Chapter 6

            This one note was going to be the death of her.

            Chloe grabbed at her headphones until one ear slipped free. "Maybe I should try it in a higher octave?"

            About three feet away, Ethan sat cross legged with her laptop under his fingers. "If you want to." He clicked away at the editing software on the screen. "I feel like if you hold the second line of the bridge longer the end will just fall in place."

            Chloe bit her lip. Already the words and verses played through her mind, tangling themselves into a different melody. "Wait. I've got an idea...how do you feel about freestyle?"

            Ethan leaned back on his hands. "I can try a couple of guitar riffs if you want."

            "Perfect. That'd be great."

            He set the laptop down carefully on the marble floor and stepped over the microphone cords to snatch up his navy blue Fender electric guitar. Effortlessly, he slung the strap over his shoulder and picked up one of the amp cords to plug in the back.

            What Chloe planned on doing when they came to the Great Room to record didn't work out. In her head she'd imagined recording with her laptop and elevating her microphone. What actually happened was completely different. Earlier, Ethan had called up a couple of workers to help bring down the actual recording mic from the studio in the south wing as well as a few amps, his guitar, and a smaller scale analog mixer. So instead of Chloe's tiny little laptop and simple microphone, they now had a makeshift travel recording studio set up in the Great Room where anyone could come in.

            She knew Ethan had set up all the extra equipment because he wanted the best for her. But that didn't mean he had to go to all the trouble. Though she did appreciate it.

            Ethan picked at a few of the strings, which were quickly echoed by the amp. The navy blue guitar did wonderful things for his look. Not that the prince of Sarias didn't always look effortless. Today he wore a tight black tee and dark jeans that rode low over his hips. That, combined with the natural dark wave of his hair made one very nice appearance.

            A half smile worked over Ethan's face as he caught her staring. "What?"

            Chloe grinned. "Nothing." She replied innocently. "You look good today. "

            It was Ethan's turn to run his eyes over her. "I'd say the same, but 'good' is a word I'd never use to describe you."

            What? "Oh, really?" She had to admit her heart and her confidence took a small drop on that one.

            But Ethan's smile grew. "No, I'd say you look more than gorgeous today."

            Jeez, he was going to give her heart whiplash. "Okay, brownie points for that one."

            His eyes grew warmer. "Shall we get started?"

            "Sure." She grabbed at her head phones and held one next to her ear. "Want to run through again? From the beginning?"

            "Mmhm. I'll just improvise."

            "Good." Chloe stuck her tongue out at him playfully. "Don't make it sound too awesome."

            Ethan laughed. "What? Why not?"

            "Because then I have to give you more credit." She joked.

            He rolled his eyes. "Alright."

            With one click on the laptop, the song's melody began to trickle through the headphones. Ethan had to put a pair of his own on after he connected the amp to the soundboard. Chloe had planned this particular piece to start out slow, then gain speed until the bridge where the longest notes had to be held. If Ethan could work out a smooth guitar melody to add to it all, it would definitely turn out to be a killer song.

            Chloe counted in her head: three, two, one...

I've spent way too much

Of my life chasing

The things I can't understand

And people demand so much

Yet give nothing back

But how can I watch

My life pass

            Ethan's guitar made a slow, steady entrance into the song just in time for the refrain. As Chloe picked up the words, he picked up the pace and carried the beat.

            She couldn't help but grin as she sang. The adrenaline piping through her at the words, the emotion, and request of freedom that the song asked for.

I refuse to let more time pass

Watching the rain fall

Without dancing in it

Because when the end falls near

And all of the people are gone

Who's going to love me,

If I don't?

            Chloe watched as Ethan's fingers flew through notes and chords, expelling nothing but mastery and flawless art.

            From the corner of her eye, she noticed the doors to the Great Room opening. Probably another tour. Instead of paying it any attention, she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to prepare for this bridge.

            Ethan's fingers picked up speed, right as the lines of the bridge flowed into that one last note. Chloe belted out the note and held, held, held.

            Victory.

            Even as she finished the song, and Ethan's fingers halted, she couldn't wipe the happy grin from her face. Right as the piano stopped, she ripped off her headphones and launched herself at Ethan for a hug. "We did it!"

            Ethan chuckled and accepted the hug, even as awkward as it was with the guitar between them.

            Clapping echoed through the Great room. Chloe startled and glanced over.

            "Ian!" She beamed, still on the happy high. "And friends!"

            She always enjoyed seeing her younger brother. Younger brother. The idea still felt novel to her. Not once in the previous eighteen years of her life did she ever imagine being able to share experiences and jokes with a younger brother. One who truly wanted to hear what she had to say. She had a fondness for Ian that went deeper than she'd ever expected.

