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"Farley," I say, tipping

She doesn’t nod back, but then, I didn’t expect her to All business "And the other one?" shehim Any second now" Walsh sounds breathless, excited even, about whoever we’re waiting for Even Farley’s eyes shine

"What is it? Who else joined up?" They don’t answer h my head, servants and kitchen boys ould support the cause

But the person who joins us is no servant He’s not even Red

"Maven"

I don’t knohether to scream or run when I see my betrothed appear from the shadows He’s a prince, he’s Silver, he’s the ene with one of the leaders of the Scarlet Guard His co Red servant with years of service behind him, seems to sith pride

"I told you, you’re not alone, Mare," Maven says, but he doesn’t smile A hand twitches at his side--he’s all nerves Farley scares hiun in hand, but she’s just as nervous as he is Still, her voice does not shake "I want to hear it from your lips, little prince Tellher head toward Holland

Maven sneers at "little prince," his lips curving in distaste, but he doesn’t snap at her "I want to join the Guard," he says, his voice full of conviction

Sheaim in the same motion My heart seems to stop when she presses the barrel to his forehead, but Maven doesn’t flinch "Why?" she hisses

"Because this world is wrong What " Even with a gun to his head, he es to speak calmly, but a bead of sweat trickles down his neck Farley doesn’t pull aaiting for a better answer, and I findto mine, and he ss hard "When I elve, hen me up, to make me more like my brother Cal is perfect, you see, so why couldn’t I be the sa the pain in them I lived in Gisa’s shadow, and he lived in Cal’s I knohat that life is like

Farley sniffs, al at him "I have no use for jealous little boys"

"I wish it was jealousy that drove me here," MavenCal and officers and generals, watching soldiers fight and die for a war no one believed in Where Cal saw honor and loyalty, I saw foolishness I saaste Blood on both sides of the dividing line, and your people gave so much more"

I remember the books in Cal’s rooae, but what Maven says next chills my blood

"There was a boy, just seventeen, a Red froht, not like everyone else, but he treated me just fine He treated me like a person I think he was ht, but solimmer in his eyes "His name was Thouards held me back His life wasn’t worth one, replaced by clenched fists and an iron will "Cal calls this the balance, Silver over Red He’s a good person, and he’ll be a just ruler, but he doesn’t think change is worth the cost," he says "I’ to tell you that I’m not the same as the rest of theladly, if it e"

He is a prince and, worst of all, the queen’s son I didn’t want to trust him before for this very reason, for the secrets he kept hidden Orhis own heart

Though he tries his best to look gri, I can see the boy beneath the mask Part of me wants to embrace him, to comfort him, but Farley would stop un, slowly but surely, I let go of a breath I didn’t realize I was holding in