Where do you get your quotes from? - Pinterest! I have so many pins it's ridiculous. last I checked I think I'm up to 2.2k! Whoops.
What's your favorite Disney princess? - Oh my gosh, I hate this question because I love Ariel, Belle, Mulan and Pocahontas all equally. I can connect with all of them on so many levels; I just never know which one I love the most!
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary futures." - C.S. Lewis
"King Maxon and Queen America presented the country with the exciting news of an imminent change in the caste formatting but have yet to deliver. Instead, we experienced what seemed to be a bungle of judgment within the seemingly happy couple and we now must question; how credible are our laws and what kind of message does this send from the palace? A miscommunication pointing to our happy couple perhaps experiencing marital issues? Or perhaps our king and queen have simply forgotten how to rule a country," Kota read, squinting at the small print of the paper.
Kenna rolled her eyes from her spot on the chaise in America's study. "Where do they come up with this stuff? It was an honest mistake."
America sighed and turned in the mirror, looking at her new dress from different angles. "It's their job to make something out of nothing. Ken," she called, turning to her sister. "Does this color make me look splotchy?"
"Ames, that is an excellent color on you."
She shook her head and walked over to the rack of dresses. "No, I'll wear the white, pink and gold one," she decided, pulling it out and setting it aside for her maids to make final adjustments. "The best thing you can do is just ignore it."
"Jesus Ames, these reporters are questioning your power."
"And they won't question it anymore. Especially since Sawyer paid them a lovely visit this morning to remind them that they do not have freedom of the presses yet." She stopped to think for a few moments. "Maybe I'll cut that out of this constitution."
Kenna nodded in agreement. "I like the idea of regulating what people say about me."
America sighed. "No, we can't take away that right. I'll just have to put up with it and give them as little ammo as possible."
Kota picked at the fruit tray sitting on her desk. He was seated in her large leather chair, the newspaper sitting in his lap. "Or make yourself so scary they wouldn't dare to cross you like that again," he suggested, staring at a grape. "Would it be crazy if I just painted a giant picture of a grape?"
"Only if you're not a fruitarian which, last time I checked, is a vast majority of the population," Kenna told him, picking up a cherry. "Ames, are you sure you're okay with us not going to this ball tonight?"
"I'll be fine Ken. It'll be matters of diplomacy all night and we need to keep James hidden from sight so it isn't obvious that we let him off scotch-free, okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know."
Christian and Astra ran in right then with Maxon trailing behind them, laughing at them toddle unsteadily at their speed. "I tried to hold them back but they were just too much!" he exclaimed, swooping Christian up to his shoulders. He winced as Christian grabbed him by his hair.
America walked over to her husband and hugged him. She heard Kota cough and set down the newspaper. "We'll go," he told them, rising from her chair. Kenna grabbed Astra's hand and they all exited, leaving Maxon and America with their son.
"I said this would happen," Maxon sighed unhappily, sitting on the chaise and putting Christian down next to him. "This is getting out of hand. We have to put a stop to her."
America sat down next to him and rested her hand on his thigh, rubbing her thumb across his pants leg. "And we will but let's not worry about that tonight. I want to have fun and socialize with my friends whom I haven't seen in too long and dance with you all night."
"Sounds like you're going to have to be in multiple places at once," he remarked.
She smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "It's what I do best." She stood up and put her hands on her hips. "Now, we have a party to get ready for."
He nodded and stood up next to her, holding Christian's hand. She reached for it but he kept a strong hold on his son. "I can take care of Christian. You relax and get ready at your leisure."
"Okay," she said before she could think twice and start having separation anxiety as her boys headed up to their rooms to get changed.
Princess Nicoletta linked her arm through America's and led her friend away from the Kenyan president, much to America's relief. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered to Nicoletta.
Her friend laughed and grabbed a glass of champagne for America. "Thank you for turning our time here into a proper ball. Of course, I heard from Maxon that I really have your maids to thank for that."
"Marlee knows best," America sighed, wanting nothing more than to sit and put her feet up. Luckily her dress was long enough for her to wear flats and no one would notice but she was already tired. "You however, do not. I can't drink champagne, remember?" She held the glass out to Nicoletta and rubbed her free hand over her stomach. She still wasn't showing but she suspected that would be changing within a few weeks.
