Chapter One
"America," I hear a familiar voice breathe. I squirm as reality rushes into my consciousness.
"America, wake up." I groan and shove my head under my pillow.
"It's time to start the day...my dear." Oh, so that's how we're going to start the day? I fling my hand out in Maxon's direction and end up smacking my hand clumsily across his face.
"Ow! Geez America, I hope that's not how you'll greet me every morning!" I push my head up just enough so that I can see Maxon rubbing his nose from under the corner of the pillow. I see the pain flick across his face and decide that was a little rough for our first morning as husband and wife. For our first morning as King and Queen.
I sit up and put my hands on Maxon's shoulders. He drops his hand from his face as I push him back against the sheets and climb on top of him. I lean over him and whisper in his ear, "Good morning."
I pull back to watch as a goofy smile spreads across his face and he says proudly, "Good morning your Majesty."
I blush and look away. I'm not used to being the most powerful woman in the country. My slight pink color turns alarmingly red as I recount the events of last night following our wedding. The ceremony ended late and we kicked the cameras out by midnight. After that...well, this 8 a.m. wake up call was not working for me.
Maxon tries to grasp at me as I roll off of him and he falls against me, burying his face in my neck. His breaths stir my hair, tickling a giggle out of me. I can feel him smile against me at the noise. "Do we have to do anything today?" I ask cautiously, knowing it will take me far too long to pull myself out of this bed. "Tons," he sighs. "I don't understand why I can't have at least one day off for my honeymoon," his voice rises and I can hear how frustrated he is.
I wiggle so that I can look at him, but his eyes won't meet mine. "Hey, I'm sure normal people get long, luxurious honeymoons." Maxon huffs, still looking anywhere but my eyes. "But, I'm not sure if you missed that wedding last night, but you're the King. Maybe if you were still the prince we could have one day, tops. But you're all the people have now, like it or not," I finish.
"We're all the people have now," he corrects, finally looking at me. Just as quickly as his eyes found mine, they fled again. "I miss them." It was barely a whisper. "I know," I matched his tone. "I do too."
I see a tear hit the sheets beside Maxon, but he's already moving. "Maxon-", we both hear the pity in my voice and I stop. He kisses my hand and moves towards the wardrobe studying his attire a little too carefully.
As I try to figure out what to say, a faint knock comes from the door. Maxon doesn't move, keeping his back to the door and the rest of the room, including me. Since it's obvious I'm going to have to be the one to answer the door, I pull it open to see Mary's nervous face in front of me. "I'm so sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty, it's just, well, you have an appointment and we must get you ready," she squeaks quickly as if I would close the door in her face. I peek over my shoulder at Maxon to see that he's still frozen in place and reply, "Of course. I'll come with you."
My eyes go back to him and he has turned slightly towards me, hearing that I was leaving.
Before I go with Mary, I cross the room to my husband and plant a kiss on his cheek. "Hey, I love you." A corner of his mouth flicks into a small smile. "I love you too," he says. His hand finds mine, and I drop my voice so only he can hear me. "Any advice for my first day as queen?" The smile spreads to the other side of his mouth at my question and he really looks at me for the first time all morning. I can see the adoration in his gaze as he pleads, "Please go easy on everyone today. Be nice to people, and no very-fabric-of-the-country altering episodes okay? We'll build up to those." He winks at me as I swat at his arm.
"Hey that's twice you've hit me already this morning!" But he's laughing through the mock indignation and he turns back to the shirts, snagging one off a hanger. I go back to my maid and fall into step beside her. Maxon's laughter fades behind us as we stride the palace halls. I stumble for a second when Mary stops at the last door of the hall. I was headed for the stairs. Mary notices my brow furrow in bewilderment and explains, "This is the Queen's Suite miss." Oh, of course. What need would I have for my old room from the Selection?
Turns out that that was the the first of a long day of firsts.