We are almost at the finish line! Are you ready for the next chapter? Hope you like it!

America POV:

3 Months Later

We were in the gardens. Hidden behind the drapes of a willow tree. She munched on a cracker listening to Maxon talk about the bores of court. She smiled as he avidly described the 'Gray Advisor' as he called him. She hadn't said a word.

She didn't mind. He was getting back to normal. She felt less guilty and less pain. Though she wished she could kiss him she couldn't risk it. The King didn't seem to mind. And Kriss didn't seem to know. She had also gone out of her way to prove her loyalty to the crown. And though her heart hurt every time she yelled at someone in front of him, she did it.

But later, she would always seek them out and apologize.

But now, watching Maxon. It was always worth it. The King thought she was 'knocking him into sense' and he must've changed his tune in court, because the King though she was doing a great job. He stopped talking, looking up at her. He smiled.

" I must be boring you," she shrugged.

" I have nothing to talk about. My life, though it may seem so, isn't that interesting."

" Oh please, you simply must tell me the great adventures of Lady Mia Calix." She smiled mischievously.

" Well, if you insist," she sighed brushing her hands off on her apron and standing. " Well, it all began when I turned 10. This seer of my village came to our house one day and said," She made her voice deep, and thrust her chest out as she presumed a man would, " Your daughter, has a great gift. She must come train with us.' So I went with him, and I learned how to fight. I was heard throughout the land. So the King called one day, he said 'You must come and protect my stubborn son'. And so I did, and I befriended the kind Prince. And that is where I am now, " he clapped enthusiastically laughing.

" I didn't know you thought..so highly of me, Lady Mia," he said between guffaws.

" Why of course, Your Majesty," she bowed. He laughed as she sat down again, proud at making him laugh.

" Do you want dessert?"

" Is that even a question," she joked. He opened the basket setting out a cake and a pile of tarts. Her eyes landed on the tarts, and she gasped. Before he could say a word or move, she grabbed the tart and started to wolf down the tart. It had been forever since she had had one. She froze when she realized what she was doing.

But when she looked up, there was no recognition in his expression. Only sadness. She wondered who he was thinking of. Was it her? No, not her. America. Not Mia. America. She smiled softly at him. Mia was his friend. America was his lover. She had to keep America away, or everyone she loved would be in danger.

" You remind me of someone," he whispered.

" Is it America," she asked. The words slipped out of her mouth, before she could stop him. He looked at her surprised. She rolled her eyes.

" The entire nation saw the Selection, Max." He laughed uncomfortably. " Right."

" I am sorry, for your loss." He looked at her, his eyes were shining with something she couldn't place.

" They say loss, but when they say it, it means something different to me. She feels lost. Not gone from the world, but lost. As if she's still here. Still watching me. They...they never found anything to prove that she dead. And sometimes….I wonder…." He looked off. She didn't know what to say? What could you say. Oh, yeah, you're right. She's alive, but she can't reveal herself to you or else your father will kill the ones she loves and make you life miserable.

That would go over so great.

So instead she nodded smiling sullenly. Suddenly, he longful expression turned into glee and he clapped his hands together.

" Well," he sighed, his eyes still held pain, but there was less now, " My birthday is coming up. I want you to come. To my birthday ball."

" A...a ball?"

" Of course, it'll be a bore. But at least you'll be there." He looked at her hopefully, excitement dancing behind his eyes. It made him so happy. She couldn' t hurt him more.

" Alright, fine," she sighed, " But I want more tarts."

" I'll tell the chefs to make platters full just for you." he laughed. She nodded.

" Well, I must be going, my father will be looking for me," he stood, and she stood along with him. Then before she could stop him, he wrapped his arms around her. She froze. Then wrapped her arms around him.

" Thank you," he whispered. His words made her want to cry. She missed him so much. She wanted to be able to love him again, to kiss him. She wanted him to look at her like she was America, his one, not Mia, his friend. He pulled away smiling. Then without another word he was gone.

Maxon POV:

His father had called his to his office. Before Mia had come, this would usually lead to a beating. But now, his father only called him with a task. It wasn't great, but it wasn't a beating.

He knocked on his father's door, letting himself in. He immediately regretted it when he saw the look on his father's face. He looked angry. He hadn't done anything. He wanted to run, to rush out of the room. But his feet were frozen to the ground.

" I saw you hug, Mia," he started, gliding his hand across his desk, towards his favorite belt. His shoulders tensed. " You have a wife."

" A fiancee. And she is just a friend."

" She may know that, but are you sure," he turned to his son, eyes glowing with hatred, " You know that?"

" I won't love anyone else. She is a friend, she cares for me and nothing else." The King grinned, as if about to tell a joke. But Maxon knew, that this joke would only be fun for him.

" She doesn't care for you. I hired her to watch you. She gets paid to be your friend, she doesn't care. But it looks good on her resume. That she protected the Prince."

" That's not true," he said, his resolution breaking.

" Is it?" Was it? Of course, he was the Prince. He had a wife, it made sense. Right? He fell to his knees. Why was it that every time someone built him up, someone knocked him down? He was gone inside. Mia had betrayed him. Everyone had betrayed him. Everyone was gone.

He heard the crack of a belt behind him. Crack! It hit him across the back. He fell forward. He didn't feel the pain. The world was gone. He was broken again, and this time. There was no fixing him. He was forever a fragment. A piece. A pawn for his father to use. He was nothing.

" No one will ever love you, Maxon. America is gone forever. You will marry Kriss, and I will always be here."

One….two…..three…..Darkness.

America POV:

She hadn't seen Maxon since he had her invited her to the ball. She supposed it was because he was busy. King Clarkson had assigned her to something else, saying that his son did not need another guard.

She sighed as she bent down to smell a flower. It was beautiful. A peony. Her sister's favorite flower. She smiled. Her sister. She wondered how her family was doing, now that they were Threes. Was Gerad a star soccer play, she had no doubt she was going to see him in the news again.

She looked up at the glittering towers, when something caught her attention. There standing on the balcony, she and Maxon had danced on. But no they weren't just standing, they were standing at the very edge. As if about to…..NO!

Her legs were running before she knew what was happening. Heart pounding, legs thumping. No one said anything as she passed. She had to save them. Whoever it was. What would she say? Who was it? What had driven someone to such an extreme? Was it a maid, a guard, she shoved open he door. The person didn't turn around.

But she knew who it was. Her heart stopped as his feet started to move forward. Her throat was closing up, she had to save him. She pushed the words, out of her mouth.

" MAXON!"

What was that? Oh, yes, cliffffhangggeeerrrr! Do you hate me? Don't worry, I'll update soon, though I can't promise anything. I have finals soon. But I'll try to post the next chapter soon. Did you like it anyway? And don't worry, it'll get better. Don't forget to REVIEW and suggest. Love you all!

-alunarselectedreader