This chapter was requested by Maxon's Rose! it was a lot longer than I intended it to be but it's another one from Maxon's point of view. it is the scene in her bedroom after she returns from Carolina up until the beginning of my last chapter. I know it's out of order so sorry for the confusion but it's just the way things were requested! If you have any other requests from parts of the trilogy you would like from Maxon's POV or moments in their future lives after the One, let me know!

And thanks so much Lady Unimportant and winterprincess for the amazing reviews!...actually, just thanks to everyone. I would have never dreamed how much you guys liked this so it's exciting seeing your responses! I will try to honor any other requests I get. thanks guys!

"Here's to the night I stood alone. To the night I cried so hard I couldn't breathe, to the night I prayed for him to come back to me, and of course to the night where he never looked back."

"Your Majesty, Lady America has returned," a guard reported, entering my room. I looked up at him as if he was just a figment of my imagination. I had been waiting to hear those words for days. Since she left I was counting the seconds until she returned until I finally couldn't stand it anymore and had to call her back here myself.

It scared me how much I loved America. I knew that I would jump in front of a moving train for her because the only thing that scared me more than my affection for her was the thought of a world without her. It was a completely different fear than that of the rebels or my father but it was still real; if anything it was more real.

I nodded to the guard. "Thank you. Is she in the reception?"

"She was there briefly but we believe she went back to her room."

Smiling, I told him, "I'll be heading that way shortly. You're dismissed." He bowed and left me. I stood and went to my closet and opened the drawer that held everything most dear to me. There were letters from my mother from times she was traveling, my first tie that I had long since grown out of, and America's file. I felt like a stalker keeping her application file in that drawer but that picture was so stunning I couldn't bear to even hang it on my wall. It used to sit right next to Kriss's card she had made me but I threw the card away weeks ago.

I lifted the gift-wrapped picture and cursed myself for doing such a shabby job on it. Then I lifted up the envelope with the letters in it. Before I could think twice about it, I tucked them both under my arm and walked down to America's room. I couldn't get there fast enough. It was like she wasn't really back until I saw her with my own eyes.

I knocked on the door, rubbing my thumb over the corners on the envelope and picture frame. I shuffled my feet and tried to calm my pounding heart. Why was I nervous? I checked my watch and realized that I had been standing there for about a minute and she still hadn't answered. I was about to knock again when the door swung open and America stood there.

She obviously wasn't expecting me by the surprise in her eyes but a small smile crept onto her face. She was really here. I was stunned more than ever by her presence. She looked tired and drawn and just drained emotionally but she was still beautiful. I felt like the space between us was sparking with romantic energy. I suddenly wondered how I lived through those last several days because I was made acutely aware of how much I missed her.

"Hi," I said, realizing I had to say something.

She sighed. "Hi." There was a long pause where we just looked at each other. I wondered if she could tell how much I loved her just by the way I was looking at her. Probably. "Do you want to come in?" she finally offered.

"Oh. Um, yes, I do," I stuttered nervously. The envelope was burning in my hand. She had seen it so now I had to give it to her. I had no choice. I looked around her room, taking it in. The thought that tonight would be her last night sleeping in here sent a thrill through me. "How are you feeling?" I asked her, concern for her creeping back in slowly.

"Okay. It doesn't really feel like he's gone, especially now that I'm here. I feel like I could write him a letter and he'd still get it," she admitted.

I nodded, not really having any comparison for her feelings. I could only be empathetic. "How's your family?" Soon to be my family, I added as an afterthought.

She sighed and shrugged a little bit. "Mom is holding it together, and Kenna is a rock. It's mostly May and Gerad I'm worried about. Kota couldn't have been any meaner about the whole thing. It's like he didn't love him at all, and I don't understand that. You met my dad. He was so sweet."

I smiled, remembering my conversation with him in the gardens. In hindsight, I was so glad I got to have that conversation with him. I didn't think I would be able to propose to his daughter without his approval. "He was," I agreed. "I'm glad I at least got to meet him. I can see bits of him in you, you know."

"Really?" She raised her eyebrows, not believing it. How could she not see it all?

"Absolutely!" I affirmed. I put my parcels in one hand and slipped my free arm around her, guiding her to her bed so we could talk more comfortably. "Your sense of humor, for one. And your tenacity. When he and I spoke during his visit, he grilled me. It was nerve-racking, but kind of funny at the same time. You've never just let me off the hook either. Of course, you have his eyes and I think his nose, too." Lord knew I would remember that with the amount of times I caught myself staring at her. "And I can see your optimism beaming out sometimes. He gave me that impression as well." I shook my head as she stared at me with misty eyes. "All I'm saying is, it's okay to be sad about this, but you can be sure the best of him is still around." If I really had my way in the next few minutes, the best of her father would be around for future generations.

