Hi again.

I don't understand what a beta reader is so can someone please explain? I am pretty young, considering I'm not even 13 yet. Yes, I did change the name of the story to Silver Throne. As you all know, I love reading your reviews so feel free to leave reviews! You guys are the real reason I'm still writing these chapters!

Ok, that was too cheesy.

Alas! The ninth chapter awaits...

Chapter 9

We walked around in a small circle, as though chasing each other in slow motion. Bits of metal twitched eagerly on her clothing. I noted that she was wearing the same clothes as she wore on the day of Cal's Queenstrial. The day my life changed.

She's waiting for you to make a move.

Deciding that this was an appropriate situation in which I should test out my powers, I summoned a bolt of lightning. I smiled as a familiar wave of calm washed over me. Evangeline jumped out of the way, not forgetting to do a somersault on the way. She landed gracefully, one hand on the ground as she knelt down and another on her knee. Mirroring my expression, she stood up, taking a few steps towards me.

"My turn." She said, her voice cutting through the silence like a dagger. Two daggers shot towards me at the speed of light. I almost laughed out loud. Distracted, I moved away too late and one of the daggers cut off a piece of my shirt, piercing my skin deeply as well. When I collapsed on the floor, I placed a hand on the cut and it came away, dripping in my blood. I quickly ripped some fabric off my shirt, wrapping the wound. Standing up, I summoned lightning. Well, I at least tried to summon lightning. It was a small bolt, so I didn't really think that it would injure her.

I was wrong.

Evangeline's entire foot and lower half of her calf was scorched. She screamed and dropped down. I smiled, taking pleasure in her pain. But my grin faltered, as it slowly dawned on me what I had become. I disgusted myself and everyone around me. Cal had every right to hate me and believe that I was a monster because finding happiness in others' pain was horrifying and inhumane.

Too busy deep in my thoughts, I was caught off guard and Evangeline grabbed my foot, tripping me over. I fell again and opened my eyes to see a sword pointed at my chest, Evangeline wielding it. She stood up shakily, her knees almost buckling again. The tip of the sword was uncomfortably close to my heart, so with one finger, I pushed it away gently. Turning her head, Evangeline looked at me, her eyes filled with hate and loathe, a murderous glint in them.

"Last time you make that mistake." She muttered. The sharp edge of her sword split down the front of my shirt, exposing my bare chest. She pushed further, cutting deep into my flesh. I pulled at my chest, screaming. She pushed deeper, in her own world. I was losing blood. Fast. She slit my skin just above my ribs, then put the sword behind her. With her good leg, she crushed my ribs and I heard a sickening crack. Black swirls were invading my vision. She began cutting under my nose, above my lips. Then, her sword went back into the cut on my chest. She grinned eerily.

She pushed deeper and deeper. This is it, Mare. It's time to die. I relaxed, welcoming death. But, just before I was gone, I heard shouts and Evangeline threw her sword aside as a pale white fist with long fingers collided with her cheek.

I awoke to warmth. And darkness. The fight. I closed my eyes again, mulling over how I had or had not died. I knew that hand too well and had encountered it many times.

It was Maven's.

Why would he do that, especially since it was being broadcasted and thousands of Silvers were watching?

Someone flicked the lights on. I groaned and shielded my eyes. He laughed. I squinted at my visitor, still not seeing them clearly.

"Am I... Am I dead?" I whispered.

"What? No!" Maven said, chuckling. As my eyes adjusted to the sudden light, I realised where I was. In his room. Not only that but on his bed too. I pulled the sheets up and covered my naked body, blushing. "If you were dead, I would be dead too and we both know that I don't deserve a better place."

"But I don't either," I said. Maven's head spun around quickly, his expression filled with rage.

"Never, ever think that, Mare. It's all my fault this happened." I looked into his caring eyes. A feeling of warmth filled my heart.

"Maven, was it you who had entered the fight yesterday?" I asked. He nodded, looking ashamed.

"I nearly put all our lives at risk. But it was hardly yesterday, you've only been asleep for a few hours."

"Why?" I asked curiously. He sat on the bed, a few centimetres away from me.

"Mare, don't you already know? It's because I love you." He whispered softly. He leant in, stopping just before our lips touched, looking deep into my eyes questioningly. This time, I went closer, kissing him deeply.

"I know what I want now." I murmured against his lips. "You." He stopped, pulling away. Maven observed my face. Then, his eyes melted, and he kissed me again.

I pulled away, clearing my throat. "Um... I still need clothes..." I said, wrapping the covers around me.

"Of course." He said and stood up. I could see on his face that I stopped much sooner than he would have liked. "I'll send a maid in soon to see that you are properly dressed." He continued with a wink.

After he left his room, I collapsed back on the bed. Every time I thought of Maven, another face popped into my mind.

Cal's.

Every time Maven kissed me, I couldn't resist bringing up the mental picture of Cal. My relationship with Maven didn't always feel real. It hardly did. But now that I made the mistake of telling him that I loved him, there was no going back.