His Red Queen

Chapter Thirty-nine

Maven's eyes meet mine as he pushes through the crowd. They let him pass, barely, weapons drawn, ready to kill. But the guards behind him protect their king, weapons equally aimed and lethal. No one breathes and the only thing I could hear is Maven's footsteps, crunching on stray twigs.

Farley's gun is aimed at his head, ten guards aim theirs at her. As Maven comes close enough to brush his fingers against my arm, Kilorn pushes me behind him.

Maven snarls. "Is this how you want to play?" A villainous smile spreads across his face.

Kilorn spits at Maven's feet. "Do. Not. Touch. Her."

I shake my head at Maven. Don't take another step. They'll kill you.

By now, there are so many people—Reds, Silvers, and in between—ready to kill me or Maven if given the chance. Some on the Scarlet Guard, others my own palace guards and sentinels. I swallow my fear, push it deep down until I feel nothing but the constant hum of electricity.

Maven laughs at Kilorn, practically pushing him aside, before seizing me by the arm, pulling me to his chest. I let him. Farley's eyes meet mine from across the clearing. A sort of understanding falls upon her face.

Maven clicks his tongue. "Dear wife, it certainly has been a while."

"It sure has," I say numbly. I can't see his face but I can feel his heartbeat against my back. It's quick, panicky. But he does not waver as he addresses the crowd.

"My kind people, you have saved my wife and sweet queen from the attacks in Caesar's Square." He speaks with all the authority his station gives him.

The crowd remains silent.

His guards still have their weapons aimed at my head, my chest. So does Farley. Maven pulls me tighter against him as if in threat to everyone. As if he'd end me before anyone got the chance.

"I am here to bring Mare home and no one is going to prevent that from happening." I try to move but his grip on me is too tight, not painful, but an undeniable warning. "I—my men, will not shoot or use ability unless it is necessary."

I shift, trying to get away, but he whispers in my ear, "Don't move, they'll kill you." I raise my chin high.

"Now, Scarlet Guard, I been informed that you would like to create an alliance between yourselves and the Lakelands with the traitor prince." He let's go of me but shoots a warning glance over his shoulder.

I stand where I am, all too aware of the weapons aimed at me. Everyone here has a gun or sword or knife aimed at them. I don't dare breathe as sentinels close around me. Maven refuses to look at me again.

"I wish to make a deal with you all." Maven's voice cuts through the silence. He strides up to Farley who hefts a machine gun over a slender shoulder. "Put the weapon down, Farley."

Farley spits at him. "Colonel Farley." She does not put the weapon down. "And what could you possibly offer me?"

Maven puts his hands up as if in supplication. "You want to make an alliance with the Lakelands, no? Do you truly think they'd ever take your side?" He chuckles darkly. "You all thought I would help you once. And now..." he trails off, motioning around us all.

"Get to the point, Maven," I grumble. From my peripheral vision, I can see Evangeline in a defensive stance, a long sword of various metals drawn. One strike will leave anyone dead in less than a second.

Maven whirls around to face me. "We made a deal."

"We go over this every day, Maven." I roll my eyes. He flinches. "You've betrayed me, I've betrayed you. Step down right now, abdicate the throne. I will do the same."

Maven pulls me to him roughly. We're nose to nose now and I can feel the quick puffs of his breath on my face. His skin is freezing.

"Not with Cal allying with the Lakelands." Maven smirks.

Behind me, there's a cruel laugh. Elane emerges from nothing. "The alliance has already been made." She smiles prettily at Maven.

Maven lets me go abruptly and I stumble backwards, slamming into Kilorn. He steadies me and I step away from him quickly. His words from before ring in my ears. I can't believe I ever loved you.

"What. Did. You. Do?" Maven yells.

Farley whistles. "While you were busy being dramatic, Cal informed us that the alliance is underway. Look." She holds up a small screen, Cal's face displayed on it like a broadcast. A beautiful young woman with deep brown skin is beside him, her face blank. But I can see a sort of understanding between the two of them.

"What the hell?" Maven gasps.

"Hi everyone," Cal says. He has a new crown on his head, similar to his new bride's. "Princess Iris and I send our love." His crooked smile makes her laugh.

Maven stares at them in disbelief. "I-I...how?"

By now, everyone has lowered their weapons and Maven slowly walks up to the screen, taps it as though he were a curious child who has never seen something shiny before. I stand beside him, put a hand on his shoulder.

"We did what we had to do."

Cal and Iris' faces disappear, the screen going dark.

Maven laughs lowly. "If you thought that would make me abdicate, you're mistaken." He waves his guards over. Two of them seize me before I can react. I do not fight them. I let them lead me away to the airjet waiting for us.

I cannot escape my fate.

"Queen Mare will be going home to Whitefire where she will stay by my side." He grips my chin, forcing me to look at him. Anger is not enough to describe what shines across his face, echoes in his voice.

"Kill me," I cry as the guards drag me away from him.

"What?" Gasps.

"KILL ME!" I scream. The guards force me up the steps but stop in the threshold, arms straining to keep from being forced inside what may as well be my own coffin.

"I'm not going to kill you," Maven purrs. "I'm doing what's best for us. For this kingdom."

I lunge as I send lightning through the guards around me. Bullets ring out, a wall of fire erupts. Screaming and cries pierce the air as I tumble down the airjet's steps and into the dewy grass.

Maven reaches for me, offers his hand. Fear flashes in his eyes. "I am doing what is best for the baby," Maven cries.

Then everyone turns to us.

Silence.

"What?" Farley breathes, barreling towards me. The guards stop her in her tracks and Kilorn rushes to her side to get her away.

"There is—" I start, but Maven cuts me off.

"I am taking my queen home now, thank you very much!" He booms. I open my mouth to speak but a voice in my head tells me to be silent.

I try to move, to speak or scream but no sound comes. Then I hear Samson's voice in my head, tearing away the walls I've built, cackling at my inability to tell everyone what I so desperately need to tell. No one knows he is even here except for Maven. And me.

"Is this true?" Farley stalks over to me, unbothered by fallen people on the ground, the sentinels surrounding her, ready to kill.

"Oh, yes," Maven says.

"I want to hear it from Mare."

My eyes meet Evangeline's from the entryway of the airjet. Her stormy gray eyes are on me, on my abdomen. I try to shake my head. This plan could still work.

"Mare, answer me." She's pleading now.

The sword raises itself in the air.

Evangeline bites her lip and locks eyes with me.

I dip my chin ever so slightly, as much of a nod as I can muster with Samson controlling my movements. A sort of silent understanding shows on Evangeline's face. She nods grimly.

Before anyone can do anything, the sword launches itself at my body.