The world was coming in flashes. There were faceless people and unfamiliar places but the darkness always found me. There were muffled words and terrified shouts but the silence always drowned them out. I could feel gentle touches and others that hurt right to my bones but the loneliness always wrapped around my body. I was free falling from a great height and I couldn't seem to stop myself and sometimes I wasn't sure I even wanted to. Then I heard his voice. If only for a second, I knew he was there. I clung to it like it was the edge of a cliff and the only thing stopping me from falling into the abyss. I couldn't understand what he was saying but his soothing voice quelled my despair and dispelled my loneliness. I needed to escape the darkness if only to see his face one more time. I listened to his voice until I succumbed to the darkness again but this time I was determined to come into the light. Next time I would stay as long as his voice was there to guide me.

I slowly pried my eyes open to find myself in a dimly lit room. My body ached but for the most part I was numb. The sounds of the room slowly registered in my brain before my eyes could absorb my surroundings. There were the sounds of machines humming loudly as they performed their tasks. Over them I could hear the loud rhythmic beeping of another machine that seemed to keep time with the beating of my heart. Over all of that I could hear another person breathing. I heard the machine increase it's tempo as I turned to find the source of the steady breathing.

'Maxon.' I croaked surprised by the sound that came from my throat. It was scratchy and grainy as if I hadn't spoken in days but all I could focus on was the man beside me. He was in a chair holding my hand tightly in both of his own leaning forward so his head was lying on the bed beside me. His clothes were rumpled and his hair disheveled as if he hadn't run a brush through it in days. I noticed stubble on his chin that was never usually there. What had happened to my beautiful Prince?

'Maxon.' I tried again with a little more success and he stirred slightly beside me. My heart rate increased again at the prospect of finally seeing his beautiful brown eyes. I tried to move my hand in his but my arm felt so heavy and disconnected from me. I only managed to wriggle my fingers slightly but it was enough to rouse him from his sleep. When his eyes shot open I immediately felt guilty for waking him. He looked so tired and beaten. He needed sleep more than I needed him.

'America?' He whispered in disbelief, 'You're awake? Oh thank goodness.'

'What happened? Where am I?' I asked with my new raspy voice. Maxon got up quickly and moved to the table beside me that had a pitcher of water. I immediately felt a chill without his hand in mine.

'Here, take a few sips, not too much.' He warned placing a cup of water in my hands. I took several sips savouring the soothing feeling of water running down my parched throat. Then I returned my attention to Maxon.

'Maxon, how did I get here?' I asked glad my voice was returning to being somewhat normal.

'America, you were shot.' He said softly taking my hand in his again.

'What?' I gasped, thats when it hit me. The people in the southern provinces. The men by the stage shouting at me, everyone shouting at me. The gun shots ringing around the square. The chaos as people scrambled to get away. 'What happened to everyone there? Was anyone else injured?'

'27 people died and several others were injured. Only a few died due to the shooting the rest died because they were trampled when they were trying to escape.' Maxon said softly looking at me cautiously.

'This is my fault.' Tears gathered in my eyes as I thought of all the innocent people who had died because of my actions and words.

'America no, this isn't your fault. How could you possibly blame yourself?' He asked getting up and settling himself carefully on the bed beside me. I winced as pain shot up my left side from the movement and Maxon froze. I took in several steadying breaths as the pain began to recede. My eyes were scrunched up trying to shake the sharp pain in my side.

'America?' Maxon asked worriedly from beside me not daring to touch me. I felt him slip from the bed and the pain shot through me again. 'I'm going to get the doctor.' He told me hurriedly before I heard his rapid footsteps on the floor. As his footsteps faded all I could hear was the rapid beeping beside me and my laboured breathing. I still couldn't open my eyes through the pain that was coursing through my body. When Maxon finally returned I didn't notice until he and the doctor were by my side.

'Lady America? I'm Dr Manson.' He said shakily as I slowly opened my eyes and saw a menacing Maxon beside him. I was in too much pain to question Maxon so I just nodded and looked at the nervous doctor.

'I'm so glad you're finally awake but I understand you're in a little bit of pain.' He said glancing between Maxon and me. I laughed breathlessly at the absurdity of his words.

'You could say that.'

'Rachel?' Dr Manson called behind him and a small brunette girl came forward and inserted something into the tube that was coming out of my arm.

'What's that?' I asked in alarm momentarily forgetting my pain and trying to get up. My stomach rebelled sending a blinding pain throughout my entire body. I collapsed against the bed gasping for breath.

'It's fine America, it's just some pain medication.' Maxon soothed pulling my hand to him as he took his seat beside me again.

'It's probably going to make you a little drowsy Lady America.' I nodded at the doctor as he checked over the other machines I was hooked up to before he and the small nurse left the room.

'Maxon,' I whispered desperately trying to stop my eyes from drooping shut. 'I don't want to go to sleep again.'

'Shh, it's fine. I'll be right here when you wake. You just get some rest and we can talk when you wake up.' I nodded weakly finally succumbing to my heavy eyelids. As soon as they fell shut the rest of the world fell away again.

When I woke again Maxon wasn't there, instead I was staring into the cold eyes of the King.

'I'm so glad you're feeling better, Lady America.' He said menacingly letting me know that this was the last thing he wanted. 'Apparently, those rebels don't have very good aim.' I just stared at him, uncertain how to respond. Why was he here? Was he coming to finish what the rebels couldn't?

