Today a meeting was called in the Rift to ensure that everyone was on the same page in regard to our goals. The Samos family would align with the Scarlet Guard and Silvers who secretly wanted Cal on the throne. I had been informed numerous times by my lovely parents that Cal and I would be arranged a marriage, again. It would benefit the family, they tell me. It would add power to the Samos line by being allied with Norta, as though we don't have enough power standing on our own. All my life, I had been nothing but a tool for my family. Trained, used, and then sold off like property. I have been unable to freely love who I love, and that is Elane Haven.

I look over at Elane who is still peacefully asleep in my bed. She was to be with Ptolemus in order to stay close to me. At first, I was relieved when Mother agreed to it, for I could be with Elane at all times. But since I'm to marry Cal, I'll never be able to see her. Marrying Cal may as well be the same as marrying war. Lately Elane and I haven't been seeing much of each other due to Scarlet Guard business and constantly being on the frontlines. Ptolemus and I are vital to the progress of our goals, being magnetrons. We are to prioritize our arsenals and maintain control of the battlefield when it comes to guns, bullets, and machinery. Throughout my time away, not a day goes by where she isn't on my mind. Elane is my world, my light. She keeps me sane in a world plagued by violence and tragedy. Not for me, of course, but for the lowly Reds.

I kiss her neck softly, burying my face into her red curls. She's warm and smells like roses.

"Mm," Elane stirs, pulling me closer. I oblige, for now.

"Somebody stayed up late last night," I tease. My fingers trail along her thighs, up toward a sensitive area. She leans into my hand, sighing.

I tsk at her. "Ah, not now, my love. I have a dreaded meeting to go to." It was the afternoon, and the meeting was supposed to start soon. Mother would have my head if I didn't present myself honorably.

Elane pouts, turning away from me as I step out of bed onto plush carpet. I stand before my full body mirror to create an outfit from metal. Something fierce but elegant would do nicely. I begin to arrange the metal so little, sharp spikes decorated the neckline that resembles a choker.

"It's always meetings with you," Elane murmurs. I glance over at her sitting on my bed, the back of her facing me. She looks out the window, playing with the light on her hands. Fading them in and out from view casually. "If not meetings, then you're out in battle. If not in battle, you're at more meetings."

Turning back to the mirror, I adjust my sleeves to full length, shaping the metal to form curved blades at my forearms. Neat. Intimidating. Quick to use if anything unexpected were to happen. "It'll be over quickly, I expect. I just have to show myself for the announcement of marriage and can excuse myself afterwards." I smoothen the ends of the metallic dress; finishing touches. It's nothing at all to fix my long, silver hair up into a half-do.

"You say that but we both know your mother wants you present for the whole meeting. It would look bad if you were to leave early."

Scoffing, I turn to Elane and say, "In the end, I'm doing what my parents wish. My leaving early won't change the outcome." I move to sit beside Elane, but she won't meet my eyes. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

Elane smiles at me, but it looks forced. "It's alright, Eve. I've got some business to attend to, in the meantime. I'll be back when the meeting is over."

Furrowing my brows, I kiss her forehead softly. "See you later?"

"See you later," Elane says, smiling sadly.

I briskly walk to the grand hall in which the meeting was to take place, worried about how down Elane seemed as I left. I'll handle it when I get back. She probably missed me as much as I missed her. After all, last night was the first time returning from our recent mission at Corvium. We're also housing a lot of Scarlet Guard members, hosting strategic meetings, and she must be worried there won't be time to see each other. I'll make time for her, if I have to. Nothing to worry about.

I reach the outside of the grand hall where Tolly waits for me. Holding out his elbow, he says, "Good afternoon, Evangeline. Mother and Father are waiting inside."

A crowd of people move past us into the hall, readying themselves into the seats we've set up. They scurry around like rats, the lot of them. I'd rather have them gone immediately, the Reds AND the Silvers. Cal's grandmother has been annoying me the most, as of late. Taking Tolly's elbow, he escorts me toward the front of the room where Father has already made himself head of the meeting. Our thrones are metallic and great detail have been done to show how extravagant we are. It is threatening of a King to have the sharp point of a sword molded into the throne, as well as various other symbolic weapons. I'm sure he added them in himself. Mother smiles at me, the jaguar she brought in licking my hand as I sit. I shiver, uncomfortable with her evil animals.

Ptolemus mutters low under his breath. "Are you and Elane alright?"

Caught off guard, I ask, "Yes. Why?"

His expression is neutral, but I can read the the linger of doubt in his eyes. "Does she seem strange to you at all?"

I ponder his question before the meeting starts. "She seems a little strange but it's probably because we don't see each other as much."

Tolly nods, trusting my judgment. After all, I know Elane best.

The last person to enter the room is Mare, and she doesn't look so happy. She avoids all eye contact with anyone in the room. Cal sits beside his grandmother, Anabel, in a fine suit. His shoulders stiffen as he sits up a little straighter upon her entrance. I hold back my urge to smile at Mare's dismay. The two haven't gotten along very much since the announcement of Cal ascending to the throne. The intimidating blonde woman, Farley, stands beside Mare with a hand on her shoulder. The fish boy is on Mare's other side, probably for support. How cute. There are plenty of rumors about how Kilorn feels toward Mare, and I'm surprised she hadn't dropped him after her and Calore became a thing. Well, not anymore thanks to my Father and Anabel.

