ii.

That was typical of how their love making started on most nights. He'd warn her some hours ahead to mentally prepare herself for his visit. He would arrive, she'd wear cold cream on her face, or some other appallingly disgusting mixture, or toxic smell, if only to cause him more annoyance at her. He would order her to remove it, and she would come back to bed, fresh as an ocean breeze. He would hold her, kiss her, love her.

And Mare would pretend she was dead.

At least until it was over.

Then Maven would back out of her room, unable to tear his eyes away from the soft image of her body sprawled beneath the stream of moonlight that shone through her window. But alas, there were battles to oversee, there people to kill, and a kingdom to run. He couldn't linger there forever, wanting what he would never have again.

He walked quietly into her room that very same night, just as he had informed her at the beach. She sat on the edge of the bed already waiting for him, curtains that hung from the canopy drawn apart. He stared through the sheer fabric at her exposed back. Another expensive piece of clothing. A revealing piece of silk that she hated, but he loved so much on her. He would give her the world if she allowed him. But she wanted nothing from him. Not even so much as a glance in her direction. Those icy blue eyes made her stomach churn.

He rapidly peeled out of his clothes, wanting to feel her skin against his. She turned her head ever so slightly, to look over her shoulder.

A sigh escaping her lips at the sight of his unclothed form.

He walked around, drawing the curtains wide enough to allow him to pass through, his knees sinking into the cushions of the bed. He didn't look at her, nor she at him. Instead, he pressed a hand to her shoulder and pushed her back, hovering over her stiffened body awkwardly. He had all the control. He could make her kneel if he wanted to. He could take her if he wanted to.

Maven kissed Mare's exposed shoulder, his lips trailing down towards her neck. But she recoiled, then stretched her arms forward, her hands pushing against his chest with a bit of force. He eased back just a bit, closed his eyes and pushed her legs apart. He entered her, feeling her warmth envelop him, trying to forget how much she probably hated him. The mixed emotions swirling inside of her. Feelings he easily sensed.

A moan escaped Mare's lips and he couldn't resist a grin. She felt his mouth move to smile against her shoulder and instantly resented her body's betrayal.

Maven paused in his lovemaking.

He laid there a moment, contemplating, then leaned forward to kiss her on the lips. Mare turned her head away, but he cupped her chin, turning her face back to him then settled his lips over hers hungrily. Mine, he couldn't help but think to himself.

She closed her eyes, and drifted somewhere else until it was over.

Soon her husband was dressed and out the door, probably out to kill more people and keep his ruthless empire afloat.

Typical. So typical.

Mare laid in bed, her fingers toying with the broken blue shell she had found on the beach during their family trip that day. She moved the curtain that hung from the canopy back, looking around to ensure he was actually gone. She left the soft cushion of the bed then drew her robe from a nearby chair and covered herself, waiting for the noisy children to sneak to her bedroom, as they always did when he was out of the house.

They didn't dare try to steal her attention for far too long when he was around. 

He was their father, but he was the king after all, and the king was the most feared man in all of Norta.

-

The young king passed his mother's bedroom door on the way out, and she heard him coming. She could hear his thoughts. As the door swung open to reveal Queen Elara in her thin silk night gown, blue eyes set on her only son, Maven willed away his most intimate thoughts from just moments earlier. But his mother was quicker than him, and she still thought he was just a little boy who needed to be led, and told what to do. She thought he needed to be protected at all costs, although her protection was more like manipulation. He was twenty two after all, a young king. No longer a boy, but not entirely yet a man.

His mother trespassed into his thoughts and her lips formed into a tight line at what she found in his head. "That little lightning girl is such a burden." She commented in distaste for her daughter in law.

Maven could feel a white blush tint his cheeks because he knew what he was thinking about--the intimate moment he had just shared with Mare in their bedroom. She had also no doubt been able to see the repulsion Maven caught in his wife's eyes as he made love to her. Elara could also see how much Maven would hurt every time he was met with Mare's coldness and she could not understand why he still kept her around. Why did he care and try to please her so much? But then he'd become frustrated and do completely opposite things like putting her in an electric collar so that she couldn't leave. He was obsessed with her.  

When he said nothing to her words, his mother continued, "She's not worthy of you. Not even fit to kiss the ground you walk on." Maven could feel his hands balling up into fists of anger. He was quick to control his temper before flames were to break out in his hands. But he knew she would see his anger just the same. Still, she continued like her words were the truest thing she had ever said. "The only good thing she has ever given you are the twins, our future king and princess. But even then, they are tainted with her filthy red blood--"

"Enough, mother." Maven spat. 

He never spoke to his mother that way, and she was taken aback by his outburst. But he was already in a bad mood, brooding at Mare's rejection. His mother wasn't helping by slandering the woman who was his wife. The woman who was the current Queen of Norta and by marriage to him now held a higher rank than his mother. Mare was a Queen, Elara was a Queen mother. 

Though she was taken aback, his words were not enough to stop her. "She's just a dumb red who isn't at the same level as we are." Her words were smooth and gentle as she tried to convince him. For years she tried to use her powers and influence to break up her son's marriage. But there was something that made it impossible. The same way it had happened with Thomas. Maven had forgotten, but each time the thought of him snuck into his mind, all the feelings came rushing back. Her mother's hate was no match for the love he had for Mare, or the love he once had for Thomas.

