Mare

My eyes flutter open from the restful slumber. I wake up to find me in the same position. My head is on Maven's chest, my hand resting on it as well, and my other hand interlocked with Maven's.

I look around the room, everything was just as we left it the night before. Maven's crown is still on his nightstand, all the lights are off, our clothes are still on the floor.

My clothes are on the floor.

I look at myself, and I am bare naked. So is Maven.

I quickly grab the white and silver blanket beside me and yank it to cover myself up.

Then Maven starts to rustle in his sleep before his blue eyes flutter open.

"Mavey? Are you awake?" I whisper to him. He makes a sound.

"Good morning," He muffles, still sounding half asleep.

"Did I wake you?" I ask his softly.

He grunts again, then he looks down at me. "No, it's time to wake up anyway."

"What time is it?" I ask him while I rub my eyes.

He looks over his left shoulder to look at his clock, then back at me.

"About 10:00," He responds, then he yawns like a kitten.

"Aww, you're adorable," I say to him, he flushes a bright silver.

"Stop," He says with a smile that he tries to fight. "Now, you, on the other hand, are as naked as a newborn baby."

It's my turn to blush.

"So are you," I say shyly as my face and insides heat up.

"You should stay naked more, you look good," Maven purrs. I blush even more and hide my face in his bare, toned chest.

He chuckles, making my body quake.

"Aww, flustered much?" He teases.

"I- I never said I was," I murmur.

"Well, you hiding in my chest and the blush on your cute little face says otherwise," He counters in an exaggerated baby voice.

I hide my face even more as I whine in protest. He continues to do his dark, childish laugh that's contagious.

Then I start laughing.

He rubs my back as I bury my face in him even more, making me calm down as he makes idle, soft, affectionate strokes.

"Let's just stay like this for a while, okay?" He asks me softly.

"Mmhmm," I hum as I turn my head to the side. He kisses the top of my head, then he takes his free hand and rests it in the small of my back. Our breathings match, his hands stop resting and explore my bare back, everything in this moment is perfect.

Until it wasn't.

A knock on the door rings through the room.

My head snaps up along with Maven's. He looks at me with embarrassment in his eyes.

Technically, I'm not supposed to be in here, sleeping with him like this until we are married. I should be sleeping in my own room.

"Hide," Maven says as he lifts the huge, heavy, baggy blanket. I slip underneath it and slow my breathing.

"Come in," Maven says, his words making my body quake.

I hear the door click open.

"Took you long enough to let me in," I hear a familiar voice.

Evangeline.

"S-sorry," Maven mutters.

"What took you so long?" She asks with a nip in her inflection. Maven doesn't say a word as I can feel his body heat up. I don't move a muscle as I hide from Eve.

"Okay fine, don't answer me, I'm looking for Mare, have you seen her?"

I suck in a breath.

"Uhm-," Maven stammers. "I actually haven't seen Mare anywhere."

Maven moves his hands around my back, the slowly move lower, and lower, and lower...

"I miss her, my beautiful, loving fiancé," He continues to speak as his strong hand to my womanhood, then starts rubbing lazy circles.

I purse my lips and bite them to hold in my noises, but some small, meek ones still come out.

"What's that sound?" I hear Eve ask.

"Just my stomach, I'm quite hungry," Maven says slowly.

He continues to rub lazy strokes up and down, until he slowly slides a single finger in me, making me grip the fitted sheet next to me.

Another weak moan comes out of me.

"You must really be hungry," Eve says as Maven slides in another finger and curls them slowly, then pumps then in and out, in and out.

Again, another moan.

"Yep, hungry," Eve says. "Is Mare hungry too?"

Maven stops and slides his slick fingers out of the wetness he made.

I decide it's best to stop my hiding.

I push the blanket from me and look at Eve.

She doesn't seem to surprised to see me here.

"So, this is how the baby came into this world?" She asks sarcastically. Maven scoffs and rolls his eyes.

"We will never know for sure," Maven says playfully.

Eve raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms. "Anyway..."

