I'm Your Red Queen (Mare + Maven fanfic)

Chapter 1

"Was it all a lie?" I ask suddenly.

"Huh?"

"You said at the court that nothing you said or did was true. Then why are you asking me to stay? Why offer me my life when you never loved or cared about me?"

A small tear made its way down my cheek while my eyes were holding the rest back.

Maven takes his free hand and gently caresses my cheek through the bars of the cell, using his thumb to wipe the tear away. His gaze burns my soul while his hand chills my face.

"I love you, Mare, I never stopped loving you so don't think for a second that my love for you was fake. But I saw you. I saw you kiss my brother. I saw the stolen glances. I thought you wanted him."

"It was a mistake," I whisper to myself, though he probably heard it.

"Stay with me Mare, and I can make all of your dreams come true." He whispers into my ear, his lips ghostly touching my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine.

I can never forget the memories we made together, nor his betrayal. But wasn't I the same? Wasn't I equally at fault? I used him too. I made a promise to myself to not fall in love, yet I couldn't help but give in to my desires. People say you can't forget your first love, but I need to keep my promise. I need to fight for myself and the Scarlet Guard. I cannot fall in love again.

"Will you return?"

"What do you mean?" He asks puzzled.

"To how you used to be? I prefer the shadow to the flame. I want you to come back to me, Maven."

"If that's what you wish Mare, I'll never leave you unsatisfied."

He takes my hand and kisses it, signaling the guard behind us to open the cage.

I throw a worried glance over my shoulder to see Cal, his back facing me while his hands are balled up in tight fists. His knuckles a ghostly white and his body starts to shake. I only hope he hears what I'm about to say.

"I'm sorry."

It was as if the wind had carried my words right into his ears. He turns around to show me his bloodshot eyes and pouty lips. It breaks my heart to see him like this, but I was doing this for us. I'm doing this for the Scarlet Guard.

As the cell door opens by the magnetron, I subtly blow a kiss to Cal in hopes that he will get my hidden message. But one can only hope. I turn back around and the minute I step out of the prison, I try to summon my powers. Come on! Why can't I feel anything?

For a second I question if Maven is truly his mother's son as he whispers, "Arvens, sweetheart. You cannot be trusted." I hang my head low and stare at my feet as Maven guides me through the castle. I glance around, taking in the view, noticing that we are in an unfamiliar hallway.

"Where are you taking me, Maven?" I ask.

"To our room of course."

"Our room?"

"Well, if we are to be betrothed, I figure that we should at least sleep together."

"Sleep together?"

"Not like that. Well... not yet anyway." Maven says with a chuckle.

Maven abruptly stops walking and being the slow person I am, bump into his back. The impact is so sudden and powerful that I fall back onto the floor. I rubbed my nose and lifted myself off the ground in time for Maven to turn around. This man has a back made of steel. I give him a deadly glare while he rolls his eyes and opens the door to his- sorry, our room. I couldn't help but notice how awfully spacious it is, far more open than his previous bedroom.