IT TAKES HOURS TO PAIN AND

polishing myself into the girl I should be, but it feels like it’s only been a few minutes. When the servants presented me in front of the mirror, silently asking for my approval, I could only nod at the figure of the girl who stared back at me in the mirror. The girl looked beautiful and horrified at the events to come, wrapped in sparkling silk chains. I had to hide that figure, that timid girl; I have to smile and dance and look like one of them. With great effort, I dispelled my fear. Fear can kill me.

Maven waited for me at the end of the hall, a deep shadow

his uniform. The charcoal black of his uniform made his eyes stand out, bright blue against his pale white skin. He didn’t seem afraid in the slightest, but he was a prince after all. He’s a Silver. He won’t back down.

He extended his hand to me, and I gladly took it. I expected him to make me feel safe or strong or both, but instead his touch reminded me of Cal and our betrayal. The focus of last night’s events sharpened, until every exhaled breath came back to my mind. For once, Maven didn’t notice

my anxiety. He was busy thinking about more important things.

“You look beautiful,” he said quietly, nodding at my dress.

I don’t agree with him. My dress was a ridiculous, over-the-top thing, confusing purple jewels that sparkled every time I spun, making me look like a glitter beetle. However, because I was required to be a classy woman tonight, a princess candidate, I nodded and smiled gratefully. I couldn’t help but remember that my lips, which were now smiling at Maven, had kissed his brother last night.

“I just want this to be over.”

“This won’t end tonight, Mare. This won’t be over for a long time. You know that, don’t you?” He spoke like someone much older, much wiser, not like a seventeen year old boy. As I hesitated, not really knowing what I was feeling, Maven’s jaw clenched tightly. “Mare?” he demanded, and I could hear the tremor in his voice.

“Are you scared, Maven?” My words were weak, a whisper. “I’m scared.”

His eyes hardened, turning steely blue. “I was afraid I would fail. I’m afraid to let this opportunity pass us by. And I’m afraid of what will happen if nothing changes in this world.” He heats up in my touch, controlled by inner determination. “That scares me more than death.”

It was hard not to be taken in by his words, and I nodded along with him. How could I possibly retreat? I will not back down.

“Rise.” He mumbled, so quietly I could barely hear it. As red as dawn .

His grip on my hand tightened as we entered the hall in front of the row of elevators. The Sentinel troops were escorting the king and queen, both of whom were waiting for us. Cal and Evangeline were nowhere to be seen, and I hoped they would remain invisible. The more I don’t have to see them together, the more happy I will be.

Queen Elara wore a glittering gown of red, black, white, and blue, showing off the colors of her native clan and her husband’s clan. He forced a smile, looking past me to his son.

“Let’s get started,” Maven said, letting go of my hand to stand at her mother’s side. My skin feels cold without him.

“So how long do I have to be here?” He forced a whimper into his voice, playing his role well. The more he can keep his mother distracted, the better our chances. One peek into the wrong head, and everything will fall apart. And got us all killed for certainty.

“Maven, you can’t come and go as you please. You have an obligation, and you will persist as long as necessary.” He fussed over it, straightening his collar, his medals, his sleeves, and for a moment, it caught my attention. This is the woman who invaded my thoughts, who took me from my life, who I hated , but there was still good in her.

himself. He loves his son. And despite all his faults, Maven loves him.

The King of Tiberias, on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice Maven at all. He barely glanced at her. “This kid is just bored. There’s not enough excitement nowadays, unlike when it was on the battlefield,” he said, running his hand along his neatly trimmed beard. “You need a cause to fight for, Mavey.”

At a glance, Maven’s annoyed mask fell off. I already have, his eyes screamed, but he kept his mouth shut.

“Cal has his legions, he knows what he’s doing, what he wants. You need to figure out what you’re going to do with yourself, eh?”

“Yes, Dad,” said Maven. Even though he tried to hide it, a shadow swept across his face.

I know that look very well. I used to wear it myself, when my parents told me to be more like Gisa, even though that was impossible. Every time I went to sleep I would hate myself, wishing I could change, wishing I could be quieter, more talented and beautiful like her. There is nothing more painful than that feeling. But the king was unaware of Maven’s pain, just as my parents were never aware of mine.

“I think helping me adapt here is what Maven is fighting for,” I said, hoping to block the king’s disapproving stare. When Tiberias turned to me, Maven sighed and threw me a grateful smile.

“And what a great effort that was.” The king responded, looking at me. I knew he remembered the poor Red girl who refused to bow before him. “From what I hear, you’re almost a noble lady now.”

