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: Happy Friday! Since we are so close to the end I will be posting the last two chapters of book 2 and the first chapter of book three today. Enjoy.

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(cass)

CHAPTER 30

THE SOUND OF THE CREAKING door woke me, and the light streaming in was so bright, I had to block my eyes.

"Your Majesty?" someone asked. "Oh, God! I've found him," he screamed. "He's alive!"

There was a sudden flurry around us as guards and butlers stormed to our location.

"Were you not able to get downstairs, Your Majesty?" one of the guards asked. I looked at his name. Markson. I wasn't sure, but he seemed to be one of the higher-ups in the guard.

"No. An officer was supposed to tell my parents. I told him to go there first," Maxon explained, trying to straighten his hair. Only once did his face give away that the movement pained him.

"Which officer?"

Maxon sighed. "I didn't get his name." He looked to me for confirmation.

"Me either. But he was wearing a ring on his thumb. It was gray, like pewter or something."

Officer Markson nodded. "That was Tanner. He didn't make it. We lost about twenty-five of the guards and a dozen staff."

"What?" I covered my mouth.

(Edit)

Aspen.

I prayed that he was safe. I'd been so consumed last night, it hadn't occurred to me to worry. And I am worried now. I still care so deeply about Aspen and it doesn't feel so long ago that I buried his brother. I don't want to bury him too.

(Cass)

"What about my parents? The other Elite?"

"All fine, sir. Your mother has been hysterical though."

"Is she out yet?" We started moving, Maxon leading the way.

"Everyone is. We missed a few of the small safe rooms and were doing a second sweep, hoping to find you and Lady America."

"Oh, God," Maxon said. "I'll go to her first." But then he stopped dead in his tracks.

I followed his eyes and saw the destruction. That same line, the one from last time, was scrawled across the wall.

WE'RE COMING

Over and over, by any means they could find, the warning covered the halls. Beyond that, the level of destruction was elevated yet again. I'd never seen what the rebels managed to do to the first floor, only to the hallways near my room. Huge stains in the carpet announced where someone, perhaps a helpless maid or fearless guard, had died. Windows were shattered, leaving jagged teeth of glass in their place.

Lights were broken, some flickering as they refused to give up. Terrifyingly, there were massive gouges in the walls; and it made me wonder if they had seen people going into the safe rooms, if they had been hunting. How close were Maxon and I to death last night?

"Miss?" a guard said, bringing me back to the moment. "We've taken the liberty of contacting all the families. It appears the attack on Lady Natalie's family was a direct attempt to end the Selection. They're targeting your relatives to get you to leave."

(edit)

I covered my mouth. I suspected that was the case, but I wanted to believe otherwise. I would have to look at the reports three times closer now.

(Cass)

"We're already sending palace guards out to protect them. The king was adamant that none of the girls should go."

"What if they want to?" Maxon challenged. "We can't hold them here against their will."

"Of course, sir. You'll need to speak with the king." The guard seemed embarrassed, not quite sure how to handle the difference of opinions.

(Edit)

"You won't have to guard my family long," I said, hoping to break some tension. "I'll likely be eliminated within the hour."

The guard's eyes flickered between Maxon and me, looking to confirm that was true Maxon simply nodded once before asking. "Is my mother in her room?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell her I'm coming. You're dismissed."

We were alone again.

Maxon took my hand in his. "I'm still going to fight for you America but…"

"I know." I replied simply.

Maxon continued on. "You'll stay in your current room for now, but once things calm down you'll most likely be moved to officer quarters. Take your time to say good-bye to your maids and any of the girls if you want. You might still see them around, but it will be far less frequent."

I smiled. "I will."

Maxon wet his lips, almost fidgeting. This was it. We were just friends again.

"I am sure we'll have a meeting later." Maxon shook his head. "We didn't see so much coming."

I looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Why are you sorry?"

I shrugged, "Part of me feels like I am supposed to be this secret weapon. But then things like this happen. Things I never saw coming and I feel...helpless."

He pulled me in for a hug. "On the contrary you are a secret weapon. But no weapon, regardless of its power, can fix all the problems alone. And no one would expect you to." Part of me wondered if this was going to be the last time we would touch. Once he's married it wouldn't really be appropriate.

He kissed me on the forehead and we locked eyes. "See you later." I softly spoke and we turned our separate ways.

(Cass)

Each step up the main stairwell was torture, both because of what I had left and what I feared was coming. What if I rang the bell and Lucy didn't come? Or Mary? Or Anne? What if I looked at every face of every guard I passed and not a single one was Aspen's?

