All rights to Kiera Cass. This book is designed to make story edits that largely follow the original plot. So even in the edited parts it is often largely Cass's writing.

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Author's note: Like many Americans I am disheartened by the events of yesterday. While I do not generally like to be political on non political platforms, when there is an organised act of domestic terrorism in my country that serves as a grave risk to the fabric of this great nation, I will make an exception.

For those who do not know, yesterday the US Capitol building in Washington DC was stormed by those who believe Donald Trump is the true winner of the election. While it was a close election, the election has gone checked again, and again, to show Biden did win. Despite that Trump has been fueling conspiracy theories that the election was "stolen" for him and encouraging people not to accept the results of a free election, jeopardizing the foundation of democracy. Thousands of people heeded this call -maybe taking it further then he intended, though he never put out a strong message for them to stop- and broke into the capitol building while it was in session to try and force congress to throw out the election in favor of Trump. The US capitol building is heavily guarded and has not been broken into since the British did so in 1814. It is a disgraceful unpatriotic act to stand in the way of a peaceful transfer of power while threatening the lives of those who govern our nation to do it.

I would like to proclaim that I, along with many US citizens, believe in unity above this great divide. While this is terrifying to watch, I want those in other countries to know, these terrorists do not speak for everyone here. They do not even speak for most people these United States. I want those who reside in my own country to remember these are not people to underestimate, but they are also not people to qualify ergo awarding power.

We must stand together to remember the acceptance and love the US has to offer. Especially in times of divide.

Now that's enough political jargon, enjoy the story.

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(Cass)

CHAPTER 20

THE DAY AFTER THE ITALIAN reception we gathered in the Women's Room after breakfast. The queen was absent, and none of us knew what that meant.

"I bet she's helping Silvia write up the final report," Elise guessed.

"I don't think she's supposed to have much of a say," Kriss countered.

"Maybe she's hung over," Natalie offered as she pressed her fingers to her temples.

"Just because you are doesn't mean she is," Celeste spat.

"She might not be feeling well," I said. "She tends to get sick a lot."

Kriss nodded. "I wonder why that is."

"Didn't she grow up in the South?" Elise asked. "I hear the air and water aren't very clean down there. Maybe it's because of how she was raised."

"I hear everything is bad below Sumner," Celeste added.

"She's probably just resting," I interjected. "There's a Report tonight, and she simply wants to be ready. She's smart. It's barely ten, and I need a nap."

"Yeah, we should all take naps," Natalie said wearily.

A maid entered with a small platter and walked quietly across the room, almost too nimble to be noticed.

"Wait," Kriss said. "You don't think they'll talk about the reception stuff on the Report, do you?"

Celeste groaned. "I hated that stupid thing. You and America lucked out."

"You're joking, right? Do you have any …"

Kriss's words dropped off as the maid stopped just to my left, revealing a small, folded note on the platter.

I felt everyone's eyes on me as I tentatively picked up the letter and read it.

"Is that from Maxon?" Kriss asked, trying not to seem as interested as she was.

"Yes." I didn't look up.

"What's it say?" she probed.

(edit)

"That he needs to see me for a moment." I had gotten notes from Maxon in the women's room before but they had never caused a scene. Probably because I was never in mid conversation when I got them.

Celeste laughed. "Sounds like you're in trouble."

I sighed and stood to follow the maid from the room. "Guess there's only one way to find out." It was probably advisor work because the king was waiting until after the receptions for me to start.

"Maybe he's finally kicking her out," Celeste whispered loudly enough for me to hear.

"You think?" Natalie asked a little too excitedly.

I rolled my eyes. Celeste was clearly trying to get under my skin. Frankly Maxon could be letting me go from the Elite now that I'm an advisor, but there was no reason to listen to Celeste about anything.

Maxon was waiting in the hallway, and I walked up timidly. He didn't look upset, but he did seem tense.

I braced myself. "You okay?"

(cass)

He nodded then took my arm. "We have fifteen minutes. What I'm about to show you, you can't share with anyone. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"All right then."

We darted up the stairs, all the way to the third floor. Gently but quickly, Maxon pulled me down the hallway to a set of white double doors next to his room. "Fifteen minutes," he reminded.