But the smile he forced didn’t show in his eyes, and it was clear there was suspicion there. He wanted to kill me back in the throne room, to protect his throne and the balance of his country, and I don’t think that urge will ever fade. I’m a threat, but I’m also an investment. He will use me as his heart desires and kill me when necessary.

“I had a lot of help, Your Majesty.” I bowed, pretending to be flattered, even though I didn’t care what he thought at all. Her opinion wasn’t even worth the rust spots on my father’s wheelchair.

“Are we ready?” Cal’s voice came, interrupting my thoughts.

My body reacted, turning to see him entering the hall. My stomach churned, but not with excitement or tension or any of the things stupid girls talk about. I felt disgusted with myself, with what I had allowed to happen

—with what I wanted to happen. Even though he tried to look me in the eye, I shifted my gaze to Evangeline who was hanging in his arms. He was wearing metal again, and he was able to smile sinisterly without moving his lips.

“Your Honour.” Evangeline muttered, bowing in an all-too-perfect reverence.

Tiberias smiled at him, his son’s bride, before his hands gripped Cal’s shoulders. “Just looking forward to you, kid.” He chuckled.

As they stood side by side, their family resemblance was undeniable—the same hair, the same pair of red-gold eyes, even the same posture. Maven watched, his blue eyes soft and thoughtful, as his mother continued to clutch his arm. With Evangeline on one side and his father on the other, Cal couldn’t do anything other than look me in the eye. He gave a small nod, and I knew that was the only greeting I deserved.

Apart from the decorations, the ballroom looked the same as it did more than a month ago, when the queen first pulled me into this strange world, when I was officially stripped of my name and identity. They attacked me here before, and now it’s my turn to attack back.

Blood will be shed tonight.

But I can’t think about that now. I had to stand with the others, to address the hundreds of royal guests who had lined up to exchange words with the royals and a suddenly famous Red impostor. My eyes scanned the rows, looking for the people who had been chosen

—the Maven target given to the Row, the spark to start the fire. Reynald, the colonel, Belicos—and Ptolemus . Evangeline’s silver-haired, dark-eyed brother.

She was one of the first to greet us, standing right behind her stern father, who had rushed over to meet his daughter. As Ptolemus approached me, I fought back the urge of nausea. I’ve never done anything as difficult as looking into the eyes of a man who is about to meet his end.

“I congratulate you,” he said, his voice as hard as stone. The hand extended was just as firm. He was not wearing a military uniform, but a well-cut black metal suit with sleek, shiny scales. He is a knight, but not a soldier. Just like his father, Ptolemus led the Archeon city guard, protecting the capital with his own army. Snake head, that’s what Maven called himself before. Cut off his head and the rest will die . His eyes as sharp as a hawk were fixed on his sister, even though he was holding my hand. He let go of me hastily, quickly brushing past Maven and Cal before hugging Evangeline in a rare show of affection. I’m surprised their ridiculous uniforms aren’t related to each other.

If everything went according to plan, he would never hug his sister again. Evangeline will lose her brother, just like me. Even though I knew that pain firsthand, I couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for him. Especially seeing her holding on tightly to Cal. They looked like polar opposites, Cal in his simple uniform, while she sparkled like a star in her razor-spiked dress. I want to kill him. I want to be him. But there’s nothing I can do about it. Evangeline and Cal aren’t my problem tonight.

As Ptolemus disappeared and more people passed by with cold smiles and sharp words, the easier it became to forget myself. The Iral clan greeted us next, led by the fluid and languid movements of Ara, the Panther. To my surprise, he bent his body low towards me, smiling. But there was something odd about it, something that told me he knew more than he was letting on. He left without a word, releasing me from another round of interrogation.

Sonya followed her grandmother, arm in arm with another target: Reynald Iral, her cousin. Maven tells me he’s a financial advisor, a genius in charge of funding the army with taxes and trade schemes. If he dies, so will his money, and the war will stop. I’d trade one tax collector for that. When he took my hand, I realized his eyes were so cold and his hands were so delicate. That hand will never touch mine again.

It wasn’t easy to miss Colonel Macanthos as he approached. The lines on his face were very striking, especially tonight when everyone looked so polished. He may not care about Barisan, but he also doesn’t trust the queen. He wasn’t ready to swallow the lies that were being fed to us all.

His grip was firm when he shook mine; for once someone wasn’t afraid that I would shatter like glass. “We wish you continued happiness, Lady Mareena. I see this suits you.” He tilted his head at Maven. “Not like the pretentious Samos,” he added in a joking whisper. “He would

to be a gloomy queen, while you are a happy princess, remember my words.”

