Chapter 22- Television Rings

*all rights to kiera cass*

TheSelection4.0aspiring author- here's another update :)

fabulously fangirling- girl thank you

KMlovesfanfics- ahh thank you so so much! That means so much

Guest123- babe! You made me cry this is so sweet wow! i'm so happy you liked it

DBZFanLou- thank you thank you

LadyMadisonSchreave- I'm so happy you loved it! There are four chapters after this one. It will end at chapter 26 :) and i have some news below

Virtue01- this is so meaningful to me! Thank you so much!

Sarah the Selection-addict -thank you so so much! But it's not the ending :)

Aubreylovesthegames- your reviews always make me smile so much

BlissfulBillie- i love that thank you

BookLoverisGoingInsane- AHAHAHAHA THANK YOU

K12- thank you lots

Bluebelles112- ah sorry did not realize that was a cliffhanger lol so happy you liked it though!

Gummybear1178- hehe thanks

Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for all the love y'all give this story. I would never be here without y'all. To everyone that read, favorited, followed, and/or commented on this story THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Okay loves! If you noticed, I mentioned to LadyMadisonSchreave that there are four more chapters left in BC. BUT this is not where the story will end! I have a sequel in the works for BC because I realized that this story really ends where it will end but I have so so many fun ideas that I have been wanting to write since I started this story in 2017 (?)! This sequel will include the wedding reception, the honeymoon, some fun family stuff, exploring Illea, travel abroad, and more following the events of this story. I am so excited to be able to write this for all of you and am so excited for you to read it after BC ends!

I love love this chapter that I wrote pretty much all in one sitting, so without further ado… Chapter 22- Television Rings

There was a distant banging in the back of my sleep-addled mind. Maxon groaned and tightened his arms around me. I smiled. One day, I'd be able to wake up in his arms every day. He had chosen me. He still wanted to marry me. We would get married. Maxon would be my husband. The banging got louder.

"Stop that!" Maxon grumbled sleepily. "Let us sleep!"

I giggled quietly and nestled deeper into his arms. It was so nice-to fall asleep tangled in each other's arms. Maxon pressed a featherlight kiss to the back of my neck.

I shivered. "I love you," he whispered.

I pulled his hand from around my waist and twined my fingers with his. "I love you too."

A crash echoed through the room. My eyes snapped open. Maxon sat up next to me looking like he was ready to fight someone. We were in the safe room. I blinked. There was a rebel attack. With everything that happened-everything we said-I had forgotten. A glance at Maxon told me he had too.

"Your Highness?" A guard stood at the foot of the stairs. He shifted back and forth on his feet. I could only imagine his discomfort finding us together like that. Maxon still wasn't wearing a shirt. The bandages on his shoulder were bright against his tanned skin. And I only had my thin nightgown on. I had already changed for bed when the girls came to cheer me up before Maxon came. My robe hung from a hook on the wall. It was too hot to wear to sleep, especially so close to Maxon.

I bit my lip and sat up, crossing my arms against my chest. The guard averted his eyes.

"Am I to assume your presence means the palace is clear of rebels, Officer?" Maxon spoke with every inch of authority born to him.

The guard nodded shakily. "Yes sir," he glanced back at me, "and Lady America."

I flashed him a small smile. "Do you have the time, by any chance?"

He glanced at the watch at his wrist. "Yes, Lady America. It's eight-thirty in the morning."

My eyes widened. Maxon turned his head to meet my gaze, a similar panic filling his eyes. I scrambled up and threw on my robe. "We have to get ready, Maxon."

Maxon was already moving. "Why didn't we know this earlier? The Choosing Ceremony is in an hour. Everyone will be looking for us."

I nodded emphatically. My maids would be in a full panic. The ceremony was supposed to begin the broadcast at 9:30. Which meant we were intended to be there at 9:00.

The guard . "The whole palace is looking for you, Your Highness. We didn't know what safe room you were in. The Queen has been asking for you, specifically Lady America."

I inhaled sharply and slid my shoes back on. I heard Maxon grimace across the room. He was trying to put his bloodied undershirt back on. I watched him carefully keep his back facing away from the guard. I almost winced with him.

"Max, don't worry about it." I murmured, crossing the room to him. "Your rooms are just down the halls and I don't want you to reopen that wound."
He shot me a look that said something like they can't see what you saw.

I placed a hand on his cheek. "Just put your dress shirt on. You have to change anyway."

Maxon nodded. The guard cleared his throat. Maxon didn't turn to look at him. "You're dismissed. Tell my mother that I'll deliver Lady America momentarily. She'll want to see me too."

