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.

…. …. ….. …...

Author's note: Thank you guys for getting me over 125 comments! I know a lot of them are because you guys are made at me right now, but I'll take it. There's only 3 more chapters and an epilogue to go, please stick with the story. (Also a btw for those of you asking for things in the comment the story is already done, just not all posted :) )

…. …. …...…. ….

(edit)

CHAPTER 35

I AWOKE ONCE AGAIN IN MAXON'S arms. It seems like we've been doing that a lot lately, and it's definitely something I could get used to. I rolled over and caught his eyes.

"Were you watching me sleep?" I asked softly.

"That depends. What do you want the answer to be?" He joked. We kissed lightly. "You are so beautiful My America."

I traced my hand down his chest and leaned in again, but Maxon stopped it. "Actually my love, we have to go to breakfast and I have to talk to Celeste and Kriss." I wasn't sure how Maxon was handling these conversations, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

Even though she had been eliminated Elise was still with us, and none of us were completely sure why until in the late afternoon when the women's room opened to girls shrieking in delight.

I got glimpses of the faces flashing by: Tiny, Tuesday, Oliva, Anna, Zoe. We ran over to them hugging. Maids followed bringing liquor and snacks. We were all trying to catch up with everyone at once, it was utter chaos, but beautiful chaos.

"What are you doing here?" Elise asked Natalie, the two girls in a hug.

"Maxon brought us back for the final announcement!" She sounded so excited. "So do you guys know who it's going to be?" She was looking right at me, clearly hoping for confirmation. The rest of the girls all quieted down and gathered around Kriss, Celeste, and I. We looked at each other, not sure how much the others knew.

Finally it was Ceselte that spoke up. "No, we don't know who it will be."

They looked shocked. "Isn't it America?" Janelle insured. "I mean he went on National TV and said he wanted to choose her."

"It's more complicated than that." I replied simply, I still needed to work on that speech. "It'll all be clear tomorrow, but for now let's celebrate." They seemed to accept that as an answer and broke open the liquor. Good thing too because I think I would break down again if I had to try and explain it unprepared.

Celeste brought me a glass, "Drink!" she insisted and I obliged. The girls caught up, shared stories, told everyone about their fiances, and drank the day away.

As the sun began to set Kriss dragged Celeste and I away. "No matter what happens tomorrow, let's promise to be happy for each other." Her smile was radiating, but I could see in her eyes, she didn't really want to win. Winning wouldn't mean Maxon's heart, just the crown, and she knew it.

"Always." Celeste promised.

"As long as you are happy I am happy." I finished and we all hugged. Tomorrow would end in one bride. Looking into their eyes I knew neither of them would say no, but neither knew who they wanted it to be. Kriss made sense to me, but I never thought Celeste would have an inkling of a second thought about taking the crown. However, I knew Celeste would take the crown in stride.

Kriss and Celeste went back to celebrate with the other girls, but I dismissed myself to my room, I had a speech to write.

"My dearest citizens of Illea. I know for many of you Maxon's choice may come as a surprise, and many may be quick to point fingers at King Clarkson. However, I can assure you he is not the reason I will not be your queen.

I have promised to fight for you since long before I was selected. It has been my life's dedication. Whilst for a while I believed I could best fight for you as a princess, it is clear there is another way I that is far superior. I would be remorsed not to take it.

I value the lives of each citizen more than I can express. I love you just for being a person and believe that alone gives you the right to live a full life. It's those beliefs that lead me to tell Prince Maxon not to choose me.

It was not a choice I made out of lack of love to him, but abundance of love for all of you. There are some things more important than love. You, are more important than love. So I will fight for you every single day, yet from the shadows.

Your princess will do a wonderful job on the hand of Prince Maxon. I fully support them, as should you."

King Clarkson looked up from the paper, "It's good." and handed it back to me.

Last night was lonely without Maxon, I wonder if he felt the same way? I wonder if not being married with him will prevent me from spending every night by his side. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

I took a deep breath and walked into the Great Room. While it was packed to the brim with people it never felt more empty. There was a slightly raised platform. The King and The Queen sat on one side while Celeste, Maxon, Kriss, and I sat at a seperate table on the other side. Garvil was patrolling the room giving the cameramen instruction. I looked down and saw all the selected girls with Natalie and Elise waving at us. In the back of the room I saw August and Georgia in clean clothes, blending in well. On the other side in the back middle all saw all fifteen advisors, of course they would be here. None of the Garden Gremlins were here, and why would they be? Maxon wasn't choosing me.

Something else caught my eye, many of the guards looked poorly focused, and I didn't recognize some of them. A feeling pitted in my stomach: guards had been going missing, the southern rebels had pretended to be guards before...This was an ambush, but I had to be sure.

I excused myself in a way I made look natural, and greeted many of the guests on the way to the advisors.

"Lady America, you look beautiful as always." Cane greeted.

I tried to smile, but failed and just jumped into it. "I haven't seen any of the reports for four days. And I need to confirm. Was there odd stilling in rebel behavior in the lower south, some increased rebel sighting in Angelous without increased attacks, and additional guards going missing."

Lord Stick-Up-His-Butt Billsworth cut in, "Lady America this isn't the appropriate time to be talking about such matters, besides you were taken out of the loop for a reason."