“I’ll remember,” I said quietly. I managed to squeeze out a smile, even though the colonel’s life would soon end. No matter how many kind words he said, his time was running out minute by minute.

When he walked up to Maven, shook his hand and invited him to inspect the troops with him sometime next week, I could see he was just as anxious. After the colonel left, Maven’s hand reached for mine, squeezing it to strengthen me. I know he regretted putting his name forward, but like Reynald, like Ptolemus, his death would be of great benefit. His life would be worth all that, in the end.

The next target came from further down the line, from a lower clan. Belicos Lerolan has a friendly smile, chestnut brown hair, and sunset-colored clothing to match the colors of his clan. Unlike the other people I greeted tonight, he seemed warm and kind. The smile behind his eyes was as sincere as his handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Mareena.” He bowed his head in respect, impeccably polite. “I look forward to serving you for many years to come.” I smiled at him, pretending there would be years to come. However, my fake expression became increasingly difficult to hold back as the seconds stretched on. When his wife appeared, leading a pair of twins, I wanted to scream. Not even four years old and whining like puppies, they clung to him

his father’s feet. He smiled softly, a special smile for them.

A diplomat, Maven called himself, an ambassador to our allies in Piedmont, far to the south. Without him, our ties to that country and their armies would be severed, forcing Norta to stand alone against our Red dawn. He was another sacrifice we had to take, another name to throw away. And he’s a father. He’s a father, and we’re going to kill him.

“Thank you, Belicos,” Maven said, holding out his hand for him to shake, trying to shoo the Lerolans away before my temper exploded.

I tried to speak, but all I could think about was the father I would rob such little children of. In the corner of my mind, I remember Kilorn crying after his father died. He was still small.

“We excuse ourselves for a moment.” Maven’s voice sounded so far away when he spoke. “Mareena is still not used to the hustle and bustle of the palace.”

Before I could look back at the father who was about to die, Maven rushed me away. A number of people looked at us, and I could feel Cal’s gaze following us out. I almost tripped, but Maven held me upright as she pushed me out onto the balcony. Normally fresh air would cheer me up, but I doubted anything would help me right now.

“Children.” The words ripped out of me. “He’s a father .”

Maven let go of me, and my body slumped against the balcony railing, but he didn’t move away. Under the moonlight, his eyes looked like ice, shining and glaring at me. He put a hand on each of my shoulders, holding me still, forcing me to listen.

“Reynald is also a father. The Colonel also had children. Ptolemus is currently engaged to a Haven clan girl. They all have close people; they all have someone who will mourn their loss.” He forced himself to get the words out; he was as torn as I was. “We can’t choose how to help this struggle, Mare. We must do what we can, whatever the cost.”

“I can’t do this to them.”

“Do you think I want to do this?” he hissed, his face just inches from mine. “I know them all, and it pains me to betray them, but this must be done . Just think of the value to their lives, what their deaths will accomplish. How many of your people can be saved? I thought you understood all this!”

He stopped himself, closing his eyes tightly for a moment. After managing to calm himself, Maven raised a hand to my face, tracing the line of my cheek with trembling fingers. “I’m sorry, I just—” His voice wavered. “You may not be able to see where tonight’s events will lead, but I can. And I know that will change a lot of things.”

“I believe you,” I whispered, lifting my hand to hold his. “I just wish it didn’t have to be like this.”

Behind his shoulder, down the hall, the line of ushers dwindled. The handshakes and pleasantries were over. The night had now truly begun.

“But it has to be like this, Mare. I promise you, this is what we have to do.”

As much as it hurts, as much as my heart twists and bleeds, I nod. “Okay.”

“You two okay here?”

For a moment, Cal’s voice sounded strange and high-pitched, but he cleared his throat as he poked his head out onto the balcony. His eyes stared at my face for a long time. “Are you ready, Mare?”

Maven answered for me. “He’s ready.”

Together, we walked away from the balcony railing and the night and the last piece of peace we could possibly have. As we passed through an archway, I felt a fleeting touch on my arm: Cal . When I looked back, I saw Cal still looking at me, his fingers outstretched. His eyes were darker than usual, seething with an emotion I didn’t recognize. But before he could speak, Evangeline appeared at his side. When Cal took Evangeline’s hand, I was forced to look away.

Maven guided us to a clearing in the middle of the dance hall. “This is the hardest,” he said, trying to calm me down.

His efforts were somewhat successful, and the goosebumps that were running through my body subsided.

We started dancing, the two princes and their brides, in front of everyone. Again a show of strength and power, showing off the two winning girls in front

the whole family lost. Right now, that was the last thing I wanted to do, but it couldn’t be helped. As the electronic music I hated started playing, I realized that at least it was dance I was familiar with.

