His Red Queen

Chapter Twenty-seven - Cal

I try not to look terrified as we board the ship taking us to Tuck. Why Farley did not want to use the airjet, I have no clue. But I don't argue. I follow Shade, the youngest Barrow boy, onto the gangplank, feeling queasy and as if I am about to burst into flames at any given moment. The boat is old, creaking with each step I take. I hate this.

when the captain steers us out of the harbor, the water sloshes against the sides of the boat. I stay towards the middle of the deck, refusing to go below-decks. Being underwater, even if protected by the metal walls, is just too risky. Thankfully, it is only Shade, Farley, and me, along with a few groups of people scattered about. Probably Scarlet Guard members picked up from Norta.

Farley leans back in her seat beside Shade. "You look like you're about to cry, Prince." She doesn't even look at me. Even after all this time living together and being on the run, Farley is still cold to me. I cannot blame her. My existence is the opposite of what her cause is for.

"Perhaps I am."

She chuckles. "Cheer up. We're going to our base. You'll be too busy to even notice she's gone, Lover-boy." Shade glances a warning at her but she continues. "You aren't going to jeopardize my plans by trying to get her back. She's made her choice and you've made yours."

"Yes Ma'am," is all I say.

Shade sighs. "It's her birthday."

I want to say I know that. I want to tell him to shut up and let it go. But I can't let it go. Mare is far away with my brother, living as his pet, playing pretend just so he could get more Reds on his side. I don't care what it takes. I am going to work with the Scarlet Guard, whether they want me here or not, until I can get Maven off the throne. And fix things with Mare, a selfish part of me thinks.

Farley pats Shade on the shoulder. "She's safe now." It looks painful for her to say that. Though Farley can be hard as nails and downright cruel sometimes, I can tell she cares about Mare. Maybe it's a relief for her to have the Little Lightning Girl out of her hands.

The boat ride is long and nighttime comes too soon, meaning we have to go below-decks to the crammed staterooms. Laying in my cot, farthest from the porthole where dark water is constant, I stare at the wall. Farley and Shade share a cot, each fast asleep against the outer wall. As discreet as they try to be, there's no denying there's something between them.

The next morning, we reach Tuck. I can't seem to get off the boat fast enough.

Back on solid ground, my legs wobble a bit despite my strength which I have honed through training and battle. I am the first one off the ship, Farley and Shade right behind me.

Farley points a scarred finger at me. "First thing's first. When the Colonel speaks to you, you respond with 'Yes Colonel'. Not 'sir'. Colonel." Her blue eyes are dark with fear or dread or warning. Whoever this colonel is, I'm sure we'll get along. We both know our way around a battlefield, it seems. I'm sure we can work together to take my throne back.

"Yes, Captain." I smirk. She looks like she's ready to gut me.

Shade puts a hand over his mouth, trying to hold his laugh in.

Farley remains stone faced as she says, "I'm serious, Tiberias." She flinches the second the words leave her mouth, probably regretting it. She shakes her head, pressing her lips into a thin line.

I do not restrain my laughter. Shade's laugh is full of wheezing and snorting. He doubles over,l form laughter. So genuinely hilarious that I only laugh more.

Farley stares at us both, biting her lip. "Are you done?"

"Sorry," we both say in unison.

We walk towards what looks to be the main house in the middle of rows of barracks. The land is grassy and a cool breeze flows through the air.

Farley adjusts the belt hanging from her hips, a pistol at her right and another at her left. She straightens her back, cracks her knuckles, and glances sidelong at Shade who nods and squeezes her hand.

"I'll do the talking," Farley whispers. "Do. Not. Embarrass. Me."

And just like that, we enter the house, Farley first, in the frontlines of whatever battle this is to her.

A man—the Colonel—looks up from his desk, not deigning to drop the papers in his hands. One eye is bloodied, no doubt the result of some sort of fight.

"What?" Is all he says.

Farley balls her hands into fists at her sides. "Colonel, we've retrieved the exiled prince." She gestures in my direction and I shift uncomfortably. I expect her to say something else but she becomes silent, waiting for him to respond. Neither her, nor Shade spare as much as a single glance in my direction.

The colonel looks me up and down, his face is schooled into blank disinterest. After an excruciatingly long moment, his eyes lock on Farley's face.

With not a hint of expression, he orders, "Lock him up."