She suddenly threw her arms around me and I held her with my free hand. I could feel the wetness of her cheeks on my neck. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I mean it."

"I know you do. Thanks." She sniffed and pulled away, her eyes flicking down to the parcels still in my hand. "What's this all about?" she finally asked, nodding to my hand.

"Oh." It was now or never. I couldn't back out then. "I can't believe I'm actually giving this to you but, and you have to wait to look at them until I'm not here, but…it's for you to keep." I hoped that when we were old and gray she would still have these letters because as embarrassing as they were, I felt that they were the epitome of our relationship. They represented the end of the Selection and the beginning of our marriage.

She smiled as I set the envelope on her bedside table. "Okay."

I took a deep breath, glad to have that out of the way. "This is a little less embarrassing. Sorry the wrapping is so bad."

"It's fine," she said but I knew she was lying. I was sure a five-year-old could have done better and I could tell she was trying not to laugh at the crooked seams and tearing at the paper on the back. She tore off the paper and I waited for it to soak in with a held breath. There were more questions in her eyes as she said, "It's beautiful. Did you take it yourself?"

I laughed, not expecting her to jump to this conclusion. "Oh, no. The picture isn't the gift; the house is."

She stared at me, stunned. "What?"

"I thought you'd want your family close by," I told her, not understanding what piece of the puzzle she was missing. "It's a short drive away," I added, hoping to clarify, "with plenty of room. Your sister and her little family would even be comfortable there, I think."

"Wha…I…" She was still staring and not comprehending.

I finally just had to tell her everything. Sentiment be damned. "You told me to send everyone home. I did. I had to keep one other girl – those are the rules – but…you said that if I could prove I loved you…"

There was a pause as realization dawned across her face. "…It's me?" she asked quietly, the words probably scaring her to death but not nearly as much as the answer she was waiting for.

"Of course it's you," I told her, awed at her disbelief. How could she ever think that it wasn't her? How could she ever think that I would send her home, that I would actually say goodbye to her?

She laughed nonsensically and kissed me all over my face, giggling. I craved the sound of her laugh. It was so beautiful compared to mine. But then again, with her I never felt self-conscious about anything; she knew nearly everything there was about me. She knew my deepest, darkest secrets and still loved me. Soon I was laughing along with her.

"We're getting married?" she finally exclaimed, pulling away to look deep into my eyes. I felt like melting under her gray gaze.

"Yes, we're getting married." It was the first time I really felt it deep down, that in a matter of months I would be vowing myself to her and promising myself true. I would see her walk down the aisle in a white gown. I would be standing by her side as a crown was placed upon her ginger hair.

She was in my lap but I didn't mind at all. This was the most passionate we had ever been with each other, that much I could tell by the way she eventually sobered and our smiles fell away. I felt my love for her deep down in my soul and vice versa. Every kiss spoke words in a language unknown to me before that very moment. It was a language that could only convey the deepest and sincerest of emotions. I felt loved and wanted in every kiss. I felt like the whole world was focused on that moment.

Soon there was no space between us. I could feel her heart racing right over where my heart was. Surely she could feel mine too. I felt her hands on my chest and soon my suit coat was lying behind me on the bed and I couldn't remember it getting there. Her shoes fell to the floor and I followed suit, trying to take them off without disturbing her as much as possible.

I held her to me as I lifted her against my hip and laid her down gently in the middle of her bed. Guided by a force I had never felt before, I moved my lips down her neck. She tugged on my tie, deafly removing it and tossing it over the edge of the bed with our shoes.

I smiled against her shoulder. "You're breaking a lot of rules, Miss Singer." Oh, how I craved to be able to call her Mrs. Schreave.

"You're the prince. You can just pardon me." And she was right.

I was thankful for all of that time I had spent with Celeste because it gave me some experience. I could only imagine if that was my first time making out with a girl like that; it probably would have been on par with my first kiss. Her fingers were undoing my buttons and I helped with the last few, my shirt feeling constricting. My shirt tugged on my arms as she slid it off of me.

