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RAÚL

Age: 17

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I was walking to my car with Raúl, one of my closest friends. He was seventeen, but he didn't go to school with me. He went to the Royal Academy.

"Isn't it gonna be great when we find our soulmates?" he grinned excitedly.

I rolled my eyes at his eagerness.

"No, I've met mine."

His eyes widened and he stopped walking. He searched my eyes for any hint of a lie, then his face broke out in another grin.

"¡Qué susto!" (What a surprise!) Congratulations, Ashton. I'm so jealous," he sighed. "It feels like I've been waiting forever."

I didn't get to tell him how much of a displeasure it was, because a guard came up to tell me that my parents wanted to see me. I groaned.

"Go," Raúl said, putting on his bike helmet. "You can tell me about her later." He wiggled his eyebrows and I resisted the urge to hit him.

I walked back to the house. I didn't care about being late either way, but I had a feeling I knew what they wanted to talk about and it really wasn't helping my mood.

I headed up to their office and pushed the huge doors open.

"Ashton."

"Your majesty," I said as I entered the spacious office.

Mom smiled at me, calling me over to sit beside her. I sat down slowly. Maybe this was about something else.

"Do you know why we called you in here?" he asked.

"Why don't you enlighten me."

He narrowed his eyes at my tone, but I really didn't care. "Just cut to the chase."

"Ashton," mom reprimanded, but then she smiled, smoothing down my hair. "This is about your soulmate and fiancée, Elizabeth."

I sighed. So it was about that. I still regretted letting it slip that I had found Elizabeth. I didn't want a fiancée, for more reasons than one.

"I don't have a fiancée."

"Well, in simpler terms, this is about your betrothed."

"I don't have a betrothed anymore."

"Don't you dare say that!" the king roared.

"I'm going to reject her as my soulmate anyways," I announced. "So it really doesn't matt-"

"You will do no such thing!"

"You know, in my head you just nodded and agreed with me," I sighed. "Why don't you give it a try?"

His chair screeched back as he stood at full height. He glared at me, his teeth bared.

I knew he would try to force this on me. The thought of her being my wife made me exasperated. She was too... good. Too innocent for someone like me. Where was the fun in that?

She was aggravatingly nice, but maybe that was why I couldn't stay away from her. It was my fault that the other Elizabeth was gone. If she hadn't been betrothed to me, then that wouldn't have happened to her.

It pissed me off even more that she did look like the girl I'd been betrothed to. She even had her first name. But that was all a twisted coincidence; fate having the last laugh. If she was that girl, the king would have known and we'd already be engaged.

But that damn bracelet...

Besides, he only wanted me to accept her so that I'd take up my position as the next king. Another reason why I wasn't eager to let them know I'd found her.

The position wasn't even rightfully mine. It was CaVaughn's, and I didn't want to take away the one thing he had left. Not that I'd have much of a choice anyways.

"You will not reject her," he told me in that familiar threatening tone I'd become used to.

"Your majesty-"

"No excuses, Ashton! We've ignored your actions for far too long. Your drinking, your partying and those girls... It's time you step up and be a man. You're eighteen now. You are to become the next ruler of Crysauralia."

"Nicole will be a good enough princess," I argued, knowing it would tick him off more, but I said it anyways. I smirked as his face reddened.

He moved around the desk to where I was sitting. Mom tensed, watching him cautiously. He lowered himself to my height.

"If you think I'd let her be the princess of this kingdom, you're wrong. Very wrong. I'd sooner make Brooke the next monarch in a heartbeat."

My smirk fell and the tension rose significantly. He smiled wolfishly, knowing he'd gotten the upper hand now.

"You are so lucky to have found Elizabeth again, Ash. Marriage is a beautiful and special thing. And she turned out to be your soulmate too. It is absolutely perfect! You will learn to love her, I know you will. You just have to open your heart and give it a chance," mom said.

"I'm not even supposed to be the king," I growled. "He is."

"He was," the king growled. "But that's not an option anymore. Now tell me what you're going to do, because I won't stand here and watch you let the kingdom down. We're the sixth biggest in the world and you think you can run it with that plaything by your side?"

I clenched and unclenched my fists, trying my best to stay calm. I knew this day would come. I looked over at mom and her eyes were soft. She nodded at me.

"But I don't want Elizabeth," I spat.

I closed my eyes tightly, willing myself to stay calm.

"It's not about what you want," the king growled. "It's never been that way and it never will be. What you feel does not matter."

"Please do not reject her, Ash," mom whispered, wrapping me in a hug. "The work of a king is hard, especially with a kingdom this big. I know you think you are not ready, but I believe in you, Ash. Having someone who cares will be a big comfort."

"Mom..."

"We've given you everything you ever wanted," the king growled lowly. "It's time for you to give back. You must follow my wishes. Or else Brooke-"

"Enough!" I growled.

Enough.

I understood everything. If anything was to happen to the king, I'd be next in line to govern the kingdom.

I couldn't let them down. I couldn't let my mom down. I couldn't let Brooke live in this hell.

I closed my eyes and said the eight words that would change my life.

"I will accept Elizabeth as my chosen soulmate."

Mom clapped her hands in glee and kissed my cheek. The king wore a victorious smile as he grunted in approval. I ran my hand through my already messy hair as I thought about what I'd have to do now.

"You are going to be late, Ash," mom reminded me.

I sighed, grabbing my bag and storming out of the room, my fury flooding over me like an unbridled river. I was livid.

I considered ditching school and blowing off some steam somewhere else, but I decided against it, got into my car and sped off.

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