Nicoletta rolled her eyes. "My mother drank right up until the day I was born and I turned out just fine."
"The jury's out on that one," America joked. "Where's Geoffrey?"
"Last I checked he was admiring the musicians up on the balcony. I'm sorry you can't come to the wedding," she sighed sadly.
America frowned. "Me too, believe me. I wasn't exactly planning on getting pregnant."
"Well I am not having children for a long time. I'm already getting married; I don't need anything else tying me down," she told America.
"You never know; Geoffrey could turn out to be a great guy," America assured her.
She rolled her eyes again. "I think your husband's looking for you and I've taken up enough of your time. Go enjoy your evening with him." She nudged America toward Maxon, who was slowly making his way through the people to get to America.
With a smile growing on his lips, he guided America to the dance floor. He sighed as a waltz started, a slow one luckily. "Are enjoying yourself tonight, my dear?" he asked as he set his hands on her shoulder and waist.
"I am not your dear," she joked.
"Of course you aren't." He looked over her shoulder and then back at her face. "Did you see Elise is here? Her parents weren't able to make it so she was sent instead."
"No, I didn't know that. Do you think we could just enjoy this moment instead of talking? I'd much rather remember this as a dance where I manage to not step on your feet." But even as she said it her foot landed on his, making him grimace. "Sorry!" she squealed.
He laughed and shook his head, sliding one of his hands down to her back to join the other. "You think that after about three years of marriage to you, I'm not used to that by now?"
She blushed and looked away quickly. "I love you," she whispered.
"I know." Maybe his hands were too low on her back than what was proper. Maybe they had more guests to attend to. Maybe danger was looming over them. Maybe his mother was trying to steal the crown from them. Maybe their lives were falling apart but America felt more whole in that moment than she had in months. It was easy for her to pretend that they were back on top and she played her role convincingly enough that even she started to believe it.
May turned away from the balcony where she could see her older sister dancing with the king of Illéa and walked to the secret passageway behind a tapestry with the royal family's crest on it. Slipping past the maids bustling about, helping with the ball, she found the room Beckner had told her to meet him in. He was waiting inside and stood when she entered.
The only light was coming from an oil lantern sitting on the table next to his bed. "I can't believe you poisoned your own brother," he said as soon as she was inside with the door pulled shut behind her.
"I couldn't stop it. My sisters are suspicious enough."
"Well that's your own damn fault. If you hadn't nearly blown your cover with them, trying to justify the queen's actions…"
She cut him off quickly. "Can we please, just not fight tonight?"
His expression softened but then he got serious again right away. "Liam wants a report," he said quietly in a deep voice that didn't quite fit right with his personality.
She shook her head. "We're not ready."
"We can't keep begging him for more time May."
"I know!" she exclaimed. "But killing my sister and her husband is a lot harder than it sounds. I mean, she is my sister."
"I have to say, I thought you'd be finished with it by now," a voice said from behind her. She turned and saw Liam and Amberly standing in the door.
Dread filled her instantly. "I'm working on it," she insisted. "But Maxon's seen to it that she's never alone! She's always with him, or Kota, or Kenna…"
Liam walked up to her and leaned over, putting his face inches from hers. "Then get your own time with her. Do I have to spell it out? The poison was great but it was sloppy, as you can see. It's a cowardice way to kill someone."
"I'm sorry I'm not thirsty for her blood like you are."
Amberly cut in. "No but if you want to live happily ever after with Brendon here you need to kill them. Your sister and brother-in-law probably haven't even noticed he's missing yet but you know that as soon as they do they will hunt him down and kill him. You need to beat them to it. Especially since now my son has found that loophole to take away my power. I promised my late husband that I would keep a firm hold on this country but so far you and Brett are making it very difficult to keep that promise!"
"It's Beckner," Beckner corrected her.
"Do I care?" she asked him. She turned back to May. "Kill them. You have a week."
She walked out as Liam approached Beckner and punched him, square in the jaw. Beckner fell to the floor as Liam left, slamming the door behind him. She crouched next to him on the ground. "I'll find a way through this," she promised him silently as he rubbed his jaw.
so we kind of had a glimpse into some of May's motivation. don't worry, there'll be more stuff from May's POV soon! for now, be incredible people and review!