AMERICA POV

The pain was excruciating, but I could take it. I had to. I thought of all the times Maxon must have gone through this and my heart broke. It was his pain I couldn't bear. I knew he was right outside the door, going through this with me, and I tried to be strong for him.

"You thought you could come into my house, seduce my son and ruin everything I have worked for?" The king kneeled beside me, close to my face. I was sitting backwards on a chair, leaning over, with my arms rested on its back. He had removed my robe, leaving my back exposed, and seemed to enjoy my embarrassment. In the time we had been in the room, I had told him this was a mistake, that nothing had happened with Maxon. But he didn't seem to care, and I don't think that is what he was punishing me for. I looked at him through tears and spat the words at him, "I don't care what you do. I will marry your son." He stood up, enraged, and lifted the whip as Maxon rammed through the door.

"Let her go," he said, walking towards us. He didn't look at me, but straight to his father. I knew he must be terrified, but at that moment he looked more princely than I had ever seen him before.

Clarkson leaned on the top of the chair I was sitting on. "I was just thinking we needed company in here. Am I right, America?"

I focused on Maxon's eyes as they finally met mine. The pain in them was palpable and he looked back towards his father. He grabbed another chair and moved it towards mine. He sat on it, his back facing the door, and took off his shirt. "My turn," he said steadily. "The two of us can work this out without her."

"Very well," Clarkson said. "But she stays. I would like this memory to stick with her through what is left of her short life."

The thinly veiled threat caught us both off guard, but I knew it was coming. I wasn't going to walk away from this. Maxon, however, launched off his seat. "Fine," he yelled. He took a deep breath and looked into my eyes. "Send her home." He whispered the last word, his face fallen.

"Why would I do that?" Clarkson countered. "I already have what I want."

"I will let you choose," Maxon looked at him. "It doesn't matter who, if Kriss isn't good enough you can bring back one of the others. I will not fight you on this, but she lives."

Clarkson weighed the whip in his hands. I stared at Maxon, who could no longer make eye contact with me and was back in his seat, eyes on the floor. He would give up his own happiness to save my life. But what kind of life would that be without him? I silently begged him to look at me. I didn't want to be saved. I couldn't go back to Carolina alone while I knew he was stuck here with this monster and a wife of his father's choosing.

Clarkson walked behind me. "Agreed," he said as he patted my back in what would have been a friendly action if it weren't for my wounds. I couldn't help crying out and I saw Maxon shake his chair to get his father's attention. "Father," he choked. "Please."

Clarkson looked in his son's direction and I heard a noise catch in his throat. I raised my eyes to see what he was looking at. At the door, hand over her mouth, I saw Queen Amberly. She wasn't looking at the king, but rather down at her son's back, crisscrossed with agonizing scars.

MAXON's POV

I saw my father and America's eyes move to the door, and I knew my last hope plan was in motion. I turned my head and saw my mom's eyes on my back, her eyes filling with tears. I hated hurting her like this, and would have kept this secret to the grave, but she was the only person who I thought could sway my father and protect America.

"Clarkson, what have you done?" My mother said, looking for the first time at America, who sat bleeding on the chair across from me. She walked towards me, running her hands on the scars on my back. I flinched at the touch. "What have I done?" she whispered.

My father dropped the whip and looked at his hand, which was covered in America's blood. He hastily wiped it on his pants and raised his arms towards my mother. "Darling, it looks worse than it is."

She took a step away from him, hatred in her eyes. "Stay away from me," she spat.

My father's eyes became hard. "I caught them in bed together," he said. "A whole room full of guards witnessed it. I was mercifully doling out punishment away from the public's eye."

"And this?" My mother whirled me around, displaying my back for my father to see. "What could have possibly caused all of this," she choked. I knew what she could see. Years of scars, overlapping, angry pink marks at various points of healing. My father stood there, for once not having anything to say. I knew if this didn't end well, I would pay dearly for bringing my mother into our secret. My mother walked over to my father and slapped him, hard. I had never seen her so angry. Still he stood there wordlessly. I knew how devoted he was to her. No matter how much he made me suffer, he had never laid a hand on her before. In fact, I knew that in the past, there were times he would drag me in here to punish me for some unknown crime instead of taking out his frustration with her.

She walked over to America and placed a hand on her cheek. "I am so sorry, my dear. I am so sorry that I didn't protect you or the boy we both love. Every scar on both of your backs is my fault," she said. She handed America a blanket to cover herself with and turned towards the door. For the first time I noticed Officer Leger standing there. I looked up and saw him staring at America, a wild look in his eye. My mother motioned to him, "Please, officer. Take Lady America to the infirmary ward. Discreetly." He started towards America, relief as clear on his face as it was on my own. However this ended, I wanted her away from this room and I knew he would ensure her safety.

"Please," I heard America say faintly, as Officer Leger carefully picked her up off the chair, "I can't leave Maxon."

Before I could say anything, I heard my mother's voice. "I promise, my dear, he will be safe. I will send him to you as soon as you are fixed up." I watched Officer Leger carry her out of the room to safety, and released a sigh of relief. "As for you, husband," my mother turned to my father. "I have had enough of you. I know as king there is nothing I can do to punish you. So if you ever want to speak to me again, you will do as I say. Tomorrow Maxon will announce his engagement as planned, and you will resign your duties. I will not force my son," her voice cracked as she glanced at my back, "to live under the same roof as you. You will retire to the coast and will never see him again without his permission." Her voice sounded strained, "I have always loved you endlessly, but I don't know if I can forgive this. However, with your promise that my son is safe, I will visit you when I am ready, and we can discuss what future we have left."

My father's eyes were soft, as they were whenever he looked at her. "I'm so sorry, Amberly, I thought I was doing what was best for him, for us."

They stared at each other until she was satisfied she had won. "Leave," she commanded quietly. He stalked out of the room, pushing past me without a second glance.

And with that I collapsed into my chair, the same chair over which I had been tortured for years. The tension left my body and I let a single tear escape, knowing it was finally over.