I made my way to the second floor, passing destruction at every turn. It was still recognizable, the most beautiful place I'd ever seen, even in ruins. But the time and money it would take to restore this was beyond my imagination. The rebels were very thorough. As I got closer to my room, I heard the distinct sound of crying. Lucy.

I let out a breath, happy she was alive but terrified of what was making her cry. I braced myself and turned the corner into my room.

Working with red faces and swollen eyes, Mary and Anne were collecting the shattered glass from the doors to my balcony. I watched as Mary had to stop midsweep to exhale and calm herself. In a corner, Lucy was weeping into Aspen's chest.

"Shh," he said, comforting her. "They'll find her, I know it."

I was so relieved, I burst into tears. "You're okay. You're all okay."

Aspen let out a huge sigh, his tight shoulders slumping as they relaxed.

"My lady?" Lucy said. A second later she was running for me. Not too far behind, Mary and Anne came, enveloping me in hugs.

"Oh, this isn't proper," Anne said as she held me.

"For goodness' sake, give it a rest," Mary retorted.

And we were so happy to be alive and safe that we laughed about it all.

Behind them, Aspen stood, watching with a quiet smile, so clearly grateful to see me there.

"Where were you? They looked everywhere." Mary pulled me over to the bed to sit, though it was a terrible mess, with the comforter shredded, the pillows stabbed and leaking feathers.

"In one of the safe rooms they missed. Maxon's okay, too," I said.

"Thank God," Anne said.

(edit)

"Don't you worry about a thing," Anne said. "We'll get this room fixed up in no time, and we have a fantastic new dress once you're ready. And we can—"

"That won't be necessary. I'm being eliminated. I'll put on something simple."

"What?" Mary gasped. "But why?"

I shrugged. "It didn't work out. But I am staying in the castle on other business." I looked up at Aspen but was unable to read his face. All I could see was relief that I was alive.

"I really thought it would be you," Lucy said. "From the start. And after everything you said last night … I can't believe you're going home."

"That's very sweet, but it'll be all right. From here on out, anything you can do to help Kriss, please do that. For me."

"Of course," Anne said.

"Anything for you," Mary seconded.

Aspen cleared his throat. "Ladies, maybe you could give me a moment. I need to go over some security measures." he didn't give a better excuse. He probably didn't have one. "Anne, maybe you could go get some fresh towels and things. She's still a lady. Mary, some food?" They both nodded. "And Lucy, do you need to rest?"

"No!" she cried, standing tall. "I can work."

Aspen smiled. "Very well."

On their way out Mary asked, "Is it still improper for us to hug?" looking at me and then Anne.

"Who cares?" she said, and they crowded around me one last time.

"Take care of yourselves."

"You, too, miss," Mary said.

"You were always a lady," Anne added.

They stepped away, but Lucy held on. "Thank you," she breathed, and I could tell she was crying. "I'll miss you."

"I'll still see you around the castle. You just won't be my maids."

I smiled at them as they left. Aspen walked over, and I stood to face him. "I thought you were dead. I thought I'd lost you."

"Not today," I smiled weakly. Now that I saw how bad it was, the only way to stay calm was to joke about it.

"Mer, the caste thing. And all the eights. I had no idea about that… You're crazy, you know that?"

"Oh, I know." I looked at the ground, thinking over all the insanity of the last day.

"So Maxon kicked you out because of that?"

I sighed. "Not exactly. The king's the one sending me home. If Maxon proposed to me this very second, it wouldn't matter. The king says no, so I'm going."

"Oh," he said simply. "It's going to be strange with you not being an Elite."

"I know," I said with a sigh. "But I'll be more inline with the workers level which will probably be better for me anyway."

"Well we can go back to dating. And even get married now that Maxon isn't in the way."

"Aspen," I cut him off. "We're still broken up."

He stepped back, offended. "So, what, do you not want to see me anymore?"

"I want to be friends, Aspen, I really do. But if being friends means you can't move on…."

"I love you." He said, taking a deep breath. Before I could cut him off he spoke again. "But not just romantically. If the only way I can love you is as a friend, then I'll have to make that work."

"Thank you," I whispered. "Stay safe. Don't be a hero, Aspen."

He stepped away, giving me a nod but no word and made his way to the door.

I stood there for a long time, not sure what to do with myself, waiting for the cue to start my life as an advisor.

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