(A/N) Hey guys! Just to let you know this is a new fanfic I'm starting! I have been pretty absent here as I took a break from this account. I had to focus on myself and other things before I could come back. I know its been a while, but I'm starting new. This is mostly about Mare and Cal and basically my own adaptation of War Storm. I did not really enjoy how Victoria Aveyard ended the series. It felt unfinished to me. So, I decided to write this. Hope you all enjoy! I'll be aiming for a new update tomorrow!

Love you guys! -

Katelyn 3

Chapter 1 - Too Little Too Late

Mare POV:

I stood on our terrace that connected to Cal's room. Or actually I should say our room. Sometimes I forgot what had happened just 3 months ago. I chose Cal. I chose the throne. I wanted him. But I couldn't stop thinking about what was on my mind. What I left behind when I chose him. What I could be doing now if it wasn't for my choice. I could hear Cal stirring in his bed, which meant that I had woken him up. The doors behind me opened and The cold air around me was replaced by a warm and welcoming feeling. Familiar hands wrapped around my waist and I felt his head on my shoulder.

"Why are you awake? It's 3am" Cal asked, kissing me gently on my shoulder.

"I'm just thinking"

"About?"

"About how lucky I am that I got you" I teased, slowly turning around to face him. I smiled but I knew it didn't reach my eyes

His warm eyes found mine in the moonlight and stared intently waiting for me to say more.

"And about how Maven is still out there. He is still out there and I am here. I am suffocating in the feeling that you and I are doing nothing to figure out this situation." I let go of a long deep breath.

He sighed, as he removed his hands off of me and pulled his hair in frustration.

"And it always comes back to this… Of course."

"Cal, we can never forget the fact that he is out there in god knows where! He could be right outside the castle! And I know that we could be doing more or rather I could be doing more to help this situation!"

"And I find it strange that whenever you tell me that you chose me or you love me you always start to bring it back to Maven or that you are being suffocated by the crown and me"

"What?" I said, shocked.

"You heard me"

"No I didn't. Say it again."

He rolled his eyes as he said forcefully, "Just admit it. You regret choosing me and the crown. You said you "can't breathe", and a small part of me can't help but admit that you do not have the ability to love or be loved. Some broken part of you still loves Maven and not me."

I backed away from him towards the door to his room. I couldn't believe he just said that.

"Well I'm sorry that while you were too busy ignoring me a while back, Maven actually treated me like a decent human being! He may have chained me with silent stone but I have never felt more chained by you and this crown!" I knew I shouldn't have said that last sentence but I just had to let it out. This is what 3 months of anger produced.

"There! You said it. You think you made the wrong choice and now your saying that Maven treated you better than did!" I tried not to look at him but I could see that his eyes flashed with hurt.

The air around me was getting warmer and I could tell that he was trying to control his anger and ability, but it wasn't working. Just like I could feel the lightning pulsing inside of me.

"Maybe you should go back ruling by yourself, Cal. You and the crown. At least it wants you." And with that I looked at Cal's expression. Broken. His face devastated at what I just said.

"Just go, Mare", he said quietly. He looked down and sat on one of the chairs on the terrace. "Just go."

And I did just that. I was done. I needed to be away. At least for a little while. I left the terrace and his room. Before I shut the door I quietly said, "We're over Cal."

I was thinking about all sorts of thoughts before going back to my old room to pack my things. I wanted out.

Cal POV:

Mare left. She actually left. She left me. And broke my heart with it. She basically confirmed everything that was my worst fears. I put my head in my hands. I was not going to cry. Not over someone who didn't want me. I needed to get away. Away from the presence of her, this room, this castle, my whole life. I knew what I needed to do. I dragged my feet to my door. I opened it and asked my guards standing outside a request.

"Derrick, can you please ask a maid to deliver 2- no probably going to need 3 bottles of vodka. Strongest we have"

He looked at me with a concerning look but didn't ask any questions.

I closed my door back up and sat at my desk waiting. Pulling open the drawer, I took something out that was my secret. Opening the small simple box revealed the most expensive item I had ever spent money one. It was supposed to be Mare's. A deep ache filled my chest knowing that she was gone and that she hated me. The ring was a silver band that held a two simple jewels at the top. One was red and the other, clear. They represented our birth months. Ruby for me, July. Diamond to represent April for Mare.