"Fifteen minutes."

He took a key out of his pocket and unlocked one of the doors, holding it open so I could go in before him. The room was wide and bright, with lots of windows and two doors opening onto a balcony along the wall. There was a bed, a massive armoire, and a table with chairs; but other than that the room was empty. No paintings on the walls, no pieces on the inlaid shelves. Even the paint was a little drab.

"This is the princess's suite," Maxon said quietly.

My eyes widened.

"I know it's not much to look at right now. The princess is supposed to choose the decor, so once my mother moved to the queen's suite, the room was stripped."

Queen Amberly had slept here. Something about the room felt magical.

(edit)

Maxon came up behind me and started pointing. "Those doors go to the balcony. And over there"—he pointed to the other end of the room—"those doors go to the princess's personal study. Right here"—he noted a door to our right—"this goes to my room. Can't have the princess too far off." His words could almost be excused for an excited friend sharing, but the way he said it -standing behind me and with lightness- I was almost as if he wanted me to commandeer this room. I felt myself blush thinking of sleeping here with Maxon so close.

He stepped toward the armoire. "And this? Behind this piece of furniture is the escape to the safe room. You can get to other places in the palace this way, too, but that's its main purpose." He sighed. "This is a slight misuse, but I thought it would be worth it."

(Cass)

Maxon placed his hand on a hidden latch, and the armoire and the panel of wall behind it swung forward. I saw him smile at the space behind it. "Right on time."

"I wouldn't miss it," another voice said.

I sucked in a breath. There was no way that voice belonged to who I thought it did. I stepped to see around the hulking piece of furniture and Maxon's smiling face. There, dressed in very plain clothes and with her hair pulled into a bun, was Marlee.

"Marlee?" I whispered, sure I had to be dreaming. "What are you doing here?"

"I've missed you so much!" she cried, and ran to me with her arms open. With her hands out, I could see clearly the red, healing welts on her palms. It really was Marlee.

She wrapped me in a hug, and we crumpled to the ground, I was so overcome. I couldn't stop from crying and asking over and over what in the world she was doing here.

When I quieted down long enough, Maxon got my attention. "Ten minutes. I'll be waiting outside. Marlee, you can leave the way you came."

She gave him her word, and Maxon left us alone.

"I don't understand," I said. "You were supposed to go south. You were supposed to be an Eight. Where's Carter?"

She smiled through my misunderstanding. "We've been here the whole time. I just started working in the kitchens; and Carter's still on the mend, but I think he'll be in the stables soon."

"On the mend?" So many questions were racing through my mind, I wasn't sure why that one popped out.

"Yes, he walks and can sit and stand, but it's hard for him to do anything too strenuous. He's helping in the kitchens until he's fully healed. He's going to be fine though. And look at me," she said, holding out both hands. "We've been very well taken care of. They aren't pretty, but at least they don't hurt anymore."

I carefully touched the swollen lines on her palms, sure they couldn't actually be painless. But she didn't flinch, and after a moment I slid my hand into hers. It felt funny, but at the same time completely natural. Marlee was here. And I was holding her hand.

"So Maxon's had you in the palace the whole time?"

She nodded. "After the caning, he was afraid we would be hurt if we were left on our own, so he kept us here. Two other servants, a brother and sister who had family in Panama, were sent instead. We're going by new names, and Carter is growing out his beard, so after a while we'll blend in. Not a lot of people know we're in the palace in the first place, just a few of the cooks I work with, one of the nurses, and Maxon. I don't even think the guards know because they have to answer to the king, and he wouldn't be pleased to find out."

She shook her head before quickly moving on. "Our little apartment is small, basically just enough room for our bed and some shelves; but at least it's clean. I'm trying to sew us a new bedspread, but I'm not—"

"Hold on. Our bed? As in, you share one?"

She smiled. "We got married two days ago. I told Maxon the morning we were caned that I loved Carter and that he was the one I wanted to marry, and I apologized for hurting him. He didn't care, of course. He came to me two days ago saying there was some big event happening and that if we wanted to get married, this was the time."