'So here you are, continuing to be the most troublesome thorn in my side.' He sighed getting up from the chair and beginning to pace beside me. I watched him with weary eyes trying to hide my fear but the machine that monitors my heart rate was giving me away.

'I thought all this business would sort itself out and Maxon would eventually make the right decision but that doesn't seem to be the case. Ever since you've returned from your near death experience he hasn't left your side. He hasn't paid any attention to the other girls and he hasn't been tending to his responsibilities. He has spent every moment here by your side like the diligent little puppy he is.' He sneered at me with such hatred my heart stopped in fear. 'I need you out of this competition Lady America and I'm prepared to do anything to achieve that.' He said in a low voice as he stepped up close to my bedside.

'Since I can't kill you, I'll torture you the only way I know how.' He growled putting his hand over my injured side sending my body into a frenzy of pain. 'I'll hurt the ones you love Lady America, until you do as I wish, until you leave this competition and stop meddling in things that ought not to be meddled in.' He pushed down on my side until black began to invade my vision. I could hear the machines around me descend into chaos as the pain raced through my body stealing my breath away. The last thing I saw before I passed out was his menacing face and then my world was ripped away from me. This time I welcomed the bliss that the darkness brought me.

'America.' I heard someone whisper in the distance pulling me back from my prison. 'America.' They repeated a little louder drawing me to the surface as light began to creep in. 'Please open your eyes, my darling.' They begged and my eyes shot open. I looked over at Maxon and felt something warm roll down my face. I couldn't do this anymore. Everyone was pulling me in a million directions, demanding I keep their secrets, demanding I do something for them but who was willing to sacrifice anything for me. More warm tears escaped my eyes as I looked at Maxon's worried face. He swiped a few of them away tenderly with his thumb but that only made them flow more freely.

'America, what is it? Are you in pain?' Always, my heart is always suffering. Why does no one notice?

'Talk to me, my love.' He urged scooting closer to me.

'I'm scared, Maxon.' I whispered truthfully.

'I know, America.' He sighed wrapping his arms gingerly around me, enveloping me in his familiar scent and warmth. 'You're safe now.' I choked on another sob because I knew I was never going to be safe. As long as I was with Maxon I was always in danger from the King. There was no way he was ever going to let me marry his son. He wanted a puppet that was easily manipulated. I was the exact opposite of everything he wanted in a bride for his only son.

'You weren't here.' I said flatly pulling away from him.

'I have been here, my love. I needed to leave for an hour. My mother made me wash and shave. She said I didn't need to make the situation worse by insulting you with my dishevelled appearance.' He chucked beside me.

'I'm not safe Maxon.' I continued and his laughter died.

'What do you mean, America? What happened?'

'He was here.' I answered vaguely.

'Who was here?' He asked in alarm.

'Your father, the King.'

'What did he do?' He asked incredulously. I was torn. Would it make things worse to reveal the Kings threats to him? I needed to take a chance. I'm not sure how they could possibly get any more complicated. 'America?' He coaxed finally cracking my resolve.

'He threatened my family.' I whispered looking at the wall trying to hold back the next torrent of tears.

'He's a monster. Someone has to stop him.' Maxon seethed beside me.

'No Maxon. You can't. I won't see you hurt too.' I quickly turned to face him and grabbed for his hand so he would focus on me instead of his blinding rage.

'America I won't let him torment the girl I love.' He answered confidently looking deep into my eyes.

'You love me?' I whispered in shock.

'I thought that was obvious America.' His face softened slightly as his look changed to a more loving one. 'I think I may have loved you from the first moment I met you. You were just so stubborn but I love that about you. If I could I'd make you my wife right now in this hospital room.'

'Maxon.' I whispered but he continued as if he hadn't heard me.

'Even when I saw you with your first love I still loved you. In my head I kept convincing myself that I still had a chance. After everything I still believed that I could make you love me.

'Maxon.' I said a little louder but I still couldn't get through.

'You were always it for me and I knew on some level that you may never love me but I never gave up hope that one day you would finally see me, because out of everyone you were the only one that saw me as Maxon the person. Instead of Prince Maxon future ruler of Illea. You are never afraid to put me in my place. You make me the better me but all I do is put you in danger.'

'Maxon!' I shouted shuffling painfully up in my bed so I could look at him fully.

'What?' He looked at me startled.

'I love you too.' I whispered sheepishly feeling the heat flood my cheeks as I looked down at my hands.

'You what?' He asked in disbelief.

'I love you Maxon.' I repeated with more certainty.

'Really?' He asked as a small smile crept onto his face.

'With my whole heart.'

'You really love me?' I nodded as his smile grew into a goofy grin. 'You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say that.'

'Sometimes our minds are blind to what our hearts have known all along.' I murmured pulling him closer so his face was inches from mine.

'I love you so much America. When I saw that bullet hit you I lost it. My butlers are still trying to put my room back together.' He whispered against my lips.

'Maxon.' I scolded.

'It was better that than go and confront my father which is what I really wanted to do.'

'Maxon, promise me you won't fight with him. He holds too much power over you.' I pleaded looking him directly in the eyes.

'America I won't let him hurt you or your family. You're mine to protect. You hold my heart.' We looked at each other trapped in each others gazes. Finally his lips found mine and I felt my body warm from the inside out. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer as he gently rested his hands on my shoulders trying to not disturb my side. I felt at peace for the first time in a long time. Although, I knew the reprieve would be brief and the battles to come were only just beginning I revelled in the feeling of Maxon and pulled his heart closer just so I could be sure that it was really mine.