A/N

emmary1444: You're so kind! Thank you so much!

prnamber3909: Always makes me smile when I see you've reviewed. Thanks for continuing to read. :)

waterpolo3: Hmmm. Maxon did beat up his bro-in-law in the car on the way over, so we know he boiled over at least once… I'm really enjoying writing this story, so it makes me a little sad knowing that eventually it will end. It has to…but, hopefully you will enjoy the wrap up? :)

Strike OOO: Thanks! :)

Totalbooknerd 13: Accurate emotional depiction. I totally agree!

agb1700: Wow! What a review. Thank you so much! Any ideas for a sequel that are different than Calix having his own Selection? (There are so many good eldest son/daughter Selection stories going on right now…) Hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Theoneforever: Believable that Clarkson had that streak in him, yes? Thank goodness for Stavros! :)

maxamericalove: Thank you for your kind words. Yes, this is from my brain, but I feel like KC laid the perfect groundwork for it…if only she were going to do a 4th book! I bounce ideas off my SO to make sure they follow the story line… The disc was left for America and Maxon by Stavros. It shows Clarkson giving the signal that starts the carnage during the rebel attack where both sovereigns are killed. (The end of The One.) When the palace is attacked during Calix and Abrielle's birthday party, they had just picked up Bariel for questioning regarding Bonita and her involvement. The palace is attacked in a rescue attempt. She's a Loyalist. The key ring is Stavros'. I explain that a bit more in the next chapter. Hope it makes sense! :)

GUEST: Ummmm, maybe more than 10. They will be long enough to tie up the story. :)

guest: All good things, right? But seriously, thanks for the compliment. See my response to agb1700's comment. Hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

jthornestudent: So glad to see you're back! I look forward to your reviews. Thank you so much, and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. :)

Phew, long A/N, but for good reason. Your feedback makes my day! I hope you all enjoy this next installment. Happy reading! -SJ

Maxon doesn't slow his pace, even as I take three steps to every one of his. His head faces forward, stiff, and his shoulders are tense as he practically drags me along. We whip by the guards, ignoring their greetings and nods and puzzled expressions. I am grateful when he comes to a small office at the end of the hall, currently unoccupied, and apparently used as a conference room. He sweeps me in and lets the door slam behind him, as he drops my elbow. He collapses into a chair, and I lean against the wall trying to catch my breath.

Stavros' keys. Kota had Stavros' keys. Stavros died in a locked safe room and my brother had his keys. My brother killed a man in my home—and not just any man. He killed the man who provided protection to my husband for god knows how long. Protection that extended to me and our children. What else did he do? Give the Southern rebels access? My heart drops when I think of all the time he spent with the children, and how he might have just as easily killed Calix as help him to a safe room.

As my pulse returns to normal, I open my mouth to speak. Before I can, Maxon waves my words away with a hand. Instead, he opens his arms to me, pushing his chair back from the table. I accept his invitation, sitting across his legs and resting against his shoulder. He wraps his arms around me and leans his head against mine. It is then that I realize how exhausted I am. I would give anything to shut my eyes and pretend the last two days never happened.

Maxon finally speaks, "Soon, love. We'll know everything soon."

"I know," I can't help but sigh. "I didn't think Kota was dangerous, Maxon. I would have never let him so close."

"We both put on our blinders when it comes to family." His laugh is humorless, "I'm the one who thought my father might possibly have some fondness for his only son."

"It was his loss," I kiss his cheek. "It was always his loss." I get restless and stand, and then almost immediately take a seat next to him. I let myself reflect on the truth of the statement. My emotions are raw but I keep pushing them aside; he still hasn't seen the footage. Didn't see his father use our signal to order our deaths. Cause the loss of so much life. And for what? To keep a stranglehold on the necks of the people he was sworn to protect. After a moment, I redirect my thoughts. "So, what do we do now?"

"Now we connect the dots." Maxon grabs a legal pad and pen from the middle of the table, drawing a line down the center of the top sheet of paper and labeling one side 'Bariel' and the other 'Kota.'

We brainstorm, filling in both sides of the sheet with people, places, and events. The result is a very rough double timeline. "Besides that they both preferred the company of Twos, and Bariel commissioned a sculpture, the only other commonality is France?" I examine the paper and glance up at Maxon.

"Well, it's all we have to go on right now," shrugs Maxon, as serious as I have ever seen him. "How and where they met is probably less important than what they've done with their time since. Hopefully, Aspen will have some additional information to add soon."

"You won't really have them killed," I state, even though it is more of a question.

Maxon doesn't answer, and I don't press him. With everything at stake, I'm not sure what we wouldn't do. The silence is broken by a sharp knock at the door. Aspen enters without waiting for a signal. I look quickly at my watch. It's barely been an hour since we left the questioning room.

"What's the difficulty?" Maxon asks crisply.

"No difficulty, Your Majesty." He hands Maxon a sheaf of paper. "No difficulty at all. They sang, and you won't believe their tune."

"Do I want to ask how you got this information?" I look at Aspen with wide eyes, and Maxon motions a quick 'no.'

But Aspen ignores him. "It was surreal, actually. I just took off my jacket and unplugged the closed circuit cameras. They were more than happy to tell me everything they knew. Brave. Not a word that describes either of them."

"How do we know this information is accurate, then?" Maxon demands.

"Neither one is willing to give their life to their cause. Unlike their friend from the attack. That one was dedicated. We didn't get anything from him because we missed the pouch with his suicide pill."

Maxon and I lose ourselves in the written confessions, looking up when we finish.

"What are they hoping to gain? Treason is punishable by death, and they've condemned themselves." I agree with the finality of Maxon's statement. I am pale and drawn, reading the intricate plan that connected Bariel, Kota, and Didasko. The plan that crossed years and countries and continents. Hard to believe the vendetta was initiated by a school-girl crush on a handsome, blonde-haired boy. Something so innocent and sweet can easily be twisted by the right mind and an adequate dose of bitterness.

"They wish to see you both, when you are willing, before they are sentenced. They believe they can help you get a confession from the top, but only in exchange for their lives." Aspen stands at attention, waiting our response.

Maxon cocks his head to the side, considering the request.

For some reason, that is my breaking point. The rage that flows through my body can barely be contained. "How dare they ask for anything more than their last meal," I hiss. I am not yelling, but from the reaction of two of the people that know me best, the words share the fury I feel.

"Love."

"No! No, no." I stand, and begin to pace around the table. Being with Maxon all this time, I am beginning to pick up some of his habits. The words rush out of my mouth, spilling into the air. I have been holding back for so long. "Not this time. You read the confession as well as I did! My own brother, who was living in our home, playing with our children, manipulating our sympathies and sense of family duty, conspired with a foreign ruler to murder those closest to us. To endanger our children! To reverse our social advances. To subvert our rule. Read between the lines in the confession, men. My brother would have let Didasko have me."

I lean forward, emphasizing my point by pressing my palms into the tabletop. "Kota did have a gun, just like Georgia said. And I bet he can shoot as well with his left hand as he can write with his left hand." My breath hitches audibly in my throat, and I gesture stiffly toward the stack of paper in front of my husband. My voice is barely above a whisper as I continue, "My brother allowed me to be pulled unarmed from a safe room in front of my four children. In front of our entire family. My brother was content to stand by and let me die. Because it might mean his power and prestige could overshadow our own. Because it might mean he would become Daphne's One." I draw a breath, and exhale the rest in one utterance, "And, my brother can burn for it."