But reading the urgency in my eyes Junespring ignored him. "Yes there has been all of that, America what's going on."

"Look natural. The southern rebels are disguised as guards. The guards that have been going missing were killed for their uniforms. Do not run, do not draw attention, you need to blend and make it seem like nothing is wrong." I instructed. "General. Can you recognise who, and who are not, your men?"

"I can identify many of them. We have new people cycle through that I never get to meet so I can not be certain of who is not. I will alert the guards we know to the situation. No one say a word of this to guards you are not 150% sure you recognize or any civilians." They nodded. "We need to start slowly evacuating." The general gave a few more orders and the plan was in place.

I walked back towards the table, on the way stopping by the selected girls. I whispered to Natalie, "I need you to stay calm, trust, me and follow my lead." She nodded, "Guide the selected girls to the safe room down the stairs on the left, then across the hallway. The activation is by pressing the brick to the left of the pillar and third up from the ground. If you cannot activate the door get as deep into the castle as possible." Her eyes got a bit wide. "Natalie I need you to look calm, tact, and not alert anyone to anything being wrong. And don't trust the guards." She nodded and I addressed the selected. "Girls, did you ever get to see the surprise room? Oh it's glorious, and would be a real shame if you didn't get to see it. We still have a while until Maxon is going to make his selection, Natalie can show you!" I sounded just excited enough that all the girls giggled their way out. Looking like nothing more than a bunch of teenage girls poorly sneaking out.

I pulled Elise aside, she was undoubtedly confused because there is no surprise room, just a poor lie I came up with. I gave Elise similar instructions, but to a different safe room, and approached a table of elite scholars.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all. This is Elise Whisks, as I am sure you all know. We are unfortunately a bit delayed in starting, but we didn't want to bore any of our honored guests. Elise was kind enough to offer to show you to some of our pristine libraries. Don't worry you'll be back in plenty of time for the engagement announcement." They seemed excited to see the library, and Elise, always the picture of poise, gave them no reason to believe they were going elsewhere.

By the time I made it back up the platform we had excused about an eighth of the room. It wasn't enough to be noticeable yet. I stopped by the king and queen's table. Deep in a cursy I whispered to them. "There are rebels in here. The royal family cannot leave yet or it will alert them and they will start their attack. We are starting to evacuate the guests. Remain calm."

Of course their faces showed no no outward change, but when the king addressed me his voice was harsh and quiet. "Maxon needs to leave. We cannot risk the royal bloodline."

"If Maxon tries to leave they would shoot him faster than we could get him out. Do you really think I want Maxon in here?" I know after my outburst a few days ago the queen had no doubt I didn't, and I think, at least to an extent, the king knew I didn't too.

He nodded and I walked towards my seat slowing down as I passed by one guard I could always trust, "The rebels are dressed as guards, be ready to fight." Aspen caught a quick glance of my eyes to confirm he heard and surveyed the room.

I returned to the table. I looked natural the whole time, but Maxon could always see through that. He bent down to me and acted almost as if he was about to whisper something dirty in my ear, but instead asked, "What's wrong."

I responded with a little smile then whispered to his ear, "The rebels are going to attack. They are dressed as guards. Stay calm, we are evacuating people."

He laughed a forced chuckle then whispered to me, "I want you to leave."

I covered my mouth like Maxon said something funny before finding his ear, "They think you're choosing me. I can't leave. We need to look natural."

He smiled at me, eyes full of love and fear, "I don't like this America, it feels risky."

I matched his expression and whispered back, "We're already in the room. Now we have to play the game. It'll be okay. We need Ceslete to guide a group out though. I doubt anyone thinks she will be chosen so it won't draw attention. We need two finalists to stay at the table, so Kriss and I will sit here."

He gave me a look that I knew was the equivalent as a nod and I gave Celeste her instructions. She took her task on with the elegance of a queen guiding a group of celebrities she knew out.

I scanned the back of the room finding Georgia's eyes. The conversation, encoded in the quick connection we made, was subtle enough no one else would notice. I could tell she noticed something was up. I glanced to the guards and she whispered something to August. He caught my eye too and nodded. They excused themselves, though I have a feeling they weren't quite as surprised by this as we were, I hope they had a plan.

About half the guests were evacuated when some of the guards pulled out a red handkerchief and tied it to their foreheads. The real guards immediately began to usher the king and queen out. I saw a rebel guard lift it's gun up and point it directly at Kriss. I tackled her and the bullet whooshed past her head.

The battle begins.

... ... ... …

America caught some of it. How will this change how the battle goes down?

New Story: I just posted the first chapter of another selection Fanfic that is very different from these, but in the same alternate universe. At the end of book 2 I went back forth between kicking America out of the selection before deciding against it. Buuuuut I did it anyways, and decided to have some fun with it. This story isn't filled with the cute little Maxon and America scenes like this one it, it's much more torchered and is rated M for s*xtual themes, but there isn't s*x in it.

It's called the Junior Advisor, and if it's something you may like you should check it out! (It does not have one a day updates like this story and I'm currently only on chapter 4 writing wise, which does have the added effect of your comments influencing the story direction *gasp*)

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