The Pain in Our Veins (Maven Time Travel)

Chapter Five

We make them wait, per usual. I've never minded it before, admiring how Mother wove power into every action. I'd savor the time spent away from the spotlight, chewing on my thoughts until they had marinated to perfection. But that was before I knew my destiny. Before I had something to scheme for.

"I still say we chop her head off." Father has learned little from Mother's careful planning. "Let them cheer on the extermination of another rat."

"And I still say you have the manners of a dog drunk on varnish," I mutter under my breath. Mother stifles a laugh, settling into a smirk as I raise my voice. "Fear is the fire of fools, Father. We must smother it before it spreads."

"He's right." Cal pats Father on the shoulder. "You should listen to him more often."

Something stirs in my chest. I squash it. "On second thought, let Court burn."

"Maven." Mother frowns. "Don't talk over your betters."

My cheeks grow hot, and I look away. She didn't mean it. It would be foolish for her to insult 'Father so publicly. I should've known better.

Still, it stings to stand beside him as we arrive at the banquet. My seat is on the ground rather than the dais, and I inch so I am closer to Mother than him. She doesn't look at me. It would be improper.

But I find I don't care for what's proper anymore.

Father clears his throat. "The rite of Queenstrial is always a joyous event, representing the future of our great kingdom and the bonds that keep us strongly united in the face of our enemies." The crowd stares back, yet I can't find her face. "But as you saw today, Queenstrial has brought forth more than just a future queen."

Mother bites back a thousand insults as she takes his hand. "We all remember our bright hope against the darkness of war, our captain, our friend, the General Ethan Titanos. He led the Iron Legion to victory, pushing back the lines of war that had stood for nearly a hundred years. The Lakelanders feared him; our soldiers loved him."

Thomas' body flashes beneath my fingers, and I almost sneer. I will never bow to warriors and their worthless medals, the decorated bodies arbitrary as our blood. No matter how Cal wishes me to.

"Lakelander spies killed our beloved friend Ethan–" Good. "Sneaking across the lines to destroy our one hope for peace. His wife, the Lady Nora, a good and just woman, died with him. On that fateful day sixteen years ago, House Titanos was lost. Friends were taken from us. Our blood was spilled."

Silence stretches its claws across the hall, sinking into the mournful and impatient alike. I eye the jittery legs of unsteady actors, the narrowed eyes of those too stupid to pretend. I'm tempted to smile. To catch them off guard, and make them squirm.

Would Mare like that?

I don't have time to wonder as Mother directs us to the corner, a Silver girl quivering beneath our gaze. It's jarring, to see her skin so leeched. For Mare to be anything but Red as the dawn, glowing crimson in the fading twilight. She holds her head high.

Mother's voice fades into the background as I trace her form once more. She doesn't notice, too busy with the Queenstrial girls, and something in me stings. Silly. We will bond soon enough. And this time . . .

Father raises his head. "To atone for my ignorance–" As if that were possible. "And to repay her father and her house for their great contributions to the kingdom, I would like to take this moment to announce the joining of House Calore and the resurrected House Titanos."

Gasps resound from the Queenstrial contestants, and I know they're not thinking of me. Even in my moment of triumph, I am overshadowed. The exhale before the real prize is taken from them. I step forward. The name is wrong, forced upon her by circumstance, yet I speak it nonetheless. "Lady Mareena."