Shattered Heart (Red Queen)

Chapter Nine

•Cal POV•
     It can't be true. I refuse to believe it. How could she do that? Mare does not love Maven. What is she doing? She's gotten herself into a mess by becoming his fiancée.
      Shade sits across from me and watches me closely. He's waiting for me to burn the place down, but I never will.
     I can see the pain in his eyes every time he thinks about Mare. I wish he could just teleport in there and save her. It's just not that easy.
     "So it's done then," Shade asks, breaking the silence.
     I sigh and reply, "I told you I would let her go if she chose him."
     "You're going to give up that easily?" he asks.
     "I've done everything I can. She picked him, not me," I tell him.
     "You haven't done everything you can," he argues. "You've done everything but march into the damn place and get her back."
     "Shade, it's over-" I say but he interrupts.
     "Like hell it is!" he explodes. "Get over yourself! I'm never going to see my sister again and you can only think about yourself! Stop being such a spoiled prince and get her back!"
     "I can't!" I yell back. "She doesn't love me! Did you hear a word she said during the broadcast?"
     He stand up suddenly and replies. "Of course I did! Don't be blinded by your broken heart. Can't you see what is right in front of you? Mare doesn't love him. She doing this because she doesn't have a choice. She is doing what she can to survive."
     "No, I don't think-"
     "I don't give a damn what you think! I'm going to get my little sister back! You can sit there and be pathetic or you can be the hero prince I know you are," he says.
     "I am no prince," I say and lower my head.
     He rolls his eyes and says, "You are. You are Tiberius Calore, Prince of Norta. Who cares what your brother says? You've lost everyone else you love, now are you really going to lose Mare too?"
     "No," I reply, suddenly remembering who I am. "I'm getting her back."
      "Thought so," he says and sits back down. "Now help me figure out an actual plan."
     I grin for the first time since I lost Mare and get to work. Maven has already taken Mare from me, but I will not let him take her heart too. She is mine. I love her more than words can express. She is my lighting. She makes my fire burn brighter. Mare is who I am, and Maven will not keep her. He's about to feel my wrath.