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Just 4 chapters left everyone :(
Sorry it took so long to post! I am trying to make them more interesting!
Love Smashleigh
Chapter 46:
America:
"What an adorable little gentleman!" Nicoletta says shaking Alex's hand. But like the suave little eight year old he is, he kisses her knuckles too. Nicoletta howls with laughter. "What a little Romeo he'll be! You better make sure he stays in line America!"
I laugh. "I don't know where he gets it! Maxon? Did you ever have this much of a romantic side?"
He chuckles. "How can I? You were always too feisty for such romance!"
I kiss his cheek and smile. "Well then it seems you've been harboring a secret from me for a while!"
"On the contrary," he says. "I've been a perfect gentleman towards you."
Nicoletta sighs. "Would you two kiss and make up already?"
Maxon happily obliges by kissing me softly on the lips. Alex and Gavin gag while Olivia giggles. Shooting them all a look I kiss Maxon just to be funny.
"Mother! Why do you do that to us?" Olivia asks.
I laugh. "My dear little girl, don't you know how much I love your Father?"
She shakes her head. "No. But Grandmother usually tells me some stories."
Maxon raises an eyebrow. "Does she now? What kind of stories?"
"About your Selection." she responds.
"Speaking of which," Alex says. "What about mine?"
"What about it?" I ask quickly. This boy is only eight and he's already thinking about his Selection? And girls?
"Well I wanna know about it." he says.
"You want to know about it." I correct him. "Alex you have ten years before your own Selection. Gavin has eleven."
"Do I get one?" Olivia asks.
I give her an apologetic look. "No darling. And neither will little Rebecca. You both are royal princesses who will be married to someone we pick."
"I wasn't talking about Rebecca! She's only four, but I'm eight!" Olivia says.
"Watch your tone young lady." Maxon warns. "But your Mother's right. Rules are rules."
Olivia huffs and pouts. Slouching in her chair she crosses her arms over her chest. Even with both Maxon and I staring disapprovingly at her she doesn't budge.
"Olivia can you go upstairs, please? We'll discuss your behavior later." I tell her.
She stands and makes a show of dusting off her little pink gown. After stalling and dipping a very quick curtsy she marches out of the room with her head held high. Alex and Gavin stare down at the carpet, making sure not to make eye contact with either of us. I sigh and drop my head in my hands. Great. Now I was the bad guy.
Maxon wraps an arm around my shoulders. "It's alright." he whispers. "She'll come around."
"Will she?" I ask softly. "It seems I just pushed her even further away."
He kisses my head and wraps the other arm around me. "Trust me. She will."
Olivia:
"Okay, stay here and count to ten!" I exclaim turning Alex around to face the tree.
He pouts. "How come I've gotta count first? It's never been you!"
"Just count!" I order and run away.
He sighs. "Fine…One…Two…Three…"
I watch Gavin and Rebecca as she runs on her little legs toward the palace gardens holding hands with Gavin. Gavin has to slouch a bit to grab her small hand. I run in the opposite direction towards the kitchen. On my way there I stumble and try to catch myself but a hand supports my elbow. I look up quickly to see a boy slightly older than me. His warm blue eyes look down at me. "Are you alright?"
I stand quickly and smooth out my dress. Peeking at him through my eyelashes I study him. He's obviously one of the kitchen lads. His clothes are covered in flour and his blonde hair was matted down with sweat.
"Yes." I finally say, realizing I was staring. "Thank you."
"No problem, Your Highness." he says with a bow of his head.
For some reason the thought of him calling me by my title bugged me. "Please." I say without a second thought. "Call me Olivia."
He shakes his head. "It's too improper. My Mama raised me better."
"I'm sure it'd be alright! How 'bout only in private?" I tried persuading him.
"Sorry ma'am but I think this will be the last time we meet." he said firmly.
I stiffened. "Oh. Alright then."
Turning on my heel I walked away from him. Not two steps away he grabbed my elbow and turned me around. I tilted my head up to look at him. He studied my face for a second and opened his mouth to say something. But Alex cut him off!
"Sam! What are you doing with my older sister?" he teased.
Realizing we were standing a little close I took a small step back. Alex came over to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I looked at Sam, now thankful for Alex knowing him, his mouth was opening and closing but no words came out.
"Come on, Olivia. Mother told me to find you quickly because we have guest." Alex said pulling me away.
I glanced back at Sam who was staring at his shoes. I never even got to say goodbye…
America:
"I hate when your Mother invites them over." I tell Maxon while we get ready for dinner. "I mean sure we never told her about them trying to kill us and all…"
He silences me with a kiss and I look at him. "Darling we still need to have an alliance with France and Spain. Ever since Fredrick took the throne, Spain hasn't been a very strong ally. France only remains our ally through Daphne's parents and the King's health is rapidly declining."
"But she invited their son, even though Olivia has some sort of crush on him, I don't like him." I say.
"Please just be polite." he pleads. "We don't need any more wars since the one in New Asia ended last year."
Looping my arms through his I nod. "I'll be nice but I still don't like them."
"Remember not to stress yourself either." Maxon warns me.
I gasp. "How did you know?! I told no one!"
"I can feel it in my bones love." he told me. "You wouldn't think I can feel what you feel? Remember what I told you? When you cry, I cry. When you're happy, I'm happy. Also you were throwing up last week and I was awake."
I shoved him playfully. "I knew it was too good to be true!"
He kissed my forehead as we reached the last stair. Standing in the Foyer was Daphne and Fredrick with their son, who was hugging my daughter rather tenderly. I took a moment to take in his appearance. He inherited his Father's dark skin and eyes, but he has his Mother's dark, dull hair. Don't get me wrong, he was a handsome child, but I cannot accept him because of his parents.
"Hello Daphne. Fredrick." Maxon said with false kindness. "We're glad to see you back in Illeá."
Fredrick bowed and Daphne dipped a shallow curtsy, eyeing me spitefully. Hasn't she let it go after eight years? I wasn't going anywhere now! And Maxon would never remarry!
Nodding my head to both of them I placed both hands on Olivia's shoulders. Her attention was on the lad waiting by the door though. I recognized him as Marlee's son immediately. Her and I have been trying to arrange a meeting for them but never had time. Apparently they've already met. Olivia couldn't take her eyes off him.
"Darling won't you welcome our guest?" I asked her softly.
She quickly turned her attention to them and curtsied. Her eyes now roamed to Elijah – Eli for short – and she studied him before returning her gaze to the other boy. Maxon noticed too and motioned him over quickly. After a short exchange he turned a cold face to me.
"Won't you make yourselves comfortable in the Parlor and we'll join you in just a moment." I tell them nudging Olivia towards the door.
"Of course." Fredrick said sweetly, guiding Olivia the rest of the way. I stiffened when he placed a hand on her shoulder.
I quickly ignored it and joined Maxon in the downstairs study. He was standing with Sam, overlooking a document. Sam waited patiently for him to finish. For a young man he was actually quite bright! I was proud of Marlee for raising such a fine child. But I did not like the way Olivia watched him. She looked ready to lock him up and throw away the key…with her. Sure I'd probably thought the same thing but she's only eight! Maybe it was a bad idea to give our children free rein…
"America?" Maxon asked coming over.
I realized he'd been saying my name for a while now. I shook my head and turned to him. He was close to throwing the paper into the fire, from the looks in his eyes. Swiftly I came over and took the crumbled ball from his hand. Smoothing the creases I ran my fingers over the smudged print. Reaching the last line I gasped. We'd never be safe knowing they'd found their way through all our escape routes. No longer was this a small, tedious group…they were full bloodthirsty animals, ready for war.