Maven looked shocked when my feet moved to the beat. “Have you practiced?”

With your sister . “A little.”

“You really are full of surprises.” He chuckled, finding a reason to smile.

Beside us, Cal turned Evangeline’s body towards her position. They looked like a pair of kings and queens should, looking noble, cold, and charming. When Cal’s eyes met mine with his hands wrapped around Evangeline’s fingers, I felt a thousand things at once, none of them pleasant. However, instead of moping around, I shifted closer to Maven. He looked down at me, his blue eyes widening, as the music took over. A few feet away, Cal picks up the pace, leading Evangeline in the same dance he taught me. Evangeline is much more sophisticated, full of grace and sharp beauty. Again I felt like I was falling.

We circled across the floor in time with the music, surrounded by the chill audience. I recognize those faces now. I know every clan, its color, its abilities, its history. Who is to be feared, who is to be pitied. They watched us with hungry eyes, and I knew why. They think we are the future. Cal, Maven, Evangeline, and even myself. They consider the middle

witness a pair of kings and queens, princes and princesses. However, that is a future I don’t want to let happen.

In my perfect world, Maven doesn’t need to hide her heart, while I don’t need to hide my true identity. Cal would have no crown to wear, no throne to protect. These people will have no walls to hide behind.

Dawn will come for all of you.

We danced through two more songs, and other couples joined the dance floor. The swirl of color obscured the glimpses of Cal and Evangeline, until it felt like it was just Maven and me spinning together. For a moment, Cal’s face flashed in front of me, replacing his brother, and it felt like I was back in a room filled with moonlight.

However, Maven is not Cal, no matter how much his father might want him to be. He wasn’t a soldier, he wasn’t going to be a king, but he had more guts. And he was willing to do what was right.

“Thanks, Maven,” I whispered, barely audible over the noise of the music.

He didn’t need to ask what I meant. “You don’t need to thank me.” His voice was strangely deep, almost breaking as his eyes darkened. “Not for anything.”

This is the closest I’ve been to him all this time, my nose only a few inches from his neck. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my hands, pounding in rhythm with my own. Maven was his mother’s son, Julian once said. He couldn’t be more wrong.

Maven led us towards the edge of the dance floor, which was now filled with twirling noble men and women. No one will notice us walking away.

“Want to drink?” a waiter said, holding out a tray of golden fizzy drinks. I started to brush him off before I noticed the dark green of his eyes.

I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming his name out loud. Kilorn .

Surprisingly, the red uniform suited him and for once he managed to wipe the dirt off his face. It seemed like the fisherman boy I knew had disappeared completely.

“This uniform makes me itchy,” he grumbled under his breath. It may not disappear completely.

“Well, you won’t be wearing it for much longer,” Maven said. “Is everything ready?”

Kilorn nodded, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. “They’re ready upstairs.”

Above us, the Sentinels filled the landing along the row of windows. However, above them, in the carved window recesses and small balconies near the ceiling, the shadows were not Sentinels at all.

“You just need to give the signal.” He handed me the tray and an unsuspecting gold glass.

Maven straightened up next to me, his shoulders leaning against me for support. “Mare?”

It’s my turn now . “I’m ready,” I muttered, remembering the plan Maven whispered to me a few nights ago. With a shudder, I let the familiar buzz of electricity flow through me, arriving

I could feel every light and camera going on in my mind. I lifted the glass, and drank it until it was finished.

Kilorn quickly received the glass back. “One minute.” His voice sounded firm.

He disappeared with a swing of his tray, moving through the crowd until he was out of my sight. Run, I prayed, hoping he would be fast enough. Maven also left, leaving me to continue the task of accompanying his mother.

I walked into the crowd, as the electricity threatened to overwhelm me. However, I can’t let it go yet. Not until they start. Thirty seconds.

The King of Tiberias appeared in front of me, laughing with his beloved son. It looked like she was enjoying her third glass of wine, and her cheeks were flushed silver, while Cal sipped his mineral water politely. Somewhere to my left, I heard Evangeline’s high-pitched laughter, probably with her sister. Around the room, four people took their last breaths.

I let my heart count down the final seconds, filling the moment. Cal spots me in the crowd, smiles that smile I love, and starts moving toward me. But he wouldn’t be able to reach me, not before the action was launched. The world slowed until all I knew was the surprising power behind the walls. Like during training, like when with Julian, I learned to control it.

Four gunshots rang out, accompanied by four bright flashes from guns high above.

Screams followed.[]