I counted back. Two days ago was when the German Federation had come. The entire palace staff was either helping serve them or preparing for the ladies from Italy.

"Maxon gave me away. I'm not sure I'll ever see my parents again. The more distance they have from me, the better."

I could tell she was pained to say so, but I understood why. If it had been me and I was suddenly an Eight, the kindest thing I could do for my family was disappear. It would take time, but people would forget. Eventually, my parents would recover.

To push away her sad thoughts, she fanned out her left hand, and I noticed the little band across her finger for the first time. It was twine tied in a simple knot, but it was a clear statement: I'm taken.

"I think I'm going to have to get him to give me a new one soon; I'm already fraying this one. I guess if he works in the stables, I'll have to make him a new ring every day." She playfully shrugged. "Not that I mind."

My mind had jumped to another question that I worried might be rude to ask, but I knew I would never be able to have this kind of conversation with my mom or Kenna. "So, have you … you know?"

It took her a moment to understand, but then she laughed. "Oh! Yes, we have."

We both giggled. "How is it?"

"Honestly? A little uncomfortable at first. The second time was better."

"Oh." I didn't know what else to say.

"Yeah."

There was a bit of a pause.

"I've been really lonely without you. I miss you." I played with the little piece of twine on her finger.

"I miss you, too. Maybe once you're the princess, I can sneak up here all the time."

(Edit)

I sighed. "Honestly, I never told you when we were both Elite's but Maxon and I are just friends."

"What do you mean?" she asked, her face confused. "You were always his favorite?"

I shook my head. "We've always been just friends. We would hang out a lot to take breaks from the stress of everything, and our conversations have always been easy, but we've been clear that we were friends."

"America. He doesn't look at you like someone who just wants to be friends." She proclaimed.

I knew my face resembled shock. I shook it off and sighed, "I'm not sure if it would matter anyway. After you got caned, I was upset with Maxon. It took me a while to realize that he wouldn't have done something like that if he could have stopped it. -"

Marlee nodded. "He tried so hard, America. And when he couldn't, he did everything he could to make the situation better. So don't be mad at him."

"-I'm not anymore, but our friendship isn't even quite back to where it was let alone the possibility of anything else. And to act on it….what if he doesn't like me? And if he does, I'm not sure I want to be the princess. I don't know if I could do what he did. Besides, Maxon likes Kriss now. Who am I to mess with his happiness?" My brain was scattered all over the place trying to put the pieces together.

"Kriss? When did that happen?"

"I have no idea. Part of me thinks it's a good thing. She'd make a great princess; If he really likes her, I want him to be happy. And he's supposed to do another elimination really soon. Right now I seem like a likely choice."

Marlee laughed. "You're so ridiculous. If Maxon didn't have feelings for you, he'd have sent you home a long time ago. The reason you're still here is because he refuses to lose hope."

Something between a choke and a laugh came out of my mouth. He said he was keeping me as friends, and while that made sense at first that doesn't explain it now. Maybe him liking me would.

"I wish we could talk more, but I should go," she said. "We're taking advantage of guards changing to do this."

"I don't care that it's short. I'm just glad to know you're okay."

She pulled me in for a hug. "Don't give up yet, all right?"

"I won't. Maybe you could send me a letter or something sometime?"

"That might work. We'll see." She let me go, and we stood together. "If anyone asked, I'd say you'd make the best princess. I've always thought it should be you."

I blushed. "Go on, now. Say hello to your husband for me."

She smiled. "I will." Nimbly, she went over to the armoire and found the latch. For some reason, I thought the caning would break her, but she was stronger now. She even carried herself differently. Marlee turned to blow me a kiss and disappeared.

I quickly exited the room and found that Maxon was waiting in the hallway. At the sound of the door, he looked up from his book, smiling. I followed him into his room and we sat on his bed.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I had to make sure they were safe first. My father doesn't know I did this; and until I knew it wouldn't endanger them, I had to keep it to myself. I'm hoping to arrange for you to see her more, but that will take time."

I felt my shoulders lighten, as if the bricks of worry I'd been carrying around were falling off all at once. The happiness at seeing Marlee and the assurance that Maxon was as kind as I thought he was, made me feel almost high.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Of course."

