimes, but hell, it beats being led on. Which I assure you, I’m not. I care about you, Eden, even if we have never been close. This situation, while I’m sure it looks as though it benefits me the most of all, is what is good for the Kingdom. Come now, let’s make the best of this. I may not be your soulmate, but I can be the closest thing to it if you give me a chance.”

Everything he had just said, on paper, would have looked amazing. Most hearts in her position would have softened at this declaration that they could fall in love, if they gave one another an honest try. However, Eden didn’t soften, not even for a moment. Everything coming out of Darian’s lips was obviously rehearsed. He was putting on a show for her, trying to win her over so that she wouldn’t put up such a fight—which could potentially complicate his entire plan, whatever it might be.

“What do you think?” Darian asked, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“I think that you should have been an actor, since you give such lovely performances. Because you would just as soon climb into bed with Sebastian or Theo if it meant you would get a place in the family,” Eden responded evenly.

Darian recoiled as though she had struck him. “Eden… I…”

“Don’t act so surprised, Darian. Do you think that I can’t see through your little game? It’s quite obvious.”

“I promise you; it’s not. I know that we aren’t soulmates, all right? I know that the love we may one day have won’t move mountains or make you swoon, but if we try—really try—we can have something close. Who knows when your soulmate will come around? Let me show you how much I care about you, how much I want this to work until that day comes.”

Eden waved the sentiment off and, once more, headed for the shore. Darian was trying to be sincere, but she simply couldn’t buy into it. Yes, he had been after her hand in marriage for nearly two hundred years, and perhaps that should have meant something. How could it, though? They had never been close, and they weren’t friends. So, even if he felt an inkling of something for her, it was all superficial.

Eden didn’t have time for any of this. She was beginning to loathe the entire process that much more. Not only was it clouding her head, making it harder for her to focus when trying to meditate, but it was taking up far too much of her time. Eden knew that it was only going to get worse once her father demanded the ceremony to be arranged. Oh, how she dreaded the thought of picking out dresses and flowers. It wasn’t for her, not at this point in her life.

Darian stayed completely silent as she got out of the water. That was some form of relief to her. Snatching up her clothing, she headed for the estate, barefoot and dripping wet, needing as much distance between her and Darian as possible.