42
Maeve and I returned late last night after having to skip back across the rooftops. She had retired to bed as soon as we were back in our rooms, exhausted from the use of her power. Her eyes were fighting to stay open even just bidding me goodnight.
I didn’t bother Maeve about the dagger again, not wanting to fight and knowing she didn’t have the energy to either. I haven’t heard any correspondence from Jenson yet anyway.
I’m lounging on the couch next to Cole, who had plenty of questions about Maeve and I’s adventure last night.
I almost let out a sigh of relief as a guard knocks on our door and pulls me away from my commander. I’m even more relieved when he tells us King Castor is finally ready to meet.
I can’t wait to leave Faystra behind.
“So you’ve come to your decision.” I declare as a way of greeting, slipping my hands into my pockets.
Maeve, Cole and I stay standing and keep a good distance from King Castor and his sons. One of which hasn't taken his eyes off Maeve since we walked in. My jaw ticks and I look away from him, turning my direction back to Castor who shoots me a smile that does not meet his eyes.
“We have.”
I wait, giving him the space to tell us what he wants, I’m not wasting any more time playing games. I want nothing more than to be done with this and get back home.
“I will activate the artifact, if.” He pauses and turns his direction to the woman next to me.
“Maeve agrees to marry Raylin.”
Rage and fury consumes me as much as the knot twisting in my stomach. I can feel Maeve looking at me but I don’t face her yet, I turn my attention directly to Raylin.
“Absolutely not.” I say through gritted teeth, no room for arguments in my tone.
King Castor speaks next, each word edging me towards a dangerous path that I do not dare take.
“You would give up your only way to defeat Hidale, for an assassin?”
My jaw clenches as I stare down at him. He’s trying to get me to show my hand, bait me and taunt me. I am failing his test I’m sure but she is not something I would ever gamble.
“We will renegotiate but that is off the table.” I reply with lethal calm.
Castor shrugs casually. “There’s nothing of the same value to me, I want someone with her powers and you would get an equally as deadly weapon, we both win.”
“We are not trading with people.” I sneer at him, starting to lose my composure.
Maeve is still staring at me, I can feel her begging me to look. Cole on the other hand is staring straight at the King, with a look that would make most people turn and run.
“It’s your loss then, take your things and go, we’re done here.” King Castor replies, a clear dismissal.
“That we are.” I grit out.
I turn around and make to leave before Maeve grabs my arm and I look down at her for the first time. She has a pleading look in her eyes, like she’s begging me to see reason. I look away from her and start to continue my path towards the door.
“Wait!” She exclaims to everyone and spins away from me to face them, while removing her hand in the process.
“I’ll do it, I’ll marry Raylin.” She says quickly, her voice slightly breathless. “I’ll marry him, if you activate the artifact.”
I whip my body back around, ready to reply. Ready to tell her there’s no fucking way that’s happening but it’s Cole who beats me to it.
“Not a chance.”
“You two don’t make decisions for me.” Maeve says bluntly, looking between us with rage in her eyes.
“We can’t let you do this.” Cole says as I stare down at her.
How could she want this? How could she even think about agreeing to this?
I won’t let her sacrifice herself for this artifact. We’ll find another way.
“I’ve made my choice.” Maeve says, staring at me before she turns to Raylin and utters the words that I wish I never had to hear leave her mouth.
“I’ll marry you.”
I clench my fists by my sides as my stomach drops further than I thought possible.
I don’t bother looking at Raylin to see his reaction, I know the exact look that will be on his face and I know it’ll send
me over the edge.
“Come Maeve, let us discuss the arrangement.” Castor says and I see Maeve start to move. I throw my hand around her waist to stop her.
Maeve looks up at me, her brows knotting.
I stare back down at her, my body so tense it could cut through metal. The fury in my eyes sharing everything I’m feeling as I look down at her.
“Don’t you even think about taking so much as a step towards him.”
“Let go of me.” Maeve demands but I only tighten my grip. This can’t happen, I won’t let this happen.
“Stop this at once.” I hear Raylin say and his footsteps follow. He should not be coming any closer right now.
“Unhand my fiancé.”
I scoff at Raylin and turn to face him, placing Maeve behind me.
“She will never be your fiancé.”
“She already is.” Raylin sneers at me.
Before thinking better of myself I launch forward and haul the bastard up by his collar. Wind starts flying everywhere as Raylin unleashes his power but it does nothing to soften my grip on him.
“Put him down, it’s my decision!” Maeve exclaims, standing next to me now with Cole behind her. His hand on his sword, ready for if I escalate things more than I already have.
I look away from her and back towards Raylin.
“We don’t trade lives Maeve.”
“It’s okay, I’m used to it.” She replies and breaks my heart enough that I forget about Raylin and drop him to face her entirely. I don’t even bother watching him fall to the ground.
“Not anymore.” I say, wanting to reach out and hold her, before thinking better of it and dropping my hands.
“We all have to make choices and sacrifices in this war and this is mine.” Maeve says, sadness dripping from her voice as she takes a step back, away from me and Cole.
“I’ll meet you guys in a couple of hours.” Maeve adds and turns around to walk away from us.
I’m still watching her walk away as Cole taps me on the shoulder and turns me towards the door.
Ultimately leaving Maeve behind.
Cole and I wait for Maeve, watching the hours tick by. I’m sitting on the sofa, forearms resting on my knees and head bowed, while Cole is pacing in front of me.
Neither of us speaks while we wait, we haven’t said a word since we left the room.
Suddenly the door opens, my head snaps up and she appears in the doorway.
“What was that about?” Cole demands as she walks in.
“There was no other way.” Maeve answers sternly.
“There is always another way.” I say storming towards her as I hear Cole swear under his breath.
“Look, I get you’re upset with me but I did what I had to do, to finish the mission.”
I look at Maeve as she says this, the confidence and certainty in her voice, she thinks she did the right thing.
I narrow my eyes at her and shake my head before looking away, needing space from her gaze before I say the thing I have been wanting to say ever since she said yes.
“This goes beyond the mission Maeve, you’re all but giving up your life.”
I say the words with such desperation, anger and fear lacing my voice. I don’t want to lose her, least of all like this.
“You needed this.” Maeve says, grabbing my hands and looking between Cole and I.
“No.” I say abruptly, “we need you Maeve, we can figure out the rest, make a new plan.” The words fall out with such intensity that I almost don’t recognise my own voice.
She sighs, letting go of my hands and even though I’m so angry with her, my heart stops at the loss of contact. Especially when it feels like it could be the last time.
“You can have both, I have a plan.”
She looks up at me with hope in her eyes, all but begging Cole and I to see reason. I look back at my commander, whose eyebrows are furrowed, matching my own.
“What are you talking about?” Cole says, there’s a bluntness in his voice.
Maeve looks across to both of us, her eyes lighting up ever so slightly. A stark contrast to the darkness that befall Cole and I right now.
She opens her mouth, ready to tell us why. The reason for all of this, her plan.
“I’m not going to marry Raylin.”