"America!" The sound of my name woke me from my sleep. The lights fell on my face and I squinted to see him. I was pulled into strong arms and a familiar chest.
"Maxon?" I must still be dreaming.
"You're safe. You're safe. I have you. You're safe." I wasn't scared so I knew this mumbling was more for himself than for me. He needed to reassure himself I was alive. I needed to reassure myself this was real.
"Maxon," I repeated. "Is this a dream?" I whispered it so quietly I was sure he could even here it.
"No, my America, this is very real." He said in the same barely there voice.
I looked up into his warm eyes that felt like chocolate. The tears forming in mine were reflected there, making it hard to see them.
"I was so scared when you didn't make it to the safe room."
"I wasn't going to make it. He said this was safer."
"He was right." Maxon blew out a breath. "They had someone on the inside. One of my father's personal guards. He was communicating with the others. When he realized you weren't here, they started to search safe rooms."
I gasped. "How did they get in?"
"They rammed the walls next to the ones they thought you would be in. They had searched over five by the time they were stopped. If you had been in one—" Maxon's voice broke.
"I wasn't." I placed a hand on his cheek, unsure how I'd be welcomed. Maybe this reunion didn't mean anything and he still planned to marry Kriss.
"No, you weren't," he breathed into my neck. "Why weren't you?" He pulled back to look at me.
"A guard led me up here. I think he knew I wouldn't make it. So he brought me up here to better protect me."
"did you get his name." I shook my head. "Would you recognize him?"
"probably. Why?"
"well, he needs to be commemorated, it's not a small feat, saving the future queen."
"what?" I looked back at him in shock and the shy smile on his face made my heart melt into his hands.
Then he knelt on one knee and pulled out a small velvet covered box. "America Singer, I know I'm supposed to do this with big lights, flashing cameras and a large crowd, but I know how much you hate a fuss being made. I love you. I have since that day in the hall when you told me about being hungry. I realized that pain in my chest was my heart finally beginning to beat. So break my heart America, break it a thousand times, it was only ever yours to break.
"But I beg you, love me like I love you and you will never want for anything. I will be attentive and kind, loving and passionate, provider and protector. So I'm going to ask you now because I can't wait another moment without going mad." He took a deep breath. "My Darling America, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
I felt the tears return. "Yes, Maxon. It would make me the happiest person in the world."