I watched the guard nod in my periphery and heard his footsteps receding up the stairs and down the hall. Maxon sighed, frowning. "Are you ready to let them all in on our little secret? They may very well ruin it."

I ran my thumb along his bottom lip, wishing so much that I could kiss him. I would have, but we both needed to go an hour ago. "They could never ruin it. It's us, Maxon. It's ours. It's not theirs to ruin."

Maxon forced a smile and pressed his lips to my forehead. "I can't wait for you to see your ring."

I smiled. "We better go so I can then."

Amberley pulled us into her arms the moment she saw us. She appraised our well-beings before shooing us off to get ready. She said she would speak to me later. I smiled and almost skipped to my room.

It was a whirlwind of activity. It froze for a minute when I opened the door before pulling me into its swirling chaos. There were so many people in the room that it was almost a wonder they all fit. My mom and sisters were there. Even Kenna, heavily pregnant, sat on the couch in a stunning navy blue dress while someone did her make-up. Marlee danced around the room throwing sunshine like she was a flower girl armed with smiles to line the aisle.

Somehow the clock read 9:15am and I was walking down the stairs to the Great Hall. I don't know how they did it, but I felt beautiful. I felt like the princess Maxon intended to make me. My flowing dress was embroidered with shimmering florals. A strap of molded flowers climbed up my left shoulder. They curled my hair. It tumbled down my back-strikingly red against the pale blue silk. My eyes shimmered with a mix of silver and blue shadows. Even my shoes, more towering heels, looked the part of a royal.

I spotted Silvia standing at the door with one eye glued to her wrist watch. I smiled slowly, realizing it was the last time I would see her before Maxon officially proposed. It was the last time before everyone started calling me "Your Highness," like Maxon. I almost winced at the title-it would be so strange to be addressed like I was above other people. I didn't think I would ever get used to that bit.

Silvia's eyes brightened when she caught sight of me. She hurried over and escorted me to the door. "Remember," she said quickly, "to sit in the chair on the right. Lady Elise is already seated on the dais. Prince Maxon will be announced directly after you are seated and he will be in the middle of you. He will first address the one he will not be choosing. She will be escorted to her family. He will then guide his choice in front of the table where he will propose."

She took a breath as we stopped in front of the door. "Do you have any questions, Lady America?"

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Silvia. Truly. I never could have done it all without your guidance. I hope to learn more from you in the future."

Silvia nodded warmly. "Chin up, Lady America. You will do wonderfully. I am proud to have taught you."

My smile widened as the doors opened before me. The small crowd and the cameras turned to face me. I walked slowly and what I hoped looked regally down the aisle to the dais. Elise was already seated as Silvia had said. She nodded when she met my eyes. I sat down slowly, a smile still plastered on my face.

"Announcing, His Royal Highness, the heir to the Illean throne, Prince Maxon," a voice boomed as the door opened. Everyone in the Great Hall stood except for the King and Queen. I sucked in a breath when I saw him. God, he was so handsome.

He wore his normal black and white suit, but something about knowing he was so close to being mine alone made him that much more attractive.

Maxon walked through the room quickly. His smile matched my own. He met my gaze and dragged his eyes down my body. I bit my lip. "Wow," he mouthed to me when no one was looking. I felt like I would burst with happiness. I loved him so much it almost hurt.

He brushed his hand against my arm as he came to stand next to me.

"Please sit," Maxon motioned to the crowd. Elise and I were the only ones remaining standing. "You can sit too, ladies," he whispered. "There is a bit I have to say according to tradition."

I bit back a laugh and sat back down.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of Illea." He began warmly, "I am so pleased to welcome you to this momentous day. Today, you will find who I have chosen as Illea's next Queen and the woman I will ask to become my wife."

There was a smattering of applause.

"Not long ago, I celebrated my nineteenth birthday and we announced the women chosen as part of my Selection. In these past few months, I have met 35 amazing Daughters of Illea. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet so many lovely women from our great country and look forward to hearing from all of them as their king-and hopefully their friend. The Selected have made it so difficult for me to decide who will be my wife. Lady Elise Whisks of Angeles and Lady America Singer of Carolina have continually distinguished themselves as women dedicated to Illea and either of them would make a wonderful Queen. However, it is my heart I must follow."

He turned to Elise and offered a hand. She took it and stood. "Lady Elise, it has been so nice getting to know you. I am confident you will do many wonderful things with your life. I wish you every happiness in the world, but it will not be with me."

