Maven's Redemption [Red Queen]

Chapter 12

Mare's POV

    It was hours before Maven came back to the room. I took that time I had alone to explore the books I had been staring at since I had come back to the palace. Most of them were history books outlining the events of the war, but he had others that seemed more recent, flipping through one, I discovered it was a tale of a hero trying to win the affections of a princess but she was too stubborn to notice his flirtations. I had just finished reading the last page when the door swung open, startling me enough to drop the book and summon lightning. When it was just Maven lugging in a bundle of equipment, my heart slowed, the lighting forming at my fingers dissipating.
    Maven walked over to his bed where he let everything fall in a big pile.
    "I hope you didn't just break something." I smirked at him, noticing how out of breath he seemed.
    "I didn't. But it's all here. Now we just have to set it up and we will be ready to tell the world the news." He gestured for me to come to his side. "I, Maven of House Calore is officially denouncing the crown!" He over exaggerated, curling his arm around my waist and pulling me towards him. I pushed him off.
    "The sooner the better. I have already been gone for so long I am surprised the Scarlet Guard hasn't ambushed the castle to make a second daring rescue yet."
    "Yes, you're right. I called a trusted techie to come here in about a half hour to help us setup. There is hardly reason to hide you from him because after he sees you, the whole castle will." My chest tightened. After the stream was over, everything was going to change. Cal would be here, back at the castle. What would Maven do? What would I do? Where would I go? Forcing the thoughts away, I forced a smile and nodded my head. Luckily Maven didn't notice the nervousness bubbling inside me so he went to sorting out everything, putting all the wires in one pile and the other equipment in another.
    "So, we do have an hour to kill" Maven declared after he finished, striding over to me. His arms found my waist and they curled around it. "What do you want to do, my sweet Mare?" I smiled but this time it was real. I pulled away though, knowing we couldn't get distracted.
    "We need to talk about what we are going to do after we do the stream. How are we going to handle Cal coming back here?" Maven seemed disappointed but that look was quickly replaced by his facade of professional royalty. His face stayed flat and calm as he explained his plans to welcome Cal back and give the title of king back to him.
    "I hope this works." I mutter, suddenly feeling overly nervous. "I want some food." I declared, smoothing my palms against the fabric of the dress. Maven sighed.
    "I will go to the kitchen then." His head, normally held high by instinct, now was hung low, his eyes to the floor.
    "If you would let me out of this god damn room I could be getting my own food." I snapped before I could think to stop myself. His head shot up again, his eyes daring to meet mine.
    "You know why you can't be seen yet." He growled through clenched teeth.
    "The stream is in less than an hour! It should be safe enough for me now! But no, I am just kept her like..." I paused, thinking about the next word "Prisoner." My chest tightened. Maven's eyes went dark, bringing up images of being trapped in the Silent Stone. The temperature suddenly rose in the room, I expected it to stop at a point but it kept going. Sweat broke on my brow.
    "Maven. Stop." I held my hand out, resisting my instinct to fight.
    "You know what being a prisoner is like, Mare. I am protecting you." His expression turned soft, pleading.
    "I know that. I did not mean what I said." I whispered, reaching out. Maven took my hand and squeezed gently, the heat residing to a comfortable ambience of warmth. Eventually, Maven started to breathe evenly again and I knew the fight was over. The tightness in my own chest released, the visions threatening to eat me alive slowly disappeared to their little corner of my mind. There was a moment of silence where Maven and I just stared into each other's eyes, letting them tell more than our mouths could. Then Maven lightly let my hand fall to my side, his eyes falling to the floor, his eyes going distantly thoughtful as his jaw worked back and forth. In one swift move, his flame bracelets were unclipped. They fell to the floor with a soft thud. Maven let out a sigh.
    "I don't ever want to be tempted to use my powers on you." He finally whispered, rubbing the subtle marks on his wrists. "It scares me when I go back to that, Mare."
    "I understand." I whispered back, afraid if I spoke too loud, I would break something.
    "I have never loved anyone in my life as much as I have loved you, Mare."

Maven's POV

I pulled Mare close to me, feeling her heartbeat so close to mine brought up images of how calm our future could be after all this was over. Mare took in a breath but before she made a sound, there was a knock on the door. I groaned. That techie was always arriving much too early. I reluctantly let go of Mare and strode over to the door.
    "You're early-" I started but was quickly cut off by the face I saw at the door. "Wha- what are you... how..." all the words were stuck in my throat and no amount of royalty training could have warned me about this feeling.
    "Hello, brother."