"Yes, Eve, you were looking for me?" I ask her.

She shakes her head. "Right, yes, there is someone looking for you. His name is Shade."

***

After I got dressed, and got a heck of a goodbye from Maven, I found Shade sitting in the dining room at the table.

I can't believe it's him.

"Shade?" I ask him. He looks up from the table.

"Mare?" He looks at me, shocked, in awe. He glances me, up and down. He isn't used to me in a nice blue dress with my hair all done up nicely. His attire is still normal, just the same old Shade.

But I can tell something is up with him, not the same pep in his step as he normally did.

"It's still you, right?" He asks me with curiosity.

I chuckle. "Yes, Shade, it's me."

He smiles faintly, like he is defeated. His eyes don't sparkle like they normally do.

"What's wrong?" I ask him boldly.

"It's Farley..." He looks down at the floor, at his feet.

"What about her?" I fold my hands in front of me.

"Well, she had our baby," He smiles faintly. "But she's unconscious, hasn't woken up since she had her."

I can't help but feel this pit inside me. I feel bad for Shade, that he must go through this.

I hope this doesn't happen when I have my baby.

I am speechless, I have nothing to say to this.

"So, I came here to ask for a professional to watch her health status," Shade explains. I nod and look down at the floor, but then, absentmindedly, I look at my stomach, and the small, innocent child inside of it.

I can't tell Shade now, not another emotional roller coaster for him. I'll tell him after the wedding.

"I will send someone out to check on Farley, what about the other newbloods? And the movement?"

He sighs sadly. "Some of them have stayed with us, like Kilorn, Cameron, and a few others, but most of them just left. I can't lead them the way Farley did- does. I didn't officially end it, but most just saw all the loss and ended it."

I sigh. I guess the Scarlet Guard isn't what it was when I left, since my leave, they have fallen apart. I guess Farley couldn't do much since she was pregnant.

Will I be the same way? Will I just be a burden to Maven and the kingdom soon? Especially if the baby is Cal's...

"But there is something good happening, the Red's and Silver's hardly have had any disputes, no fighting. It's all because they are going to have a Red Queen, all because of you." Shade says with an ounce of hope.

I am saving the Red-Silver anger without even trying. All I did was agree to the engagement, I am to be married in- oh god, three days.

"Can I see your ring?" Shade asks. I hum a yes and show him my left hand, and my engagement ring on my finger. The diamond in the middle is glimmering, the rubies and obsidian shine around it, with a silver band to keep it all together.

"Wow, this ring must cost more than our old house," Shade chuckles. I nod in agreement. "When is the wedding?"

"Three days," I respond, Shade looks at me with hurt in his eyes.

"I'm invited right?"

My face flushes with embarrassment. I feel terrible that I forgot my family.

"Uhm-,"

"Yes, you are," I hear his voice come in from behind me. I turn around to face him, his blue eyes brighter than I remember them. "That was the surprise I had for you, Mare."

I raise my brow. "Wh-What?"

"I invited them to the wedding, and I'll even give them somewhat of a royal title, like their own House,"

"Wh-what? Like-?"

"House Barrow," He tells me with a warm smile.

My eyes well up with tears. "For real?"

"Yes, my love,"

I look back at Shade, who is smiling as much as he can. I look at Maven again, who is beaming with happiness. I couldn't believe he made a House for me and my family. Protection, a say in court, riches, everything.

I can't help myself as I hug Maven as tight as I can, lightly crying happy tears as I do so.

"You really do love her, don't you?" I hear Shade say.

"Of course I do, did you think this was all a rouse so I could get her in my bed?"

I look up at Maven, who has his defenses up, then at Shade, who looks defeated.

"Some of us did," Shade says meekly.

"I wouldn't sacrifice my title, give a Red family a House in my court, and treat her like the best thing that ever happened to me just for a rouse and for her to be betrayed again?"

A smile warms my face.

"No," Shade says.

"I love her to the ends of the earth, I will do anything for her," Maven says with a smile.

I hug Maven even tighter. "I love you too."