Maxon looked almost pained to be sending her home. I knew how much he hated hurting other people, even if it was better in the end. Elise just nodded and walked gracefully down the stairs to her family.

Maxon's eyes were shining when he turned back to me. He helped me stand up and placed my hand on his arm. I tried and failed to subdue my smile. Maxon and I walked in front of the table.

"My darling America," he faced me. All I could see was him. His smile. His eyes. His hand reaching into his pocket. Him.

He brushed away a tear from my cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I love you more than anything in this life. My heart is yours alone to break. You are the One."

I choked back a sob of pure joy. Maxon knelt down on one knee and held out a small, black velvet box. He flipped it open, but I barely noticed-so focused on Maxon and his words.

"America Singer, will you marry me?" Maxon's voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Let me have a life with you?"

"Yes, Maxon! Yes, forever yes!" He slid the ring on my finger and stood to pull me into his arms. He pulled back after a moment and kissed me.

I smiled against his lips. "I love you."

He smiled back. Maxon pulled my left hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles just above my ring. He turned then to face the crowd and the cameras. I realized then that they were applauding. I glanced over to the thrones in the corner of the room. Even King Clarkson looked happy for once.

Maxon offered his crooked arm back to me and I looped my own through his. We walked down the stairs of the dais. May tackled me in a massive hug. I flashed a smile at the rest of my family over her head. Mom was beaming. Maxon shook Dad's hand. I was sure then that it was all some dream-that I could never really be this happy. But there was Marlee with a shining smile next to her officer and Maxon's arm on the small of my back again and the unfamiliar weight of his ring on my finger. It was all real. It was all more than halfway to perfect.

I was tired in my bones. The clock tolled ten at night almost an hour ago. I could barely feel my feet, but the smile on my face was still broad and shining. I leaned into Maxon next to me on his bed.

There was so much we had to do after the Choosing Ceremony. First we talked to our families and friends in the Palace. Then there were the interviews with Gavril and the other major news networks. And then the cameras faded and there was an endless stack of paperwork. Illea's laws required all royal marriages to be extensively vetted and official in ways that I didn't entirely understand even after Maxon explained them all. I had to renounce my former caste. They made us sign something else to make me a One. There were some more pages and contracts about things I didn't remember.

Finally, we met with Amberley who promised to be there if we needed anything at all-especially me. Because she "had been through it all" and she "knew exactly how overwhelming it all felt." But she gave me a hug and sent Maxon and I to go sleep. The coming weeks and months would be just as busy.

My brain felt like a puddle. I could barely think. My eyelids drooped.

"Are you happy?" Maxon's warm voice pushed me back to consciousness.

I rested my head on his shoulder, sleepiness overcoming me again. "So happy, Maxon."

"And you like the ring?" There was a touch of anxiety invading his tone. "Because we can always replace it if you would prefer another style or a different stone. They'll-"

I silenced him with a kiss. We fell back on his bed side to side. I extended my left hand and studied my ring. A web of thin gold vines crawled up, forming the circle of the ring, holding at the top two gems—one green, one purple—that kissed at the crown of it. I knew the purple one was my birthstone, so the green one must be his. There we were, two little spots of light growing together, inseparable.

"It's beautiful, Maxon." I murmured into his chest. "Perfect."

A smile tugged at the edges of his lips and he pulled me into him.

"I'm so tired, Max," I grumbled sleepily, wriggling out of his embrace. "I have to go to bed. Your mom said we have more stuff to do tomorrow."

Maxon closed his eyes and pulled my hand back towards him, "stay, Ames."

I sighed and smiled. "I can't sleep in this dress though. My maids would kill me… and it wouldn't be very comfortable."

"Give me a second," Maxon grumbled, standing up and disappearing into his closet. He came back after a minute in a pair of loose-fitting sweatpants and no shirt. I swallowed hard and he handed me a pile of clothes. It took me a second to realize he was offering for me to sleep in them.

I changed into his shirt in his bathroom. It smelled like him and I felt like I was wrapped up in him. Maxon was waiting for me at the door. He smiled almost like he was in a daze. He must be as tired as I was.

We stumbled towards the bed and I nestled in his arms under the covers. It wasn't long before I heard Maxon's breathing steady. I smiled and slipped into my own sleep. I was happy. I was so happy. It was us… Maxon and me. We finally got to be us.

random note: i took the description of the ring directly from the one. it is not mine. that one belongs 100% to kiera cass. also! this is the link to America's dress if y'all want to see it better than how I described: products/andrea-and-leo-a0989?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social