𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

Maven

Cal approaches me in the showers after training. We're both sweaty and still panting. His presence didn't make things easy for me today but I'm trying to ignore it and keep up my mask as a good brother. Mother says I should do that even if I get angry at him. She's been writing a lot lately.

"We have a meeting with the Security team today," he says. "And you can't run from this one, Mavey."

I groan internally. I wanted to see Thomas, but perhaps it's for the best that I don't. I don't know. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I like him. A lot. And I don't think it's in a friendly way.

"Alright," I answer as he strips his shirt away to get into a shower stall. I sort of get why girls like that. Fuck, what am I thinking? I look away, but it doesn't help that all around the room boys are doing the same thing.

"Where have you been running off to when you skip the meetings?" Cal asks moving into his stall.

"I've been walking around camp trying to forget it's the Choke," I respond mindlessly.

Why hadn't I noticed this before? I look at the other soldiers I train with and can't help but blush. They're all dirty and tired, but why does it look good? By my colours, I want to hit myself.

"Good luck with that."

How can I turn my brain off? This isn't like me. I never thought like this. It's so improper of me to think like this of my peers.

"Yup."

I thought I didn't want anything with anyone. Now suddenly I kind of want to get close to every human I lay eyes on. Well, maybe just one human. Only one of them really matters.

I step into a shower and stand under the water for a few minutes without cleaning myself. My head leans against the tiles as the water drips on me.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Maven?" I ask myself quietly. I need to stop thinking for one fucking minute.

♛

The Officer goes on and on about how the Lakelander attacks have gotten bolder lately. It takes everything in me to keep my back straight and eyes focused on the man. I want to get out of here. I want to throw berries at someone and see sparkly honey eyes as their edges crinkle in happiness. I want to see that mole. If I only pull his shirt down a centimetre I could see it.

"...could do that. What do you think, Maven?"

I snap to attention and look around the room to find who addressed me. It was Cal. I think. He's looking at me with more meaning than the others.

"I agree," I say. "It sounds like a viable plan if everyone works along with it."

The other members of the meeting nod their heads or take notes. Some of them grunt.

"What would you add to the plan, Prince Maven?" A woman with long bright hair addresses me.

"I think my brother covered it all quite well. Unless there is something specific about it you'd like to discuss?" I focus on keeping a relaxed state. Shoulders down, easy stand.

"The Red boy."

My heart stops. "What?" I breathe.

"I don't trust a Red to protect us. In every shift there's a Red boy. Why can't we just have Silvers?"

"There's more than enough people to help with the watch shifts," Cal intervenes. He trades the word Red for people. Such a soft move. "The members of the other Houses are scarce and busy with other duties. We need partners in every shift."

"That is my question, Prince Maven." The woman addresses me as if my brother hadn't spoken at all. It makes me uneasy.

I gather what the others have said to build out the topic at hand. This is the Security team so we're obviously covering that. Cal mentioned watch shifts, so those must be to overlook the camp and any threat that may approach it. The woman talks about pairs, meaning the plan has to be that these shifts be made in partners to ensure more attention and safety.

"If a Red does their job poorly it will cost them as well," I say at last. "A threat for us is an even bigger threat to them." I repeat the words Mother has whispered to me many times before. Something we have to make them believe, she says.

The woman regards me for a whole minute before voicing her agreement. "Very well, Your Majesty."

It takes everything in me not to sigh in relief. The meeting continues as usual without setbacks and nobody pays attention to me anymore. They move on to several topics that Cal is quick to voice his opinion on, but that hardly interest me. Though I don't let my mind wander this time. That woman almost caught me slipping. I can't slip. I cannot fail. And I need to get him off my mind anyway.

It's like trying to block the sun with a finger.