Shattered Heart (Red Queen)

Chapter Fifteen

•Mare POV•
Shade and Cal sit on either side of me on the jet. Cal has a hand on my knee and I can barely sit still from excitement. After months, I will finally see my family again.
"We need to get you to Sarah," Cal say quietly and looks at my wounds.
I had completely forgotten that I was hurt. "I'm fine. I don't feel anything."
"Just wait until the adrenaline wears off," he says with a concerned look.
"Cal, I'm fine. Don't worry about me," I tell him.
"I know, it's just..." he sighs and trails off.
"I understand," I say and put and hand on his.
He shakes his head and says, "I can't lose you again. It broke my heart to see you with him. What he did to you is unimaginable. I-I'm afraid, Mare. I love you and I want protect you with all that I am. I will give my life for you."
I take his face in my hands and kiss him fiercely. Cal is mine and I am his. Nothing is going to come between us, not even Maven. I taste salt on my lips and see he is crying. I gently wipe away a tear. He rarely cries, but I know he can't help it now.
Shade clears his throat and I pull away from Cal. I laugh at the look of disgust on his face.
"Could you stop interrupting us?" I ask.
"Could you stop sucking faces?" he asks us both.
"You're an ass," I say and he grins.
"So I've heard," he replies. "We should be there soon."
     I hesitate before I ask, "How long was I... imprisoned."
     Shade's jaw tightens and Cal's hand grips my knee tighter. They don't want to talk about this. I don't either, but I want to know.
     "Four months," Shade finally answers.
     I nodded slowly and looked away. Four months. I was there for four months. It makes me sick to think about being alone with Maven for so long.
     "You're safe," Cal murmurs. "He can't hurt you now."
     "I know," I respond quietly.
     I don't talk anymore for the rest of the flight. I hope my family is waiting for me when we land. Shade gives me a half smile and puts an arm around my shoulder as we walk off the jet. The first thing I see is my family running to me.
     My brothers reach me first and wrap me in a hug. My mom follows and so does Gisa. All of them are crying and talking at the same time. I'm smiling so wide it hurts. I haven't seen my family in four months, and they haven't changed a bit.
     "Mare," my father says.
     I look up to see him standing in front of me. Standing. Not in a wheelchair. My siblings finally let me go and I run to him. It has been years since he has been able to stand.
     He hugs me tightly and I ask, "Sarah?"
    "Sarah," he confirms with a nod.
     "Mare, honey, you're hurt," my mom says and examines my wounds. 
     I start to respond but someone picks me up suddenly from behind. I twist around to see Kilorn's green eyes.
     "Kilorn!" I say and hug him when he sets me down.
     "You look terrible," he says and smirks.
     "I still look better than you," I reply.
     "That's impossible," he says and we both laugh.
     Seeing my family again feels like a dream. A wonderful dream that I don't want to end. But I know it will end. That war is far from over, and I have to fight.