Get ready for the scene that every Mareven wished for!

Song Suggestion: Little Did You Know by Alex & Sierra

MARE

"These past two weeks have gone as planned," I say. I run my hands across the warm soapy water, allowing a lifetime's worth of stress to drift away. "Samos House went through their week of mourning without a hitch. Lerolan and Haven suffered heavy losses and finished burying the last of their dead a few days ago. Now they're ready for the next phase."

"And Iral?"

"We made sure they suffered only temporary injuries. Those diamond glass bullets caused enough damage."

"So you were able to fire them?"

"Yes, and the Lakeland flag you gave me did wonders. No one suspects me now."

"And how are you?" Maven runs his fingers over my leg under the water. "You feeling any better?"

"My fever comes and goes. I'm tired still, but then again I'm always tired. But what sleep I do get, helps."

"Well, maybe if you didn't jump into a dirty river every time you left, you wouldn't be so bad."

I look at him with wide eyes, "How did you know?"

"I figured it out a month ago, I didn't say anything because I didn't want to scare you."

"You knew, and did nothing?

"I would never intentionally do anything to compromise our time together. Speaking of which, why don't you just go see a healer? I'm sure Davidson would want you at your healthiest."

"No, it's more complicated than that. Healers are only allowed when the situation is dire."

"So as not to stoop so low as Silvers who look to a healer for injuries a little as a paper cut."

I flush. "Exactly."

I lean back against Maven's bare chest in the tub and close my eyes. The steam from the water helps with my sore muscles and tired mind.

Maven brings his hands up and runs my shoulders. "You okay?"

"Just run down."

"Not that. You know what I mean, Mare. Ever since we attacked my grandmother's Estate you've been different."

"Look, if I'm being distant-"

"No, it's not that you're distant. It's the exact opposite actually."

"What?"

"Not that I'm complaining. I quite like it. But I'm just wondering why the sudden change."

I sigh. Maven's hands move from my shoulders down to hands.

"When I killed Evangeline. Something happened. I don't know what but add she was dying the only thing she could think about was Elane. She didn't want me to hurt her. And then it got me to thinking, who will be in my thoughts when I die?

And then the first person…"

"Mare, please."

"The first person I thought of was you."

Maven lets out a shaky breath by my ear. And a chill runs down my spine despite the warm water.

"And it scared you."

"No, that's just it. It didn't scare me. It made me feel… whole."

"Whole?"

"I can't think of any other way to explain it. Because that's what I feel when I'm with you. You take me as I am. Faults and all."

"There is no other way. I want you for you and nothing else."

Maven pulls me closer to his chest.

"You were with me that day," I say.

"What?"

"That day at the Estate. I remembered what we talked about. How to act so Evangeline wouldn't suspect anything. I heard your voice in my head. It was like you were right there with me, by my side. It helped more than you will ever know."

He's quiet for a moment before speaking. "I'm glad I could help."

I shift in the tub, my heart beats faster with my next statement.

"You've never said the words," I say.

"You said you didn't want any of that."

"But you never promised."

"Because it's impossible to keep a promise you've already broken. And even more so when you know it's not real."

I go stiff in his arms. Does he know that I will eventually betray him? Does he know that I started this as a means to distract and eventually destroy him?

I go with the safest option. "I don't get what you mean," I say.

Now it's Maven's turn to sigh. "Before I sent you to the Bowl of Bones, I tried to deny my feelings for you. I tried to pretend that it was just a mere attraction. That I cared for you only a little. And then I saw an opportunity. I couldn't save Thomas, but I had the chance to save you. I had a second chance to save someone I loved. But I was so afraid to say the words out loud."

"Because say them made it real."

"And vulnerable to getting hurt. And so I went along with what my mother said and tried to justify what I had done to you. But that wasn't enough and then my mother stepped in. That's when everything worsened. And the lines began to blur. But I want you to know I'm trying."

"You didn't put up a fight when I said I would be there at the wedding. Knowing I was going head first into danger, that's something even Cal had trouble with."

My mind flashes back to Corvium, and how he didn't want split up. I remember how I had to break away before he could follow me.

This gives Maven a little comfort, knowing he did something his brother couldn't.

"Although,it does help, it's not that simple, Mare. Because it was both my love and my obsession letting you go. Part of me that loves you knows you can take care of yourself. But the other part, the part that needs you like I need air, knew you would be more likely to return on your own free will if I didn't pressure you. And I can't say those three words, words that should be said as easily as breathing because it's too difficult to know when my love ends and my obsession begins. It was borderline manipulation."

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you anymore."

Maven's explanation scares me but it also gives me comfort. I once thought that Maven didn't what love was. But he does, it's just difficult for him to identify.

"I want you to know why I haven't said it," I say. Maven's hold tightens, but only slightly. "You don't have say it, Mare."

"No, I want to. You explained why you haven't said anything. Now it's my turn."

"Okay," he relents.

"I don't want there to be any secrets between us," I say.

And yet you're keeping an awfully big one from him. Pretending like you're on his side when you plan to stab him in the back like he did you.

Shut up, now is not the time.

My heart beats faster and my fever returns, but so does the chills. Maven notices and raises the temperature. It warms me in more ways than one. "I said it once before."

"To him," Maven says. I don't miss the break in his voice.

"Yes," I continue. "And if helps, I didn't say it first. But then it all fell to pieces and then after that...I don't know. I just shut down, I didn't want to feel that pain again."

"And now you're afraid that if you say it again, then I'll hurt you. Because I've done it before."

"I'm sorry Maven." I pull his arms tighter across me and lean further into him. I tell myself the moisture on my face is from the bath.

"You shouldn't have to be. I can't promise that I won't hurt you. Because it will always be a possibility, but I can promise that I will do my best not to. I promise that I will try. And keep my promises."

Sometimes I think the best we can do is try. Alex's words are clear in my head.

I reach up crane my neck so I can see into his eyes.

What I see is a great sorrow, the kind I suspected might come from knowing just far I went with Cal. But I also see strength and determination in his promise. He will not promise I will not get hurt but he'll try his damnedest to protect me. To save me.

ANALYSIS

So there's that.

Yep.

You guys are smart, you got this. I mean everything is pretty straightforward.

Any questions?

Review or PM. I live to entertain you.

Also, we may have a cover reveal for War Storm tomorrow. Get Excited!