I wasn't sure what else to say. After a moment Maxon cleared his throat.

"I know that you are averse to the difficult parts of these jobs, and I can tell you see the prince in me now...that had to come eventually. But I hope you remember that it isn't all bad. That I am not all bad."

"I could never think you were all bad." I whispered back. We locked eyes for a second, butterflies rising, only to break it again. Maxon played with the little button on my wrist. Aspen.

Maxon once told me not to worry, and to just ask him. I was sick of not knowing if he had decided that I was the one to be out. So I finally, "Maxon, am I no longer going to be an elite after the next elimination?"

"No! Why would you think that?" He replied quickly.

"It's just the plan was for you to keep me as an Elite until you made your choice, then make me an advisor, but I'm already an advisor." My eyes were pleading and I'm sure he could tell I didn't want to stop being an elite.

Maxon looked directly into my eyes and firmly said, "I'm not eliminating you." But then I saw his hesitation as he tried to come up with a reason why. A few seconds later he spoke back up, "If I eliminated you now, your fate is entirely in my father's hands. And you My America, are not something I want him to have any control over."

Maxon must have referred to me as 'My America' hundreds of times by now, but the way he said it this time was not like an inside joke between friends. No, it was far more like a declaration that I was his. And in that moment I realized, truly realized that I wanted to be His America.

I saw a moment of doubt pass over his face and he continued, "That is if you still want to."

Maxon's hand was now resting on his leg, and I slid mine under his, "I'd very much like to stay an Elite."

Maxon let out a relieved sigh. Then he stood and offered me his arm to stand, "We do, however, have to get you to your very first debriefing as an official advisor."

I smiled, "Ah yes, wouldn't want to be late."

The debriefing in the conference room was far more formal and far less dramatic than it had been when we were working on preventing the massacre. The meeting was mostly led by the general with the king making all final decisions, we all stayed seated the entire time, and there were no heated debates.

I was assigned with reviewing and notating the daily raw intelligence information along with attending debriefings after breakfast on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, so long as it doesn't conflict with my duties as an elite. I was officially given the title Junior Strategic Advisor although no one outside this room, besides the queen, was allowed to know. While I was essentially doing grunt work I didn't expect much more, I was indeed a civilian. I was handed today's intelligence and instructed to have it returned by 5pm.

Before I got very far, the King had stepped into the hallway. "Lady America." He called.

I turned around and moved back towards him, "Yes Your Highness."

"Don't think I have forgotten about your little stunt last week." I looked down at the ground, "You were right, no one wants to hear it, that's why I expect you to keep your mouth shut. Tell your little jokes or don't say anything at all. I don't care. So long as you aren't making people think too much."

I kept my eyes trained on the ground, sure that his eyes were a blaze of fire. "Yes Your Highness."

"You have a job to stop the rebels, but saying things like that will only add to their ranks." I disagreed, but I was in no position to argue. Raising awareness about the issues can lead to change. It will never be fixed if no one knows about it. This isn't new information to the lower castes, and many people only join the rebels because they think no one in power will deal with any of the issues….but that was it, wasn't it. He wasn't going to do anything about it. He would rather people stay ignorant to the knowledge of something better.

I simply nodded, feeling once again silenced.

"You're dismissed. And Lady America, not a word of our conversation to anyone."

I returned to the Women's Room file in hand. No one said anything until I sat down, and it was Kriss who was bold enough to ask.

"What was that all about?"

I looked not just to her, but to all the watching eyes. "I'd rather not say."

With my puffy face, a response like that was enough to make it seem like nothing good could have come from the meeting; but if that's what I had to say to protect Marlee and keep my job, then I was fine with it.

What really stung was Celeste pressing her lips together to hide her smile, Natalie's raised eyebrows as she pretended to read her borrowed magazine, and the hopeful glance between Kriss and Elise.

I sat down on the couch and boared into the file. It was larger than it had been in the past. I took this as a good sign that with our restructuring we were able to get more notable information, and began marking it up.

But not even the rebels could distract me from the screaming realization that the competition was deeper than I had guessed.

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Thanks for reading. As always please comment! I love to hear your thoughts!