"I have to go." He made his way down the hall, his mother remained standing in the doorway to her bedroom. "I have business to tend to."

He was barely able to contain his anger now and his fist ignited into a bright blue flame. On his way down the steps he released his anger by throwing a bright blue fireball at a painting on one of the walls. It was one of his family--his father, his brother Cal, him, and his mother. Half the people in that portrait were dead and there was a black X crossing out Cal's face, as Maven had declared him a traitor of the kingdom. The painting burnt easily and fell to the ground where it continued to do so. A servant gasped at the sight and went to go get something to put it out. 

Maven was already out the door.

-

Two small children sat on the edge of Mare's bed. She closed her eyes tightly, pushing away images of Maven in her bed only moments prior. Her daughter Eden bit into a warm piece of bread, and Arden climbed onto his mother's lap and gazed at her face, his bright blue eyes were tired. Sometimes it pained Mare to look at her son because his ice colored eyes reminded her of her husband. Arden took after his father when it came to looks. But when it came to abilities, he was his mother's son. 

"Mommy... are you mad at daddy?" The little boy asked her innocently.

Mare gave the little boy a surprised look, then calmed, eager to soothe his worries away with fake reassurances. "No, of course not. I love daddy." She lied, but she wasn't sure if their son would understand. And if they did, Mare wasn't sure if the children would ever forgive him for keeping her prisoner. 

She despised Maven and wanted nothing more than to leave the palace. But she wasn't that cruel. She would never turn their children against him, no matter what he has done, not just to her but to everyone who ever loved him. The betrayal was still fresh in her mind. How he made her think he was on her side. How he and Elara hated both the king and Cal, and how they forced Cal to murder his own father. Mare wanted the children to love him because no matter what, he loved them. They were a part of him and a part of her as well. All the good parts of him, Mare tried to tell herself.

People were not born evil, they were made evil. The one who had made him like that was his own mother. 

It pained her to tell him the truth, and that's why she resorted to lying or sometimes just being speechless. Who was she to be selfish? Who was she to upset her little boy? It wasn't his fault. He didn't ask to have them as parents, he didn't ask to have a murderer for a father. And a prisoner for a mother. 

"Why would you think I was mad at daddy?" She leaned toward the boy, a softened look in her eyes, lips almost smiling. For a long time when the children were born, she was very awkward about motherhood. She liked children, but found it difficult to be nice to most people, and children were so small, so delicate. She always feared she would fail to love them and that they would hate her for it, just like Maven hated his father. But she grew into it and now her two children were the light of her life. She could not imagine her life without them.

"I don't know." Arden replied. "Sometimes..." he started once more, but then he stopped himself. thinking that maybe it was a better idea not to ask. "Can I have a cracker?"

Mare sighed. "Not before bed, darling."

Arden turned, pointing at his twin sister Eden with an accusing finger. "But Edie has a cracker."

Eden immediately broke a piece off and passed it to her brother. He stuffed the piece of bread into his mouth with small hands.

"Children, it's late and mommy is tired."

She was always tired, and felt bad using that excuse once again to be alone.

"No!" Eden wailed, fist pounding one of her pillows. "I don't wanna go to bed! I wanna stay up and play." She started throwing a tantrum.

Mare gave the girl a stern look. "Oh... we'll have none of that, young lady." Mare scolded her young daughter. She pulled the little one from the bed and dragged her down the hall to her miniature room. She would not have Eden acting like her father.

Not now, not ever.

Mare didn't have to say it. The little girl sensed it. Her mother sat her on the edge of her little bed, then leaned toward her face, eyes searching for the little girl's big brown and silver speckled eyes. In looks, Eden was similar to her mother, but it was Arden that was similar to his mother in personality.

Eden's lips begin to tremble, but she held back, fingers squeezing a nearby stuffed animal after being scolded by her mother. Mare pulled the child into her arms and hugged her tight. "I'm not angry with you, sweet heart. But please, don't throw tantrums like that."

Eden calmed down, then pulled her feet into the bed. Arden ran across the room and jumped in his own.

The palace was big enough for the children to have their own rooms. Their father was the king of Norta after all.  But the children were close, wanting each other for support, especially on nights when their parents fought, which happened to be every single time they were in the same room together. The children never liked to say anything, but they would hear them, even from several doors down. Their father yelling at her about why she didn't love him. Why she couldn't love him when he saved her and gave her everything. Why she was still crying over someone named Cal. She always yelled back that he was a monster.

-

sorry if the cut off is weird. i got a little carried away writing. and before i knew it this update had 3000+ words. so i took about a thousand out and am saving them for the next update. 

thank you to those of you who are reading this story. it means the entire world to me.

i will be starting book two in the red queen series probably tomorrow since i have the day off and just wanted to take today to rest. but im so excited to see what will happen with cal, and maven, and mare. i still don't know if i ship marecal or mareven more. and i want to understand why so many more people i've seen online who dislike cal. 

i have hardly seen people who dislike maven, and though i love him, he has been an asshole in red queen. give cal a chance. he's a good boy.

-clary