Heir

"Now, that wasn't a smart idea…" Said the winner, still smiling with a cunning gesture. Erin kicked trying to reach him with her legs, but it was impossible since he was sitting on her stomach. "I think I remember you didn't eat all your lunch." Darek continued and Erin, more than seeing, felt him pull up some herbs. Seconds later she was sure that he would force her to eat grass when, like a divine intervention, a voice interrupted them:

"And I don't think Ahian is enjoying the show, Darek." Erin didn't recognize the voice, but she wanted to hug him. At that same moment, Darek stopped, and, giving her a mischievous look, he got off her. "This won't stay like this," He told her with a wink.

"I think you two are even." Said the amused voice and Erin looked for the stranger. She remembered him from before. Yes, he was the young adventurer who had been listening to the teacher the night before on the beach.

Erin stood up and brushed off her clothes as she watched Darek walk away. 

"I'm Al," said the stranger. Erin nodded. Then she watched how Ahian and Darek began to talk. The first with a frown and the second looking calm and serious. She forced her eyes to go to her savior.

"Thank you, Al," She told him with a neutral face, to which he responded smiling.

"Erin, I apologize on behalf of my brothers." The boy added. He must have been a couple of years younger than her.

"Are you siblings…?" With the question, she looked from the boy to Ahian and Darek. Finally, raising an eyebrow, she faced the young boy. "You…?"

"We are descendants of the previous lord of Aquaria. I am the youngest, Darek the second and Ahian is the heir."

"Heir…? Aquaria?"

"Ahian is the current ruler of our world: Aquaria."

"I… I see" Erin said with a half-absent expression on her face. What on earth? The food in her stomach was threatening to go outside through her mouth. Her attitude caused her interlocutor to laugh. I have to escape before it's too late... She said to herself. And, although Erin was still confused by what she had heard, she immediately planned to get information from the young man: "Did you say our world…?" She threw the bait with all the innocence she could muster.

"Yes, our people…"

"Al" They were interrupted by Ahian's voice, who suddenly appeared next to her, almost causing Erin to curse out loud. "Can you leave me alone with the lady?"

"Sure brother," Al said casually. The boy smiled so easily. "See you, Erin!"

Then Erin turned to Ahian. Well, he looked angry. So that would make two of them! Erin thought before glaring at him. Thus, they remained in a dirty staring contest, until Al walked far away. So, pretty soon they were both alone. 

"If Darek lays a finger on you again, kick his crotch and call me." He said.

"I'm not going to that country Aquaria wherever it is." She said.

They had both spoken at the same time. Then they gave each other looks that could have been lethal. 

Until Ahian grabbed her arm and dragged her to a more secluded place. As soon as she was able to react, Erin shook herself from his grasp with a haughty gesture. However, Ahian grabbed her by the shoulders and put her against a huge tree so they were both hidden from the others' sight.

"What do you think you're doing?" Unfortunately, her voice was shaking. That made her bite her tongue hard.

"I warned you not to test my patience again." He told her through clenched teeth. "Can you behave? You were going to be taken, by me or by someone else. It's the tradition. Accept it."

"I'm not accepting anything!" Erin blurted back. "Why don't you take Ruby?" At the end of the day, her sister was ready to leave with him. Well, that was clearly what she wanted.

"I don't want your sister, I want you."

What?! "Are…? Are you interested in me?"

"I already told you that you are the best option." He said and something in Erin's chest tightened. He didn't feel anything for her. It was something else. "Look, Erin, we don't have to have a bad relationship. You will be the queen of Aquaria…"

"Queen? No! None of this was my choice!"

"Mine neither, woman!" Ahian pulled away to compose himself. "Listen, Erin, the truth is that I don't dislike you." He said and then left her there.

As for Erin, she stayed behind the tree with her heart beating wildly.