Father stands, not even bothering to hide the smirk on his face. "Let us allow this meeting to commence, in the grand hall of King Volo Samos' palace, The Rift."

And so, my suffering begins.

For the next few hours, the meeting's talk consists of strategic plans in place, our options, how much intel we have on Maven's forces, how much we have in our inventory, the like. I try not to yawn and Tolly has to nudge me to bring me back into the meeting occasionally. This is more his forte anyway, his expertise. After all, he was one of Cal's best generals. Information is presented to us again by some of Anabel's spies, and I'm dreadfully bored. All of this information has been relayed to us already, the meeting is just for show of power. It's also meant to inform the Scarlet Guard members and lower Silvers anyway, since they aren't kept in the know. This is all relevant to them, but not to me. What's relevant to me is a porcelain skinned girl, with luscious curls, and dark eyes framed by long lashes…

"…and as planned, my grandson Tiberias Calore and your daughter, Evangeline Samos will be wedded to unite The Rift and Norta." I blink, regretfully bringing my attention to Anabel who has the floor.

Father nods. "As planned, we will ally ourselves with your forces and bring down that wretched excuse of a ruler, Maven."

Cal looks at the floor at the mention of his brother. Unlike most, I don't pity him. I pity myself.

Anabel smiles gleefully, and I want to wipe that stupid grin off her face. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have had to marry Calore. "We will arrange for a wedding, let's say in a week."

Wait. "Why so soon?" I demand. It's the first I've spoken this entire meeting and Mother frowns at my abruptness.

Father speaks first, a warning. "It's to ensure the alliance between the House of Samos and House of Calore, Evangeline. At the rate we're going, we'll have Maven surrendering soon."

"Surely there are plenty of missions left to do. There are still so many things to tend to, I don't think a wedding now, of all times, would be the most ideal-"

"Silence," Father interrupts me, putting me back into place in front of everybody. "This would be the best time because things are so quiet. Getting a wedding out of the way now would be one less thing to worry about before Maven's next strike."

Mother nods, agreeing. Of course she agrees. She's impatient for the crown, for more power.

I clench my teeth together, holding myself back.

Unexpectedly, the blonde woman Farley steps up. "Actually," she begins. "A wedding would be completely in the way. We've got some important missions coming up in the next few days. In fact, we have to assemble a team tonight to head out for a rescue mission tomorrow." She grins, not bothering to hide her sheer delight, confronting a powerful Silver. "We'll need your son and daughter to help us free prisoners from a small base West of here. A wedding would be too much work, for I may need their expertise and focus in battle in the next week or so."

Father is quiet for a moment. "Very well. The wedding shall be postponed."

I sigh in relief. Much appreciation for the woman who saved me from the forced marriage. The meeting is soon over, and I try to make my escape quickly.

"Evangeline!"

Turning, I force a cruel smile on my face at the person preventing me from leaving. Please just let me go already.

It's Farley again, one of the captains of the Scarlet Guard. "Tomorrow, you'll be teamed up with Cal. Here's a list of the crew you're with." She hands me a piece of paper with names scrawled onto them. It crumples in my hand the moment it hits my fingertips, and she shows no reaction.

"Thanks, at least I'll be paired up with at least one person who can take care of themselves."

Farley raises a brow. "Your team will be in charge of releasing prisoners from the inside. Make sure to watch each other's backs."

"It's not my job to babysit them."

"You're right. Perhaps a wedding would be easier for you, less people to babysit."

Ouch. Low jab, coming from her. Glaring, I say, "Your members better be well prepared to handle the dangers of this prison then."

She smirks. "They are."

I whip away from her quickly, storming off to my room. By the time the meeting ended, it was to be a late dinner for everyone. I wasn't in the mood to sit down with people and waste more hours of my day, so I requested a meal be brought to my room instead. Upon arriving, I see Elane sitting by the window looking at the moon, as if she never left sight of it since I left.

I throw off my dress and take my hair down. Coming up behind her, I wrap my arms around her and whisper, "Oh, I've missed you so, Elane."

For some reason she doesn't respond, and I move to sit in front of her so that we can see each other. She's gorgeous. I'm always in awe at the way the light glorifies her features, especially in moonlight. She is the art that we hang upon the walls years and years after it's finished. Her beauty is timeless. Even when she isn't smiling, like now, her appearance stuns me.

"Are you alright?" I take her hands into mine, worry pooling in my gut. Maybe Tolly was right earlier. Maybe there's something more to Elane's unusual behavior.

"Eve, do you still want to be with me?"

What a silly question. "Of course! After you marry Ptolemus, we'll be together more often!"

Elane bites her bottom lip. "I suppose it doesn't feel that way as much because you're always gone. I'm lonely without you. I miss home, I miss being around you. It's almost like you never have time for me anymore."

I kiss her lips, and she doesn't react. "After the mission tomorrow, we'll spend a lot more time together, I promise you!"

"Another mission so soon?" Elane asks, incredulously. This has always been her biggest concern with me, but there's no helping it. It must be done. "But you just got back!"

"I know, but I'll be back by nightfall, I swear," I reassure her. Or try to.

Elane pulls her hands from mine. She moves into my bed as though she's lost a battle she's known she would lose for a long time. The way she throws the covers over herself makes me feel like she's done with me.

"Elane?" I call. "Is that okay?"

A few minutes pass. "Okay," she whispers, unconvinced.