Maven's Redemption [Red Queen]

Chapter 7

I didn't dare to move a muscle until Mare started to shift, her eyelids fluttering before eventually shooting open. I watched as her eyes darted around, taking in all her surroundings but she suddenly shot up, lightning sparking around her fingertips, making me jump.

"Wha- what happened? Where am I?" Her breaths seemed ragged and I hadn't noticed but sweat beaded around her brow. Did she have a nightmare... about me?

"You're-" I started to explain but her groans of pain interrupted me. Her hands went to her head, holding it like it was going to explode. Sparks ignited at the tips of all her fingers and I could see small tears forming, leaking through her squeezed shut eyes.

"You hit your head, Mare." I said softly, not wanting to hurt her more with the mere volume of my voice. "You went distant and then you blacked out... I tried to catch you but I wasn't fast enough." I continued, my head hung low. Recognition passed over her face. I let out a sigh of relief. She believed me.

"I... I went back... to-" She didn't finish, she probably couldn't without going to that place again. But I knew what she meant. It was the prison I put her in, thinking if I kept her on a leash, she could learn to love me. How could I be so stupid? My heart burned as hot as my flame at the thought. When she was asleep her face seemed so innocent, like none of the issues she faced never existed. She even looked beautiful... and I had broken her. I forced my sadness away and looked into her now open eyes.

"You're on my plane. I waited to take off until you woke up. My flight skills are not the best." A small smile touched the corners of her lips. I wondered if she wanted to laugh.

"Thank you for that, but I'm fine. We need to go" She held her head high but her eyes still gave away her obvious pain. No matter how much I wanted to demand her to lay back down. Screw the mission, it could wait. But the determination in her eyes stopped me in my tracks.

"Let's go then"