Zio's carriage shook and tilted unsteadily from one side to another as he took off into the air and I couldn't help but question my life choices. Who gets in a carriage with a random man they've just met? This had to be one of my dumbest moments by far. And that's saying something because I've done a lot of stupid things in my life.

Thankfully, after a few minutes in the air, Zio managed to get a hang of a skill he should already have when owning a carriage and we stabilized. Leaning over I attempted to peep into the back of the carriage, only for there to be an emerald green curtain blocking the back from being seen.

"Isn't this illegal? Why do you have this curtain here? If Air Patrol sees that you have something blocking the full view while flying, you can get in trouble," before I could even finish, he snorted.

"Relax negative Nadia, I'm not going to get pulled over. Who knew you'd be such a rule follower."

Rolling my eyes I face forward again, "I'm not a rule follower, I just want to know why you have that up there? How can you see who is behind you with that thing blocking the whole back view?" loud whistling was the only answer I received and I once again questioned my life choices. My left eye twitched at his obnoxiously loud whistling and I couldn't help clenching my hands to keep from attacking him.

Maybe after we landed I could just slap him one time and run? I'm a pretty fast runner, if I trip him first. A slow smile grew on my face the more I thought about it. His face and what he'd say if I slapped him. "You know you look creepy when you smile like that, right?"

"Who created you? And why?" he laughed and knocked my chin with his finger, which I immediately tried to slap away, but he was too quick.

"Don't touch my chin with your grubby hands! I don't know where they've been!" I rubbed my chin with and wiped it on my pants, being sure that I was as obvious as I could be. He chose not to respond but to smile smugly at me before focusing on the airways.

Different sized carriages flew to and fro as we merged into traffic. Carriages were elaborate with family crests, glowing lights, moving pictures, and advertisements for the royal family. Honking became a symphony the further we got into the heart of the capital, as well as the capital knights. The capital's airways differed from the open and spacious ones of the rural areas, and it made me a bit uncomfortable the more congested it got.

"Is it always like this?" Zio gave me a glance from the corner of his eye before smiling.

"Why are you scared?" he didn't let me finish before he continued," It's alright princess, I'm a great driver on land and in the air." he turned to wiggle his eyebrows at me, and before he could turn his attention back the front of his carriage slammed into a capital knights carriage.

The wail of the carriage emergency system and the slow forced safety descent began immediately and all we could do was stare at each other in shock. Zio leaned his head against the back of his seat as all the steering whips retracted to their original position. The full carriage was in emergency lock down mode.

With only 20 feet before landing he turned to me with wild eyes. "Look, there are somethings that I haven't gotten the chance to explain yet but no matter what happens, stay in the carriage."

Side eyeing him I questioned why and he gave an exasperated sigh. " Emma, this is not a joke, I'll get out and put the carriage in privacy mode but I'm telling you, for your own safety, do not get out of this carriage. If you do, it's your fault for what happens afterwards." Seeing him be so serious for the first time since we met had me questioning myself again for choosing to ride with someone I barely knew. Not one of my wisest moments, I could say that much.

With so little information to go off of, I didn't feel comfortable staying in the carriage so I tried to pry with only 10 feet left until we landed. "Well, won't the capital knights tell me to get out when they come to chat with you? It's required that all passengers give a detailed report in air accidents."

"That's why I'm going to get out first. I'll talk to the knights, smooth things over, and return in a jiffy. Don't you trust me?" my response was immediate.

"No, I barely know you." he let out a stressed chuckle while running his hands through his hair, just as we landed. Looking over, he gave me one more look that commanded me to stay before hopping out of the carriage and locking it into privacy mode.

I watched as he swaggered over to the knights who'd already reached the back of their carriage. The knight's faces were pulled taut in frustration as they faced Zio, but it quickly shifted into one of fear and then embarrassment. Then they both moved into a kneeling position with their left hand over the right side of their chest and I watched as Zio quickly moved to stop them. Uncertainty began to rise in my chest the longer I watched their interaction play out.

They chatted for a bit, the male and female knight stood at attention talking with him as if he was their commanding officer. And Zio seemed to look uncomfortable the more they talked. Taking a glance back, he made direct eye contact with me with an awkward smile before turning back around. I noticed that he had slid his hand into his vest pocket and pulled something out, but from my position in the carriage I couldn't see what it was. But whatever it was prompted the knights into another bowing position that seemed more intense than the first, and I began to shift in my seat.

Who the heck is this guy, and why were they bowing to him? Should I stay in the carriage or should I make a run for it? What if he's a liar and he plans to kidnap me? What if this accident was all a part of his plan? The conversation dragged on and my fear began to spiral out of control.