The knock at the door awoke me from my thoughts as I hastily placed the ring back in its drawer. A maid, Layla, I'm pretty sure her name is walks in holding my drinks. She approaches me and places them on my desk.

"Thanks", I say.

"I'm sorry your majesty but I couldn't help but overhear your voice yelling a while ago" she states.

"Oh, yeah", I'm sorry about that.

"You know, I can think of some ways to relieve the anger your feeling right now", she says in an almost seductive tone while I pour myself a shot and drink.

I can barely hear what she says as I down shot after shot until I have eventually finished a bottle. She slowly but surely moves her hands up and down my arms and thighs. The only piece of clothing I have on are my sweatpants. I don't know whether or not it's my pain or the fact that I'm drunk that's telling her not to stop.

Layla is no amateur at this. She swings her legs over me and straddles me on my chair. I slowly swallow my last drink and set the glass down. I feel her up and down and persuade myself that I want this. I need this. I lift her up easily. She reminds me of Mare. Mare… I wonder what she's doing right now. But then again, why should I care. She left me.

I walk over to my bed and throw Layla down before collapsing on top of her. I find her button up top, and start undoing it sloppily. She giggles and lets me. After rendering her topless she sits up and flips positions with me. Suddenly I'm on the bed and she's removing my sweatpants and boxers. I start to rethink what I'm doing until I decide that it's fine. I'm king after all.

We start to hit it off and I lift her off and under the sheets. I can tell that I'm drunk so I'm nowhere near concentrated or attracted to her for that matter. All I need is some pain relief, I convince myself. That's all it is, but it's hard to think when she starts to move her lips lower and lower….

Mare POV:

Once I arrive at my room I start piling all of my belongings. I don't even know where I'm going to go after this. All I need to know is that I need to leave. I walk into the walk-in closet which may as well be another room. I almost have second thoughts of leaving when I see all of the symbols of our memories. I try to ignore the pictures of us on the walls and just go to my drawers to pick out my clothes that I'm going to take with me. I slide open the drawer, and something falls out. It's a note. I hold my breath as I open it. Once I do I immediately recognize the fancy handwriting to be Cal's.

Dear Mare,

If you are reading this, I am sorry. Tonight was supposed to be the night and I ruined it. It was supposed to be the night where I was going to profess my love for you and you would wrap your arms around me and I would kiss you knowing that you were mine forever. But that didn't happen. Not if you're reading this. I know that right now you are packing your things to leave me. So, I am placing this here hoping that it will change your mind. There is a ring, Mare. I am currently holding it in my hand as I write this. If after reading this you still decided to leave, I only have this left to say. I love you. You are my happiness. You are my home. If you don't feel the same I have to accept that. I will never be enough for you. You deserve someone who loves you as much as you love them. Not this. Not if you feel the same. I refuse to keep you as a prize, a pet even, as my brother did to you. If this is goodbye Mare, just know that I love you.

Forever and always,

Cal

The tears started pouring out of my eyes faster than I could realize. Cal really loved me. I may have said hurtful words. Words that could scar, but his letter awakened that part of my heart that would always be there. The space in my heart for Cal. No matter how much I tried I couldn't stay away from him. I loved him. He was my world.

Letter in hand, I ran as fast as I could out of my room and across the floor to Cal's room. I needed to apologize before it was too late. I saw Derrick and he took his arm out to try and stop me.

"I would advise against it, Miss"

I didn't listen and pushed him away from the door before opening it. I wasn't prepared for what I saw next.

Cal. Cal was in bed with someone. Someone who wasn't me. They were laughing and teasing each other. I couldn't help it. I felt the lighting in my hands and let out all of my anger as well as a scream. The only lamp that was open burst with a bright spark. Shocked, Cal and his partner yelled. But, his eyes found mine before I could look away.

"Mare-" his speech was slurred. Drunk as evident by the empty bottles of vodka on his desk. The girl next to him laughed. Laughed.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to leave. I made the wrong choice. He didn't really mean what he said in his letter. I wasn't the love of his life. Not if he did this. To me.

"Leave me alone, Cal!" I screamed at him. I finally remembered that I still clasped the letter in my hand. Ripping it into shreds, I threw in on the ground.

"Never, ever speak to me again!"

The last thing I heard before slamming the door on the two of them was Cal's voice.

"Don't leave me again", he said.