            Ian's friends were pretty awesome too. She'd only met them once, but Ian mentioned them quite a lot and seemed pretty attached to them. He'd told them stories of some of their adventures and all of the goofy things they'd done. To say she felt appreciative of them might be a bit of an understatement. No, she was so much more. Thankful, gracious....jealous. Ian had a set of friends that seemed to be there for him through thick and thin. She'd experienced that kind of friendship with Josh, but he was one person. Ian had four.

            "Hey guys," Chloe gestured for them to come closer. "How are you?"

            They all stammered out a reply.

            Sometimes Chloe forgot how intimidating and exciting it could be to hang out in the palace and experience the life she did. To others, this was like walking into a mansion and discovering your idols having a cup of tea on the couch. Shocking. Exhilarating.

            The two girls kept flicking their eyes towards Ethan and back. They all seemed to be questioning if they needed to bow or not.

            "Ian, tell your friends to relax." Chloe reached forward and pulled Ian into a quick embrace. "We're all friends here."

            To solidify that fact, she went down the line to give each of his friends a polite hug. 

            "Do you guys do this often?" Havana asked.  She peered around at all the equipment.

            "Truthfully?" Ethan spoke as he arranged his guitar back into its standard black case. "No. Chloe wrangled me into it."

            Chloe wrinkled her nose at him playfully. "Liar."

            The taller boy—was his name Cal? Cam?—spoke, "Chloe? I thought your name was Liz, like Elizabeth." He'd cocked his head slightly to the side.

            Chloe glanced at Ethan who shrugged. "It's a long story." She told them. "You can call me either." She laughed at her next sentence even before she put it to words. "I'll even accept Grand Poobah."

            Ziggy, the lanky kid with curly hair fidgeted with his hands. "It's weird not to call you Anonymous."

            Another shrug from Chloe. "I can accept that too."

            Ethan cleared his throat. "So, what brings you all here to taste royal life?"

            The other girl, Sarah, practically shook with energy. "I can't believe this is happening. Can I have an autograph?"

            The question was directed toward Ethan. He took the question well, like he'd become familiar with it. "Sure thing." From his pocket he pulled out a pen. Did he always have a pen? "Do you have paper?"

            Sarah's eyes brightened. "No, can you sign my arm?"

            And in that moment Chloe wanted to slap the girl.

            Sarah got close—really close—to Ethan as he scribbled out his name onto the meaty part of her forearm.

            After all the girls who did the same thing to Ethan, Chloe had thought she'd grown used to it. But she'd be lying if she didn't admit that she got a little jealous at the idea of other girls throwing themselves at her mate. She'd have to get used to it. If they were going to have any kind of future together, this would be a part of her world.

            She still didn't like it.

            Ian shot her an apologetic glance that made that hurt feel more real. "So Liz," Ian spoke up loudly. "Why are you both here in the Great Room?"

            Grateful for his distraction, Chloe responded quickly. "I like the acoustics in here. I know it's weird, but it makes a difference in how the song is heard."

            "Wait, that was your newest song?" Ziggy asked. "Dang, I wish I could've recorded it." He awkwardly drew his arms to his side. "I feel naked."

            "It was really beautiful." Havana told her.

            Gosh, Ian's crush was too nice. She sent a secret smile to her little brother whose cheeks pinked. "Thank you, Havana."

            Havana nodded, looking happy that she'd remembered her name. How could she forget? "How do you get your vibrato that strong?"

            Chloe snorted. "Good luck." She joked. "Naw, I'm kidding. You know that's a really good question. Time, I guess. 'Practice makes perfect' and all that crap."

            Ethan had finally ripped himself away from Sarah long enough to suggest that they all hang out for a bit down in the den.

            "Sounds like a great idea." Chloe supported.

            "Why don't you guys finish up your tour?" Ethan directed to Ian. His words laced with the tiniest bit of demand. "Chloe and I will get this cleaned up and meet you in the den in a bit."

            "Really? You both would want to hang out with us?" Sarah gushed.

            "Why not?"

            After a few rounds of the 'see you later' game, Ian and his friends took off, but not before Chloe saw Cam punch Ian in the arm and mutter, "Why didn't you tell us your family is so cool?"

            Ian had snorted at that. "Because they'd have to be cool in the first place."

            Chloe couldn't help but chuckle at that. He so thought they were all awesome. Even Ethan who practically was family.

            When it was just the two of them again, Chloe sighed and began wrapping up her headphones. "You gave us clean up duty."

            "I just wanted them gone for a while." Ethan said, "So we could make out."

            She couldn't help but laugh, even as she rolled her eyes. Inside, her heart skipped once and then galloped away. God, her mate was the best. "Let's get this song done and done first."

            Ethan sighed like an old man though his eyes danced with humor and amusement. "You never want to make out like monkeys anymore."

            "Can monkeys make out?"

            "I dunno. But that's what we are going to do."

            "Princes." Chloe muttered. "Can't live with them, can't live without them."

            "You love me."

            She did though. She loved him more than she could ever fathom. More than she could truly understand. She'd begun to learn that that's how mates were. "Yeah, I suppose I do."