I shivered as her hands brushed down my stomach, barely touching me. I wasn't cold though; I was shivering from exhilaration. I felt a tug on my belt and pressed my hips against her, moving a hand up her leg underneath her dress. I could just barely feel her undergarments with my middle finger. I ached for so much more of her and I felt my self-control slipping away with every nano-second that passed. Before the Selection I was determined to not be like my relative Damon Illéa and sleep with half of the girls but I was seriously considering breaking that rule just that one time.

Her nails dug into my back, along one of my scars and I immediately wanted to grab my shirt and run out of the room. All thoughts of romantic trysts stopped abruptly as I pulled away from her neck and looked at her.

"What?" she asked and I could see apprehension in her eyes.

"Does it…" What was the word? How could I ask her this? "Does it repulse you?"

"What do you mean?" She was genuinely confused.

I swallowed as I answered, "My back."

She dragged one of her hands down my cheek, leaving it cupped around my jaw. I saw every emotion I could possibly think of in her eyes but the one most prominent was love. "Maxon, some of those marks are on your back so they wouldn't be on mine, and I love you for them."

Did I hear that right? "What did you say?" My world stopped as I waited for her to answer.

She smiled and breathed out a laugh. "I love you."

"One more time, please? I just – "

She took my face in both of her hands. "Maxon Schreave, I love you. I love you."

My heart pounded in my ears and I felt my body getting excited again. "And I love you, America Singer. With all that I am, I love you." I brought my face up so our mouths could meet again. Her hands moved to my back and I didn't pause. These touches on my back were loving, not angry. Without thinking, I moved my hands to her own back and felt what seemed like hundreds of buttons winding up the back of her dress. "How many damn buttons does this thing have?" I asked, not meaning for the lame curse word to slip out but my frustration was clear.

"I know!" she agreed. "It's – "

I suddenly held her tight against me and flipped over so she was straddling me. I sat up so she was in my lap and placed my hands along the bust line of her dress. I couldn't ignore the thrill that went through me when I felt the softness of her skin and chest underneath my hands. With one strong pull, I ripped her dress down the front, revealing the slip underneath. More clothes, I sighed inwardly. I just wanted them all gone. I could only imagine what her body looked like underneath that thin layer of silk. It took too much effort for me to lift my eyes to hers but she held on to the eye contact as she straightened, sliding her dress down her back with more grace than I'd ever seen in her.

It was difficult and awkward but we eventually got her dress off of her and it joined my shirt, suit coat and tie on the floor with our shoes. I wanted to stay up all night with her, to explore this new feeling we'd discover. It felt as if everything else in the world was gone…until we heard a crash in the hall. I stared at the door, sure that my father would be bursting in at any moment. And if he saw us like this…she wouldn't just be going home. He would know then that I had told her about his abuse and without us being married or even engaged yet, he could still make an "accident" happen.

"It's not him," she whispered, reading my mind. "It's probably one of the girls stumbling to her room, or a maid cleaning something. It's okay."

I released the breath I had been holding and collapsed next to her on the bed, covering my eyes with an arm. "I can't, America. Not like this." The words pained me to say but I knew that that was not the way I wanted to lose my virginity or take hers. I didn't want to be scared to death of being discovered. I wanted to be able to relax and trust that it was just us. I wanted to lose myself in her. "I want to let all the walls down with you. You deserve that. And I can't now." I looked at her. "I'm sorry."

She smiled but disappointed lingered in her eyes. "It's okay."

"Don't be said," I told her. "I want to take you on a proper honeymoon. Someplace warm and private. No duties, no cameras, no guards." I wrapped my arms around her, absolute privacy being something that only existed in my imagination. "It will be so much better that way. And I can really spoil you."

I could bear the wait as long as I had that to look forward to. But then she said, "You can't spoil me, Maxon. I don't want anything."

My face was close to hers as I smiled. "Oh, I know. I don't intend on giving you things. Well, I do intend on giving you things, but that's not what I mean. I'm going to love you more than any man has ever loved a woman, more than you ever dreamed you could be loved. I promise you that." I had to kiss her. Something had taken hold of my heart those last few moments and it was suddenly twice as hard to not touch her.

"Maxon?" she asked quietly.

"Yes?"

She hesitated a moment. "Would you stay with me tonight?" I raised my eyebrows, not knowing what she was really asking me for. "I'll behave, I promise. Just…would you sleep here?"

Since that night in the safe room, I craved another time I could sleep with her in my arms but my self-control had been non-existent thus far. I looked at her beautiful face and decided that no matter what, I would stop myself if things ever got that far. There was also my father to think about. What if he needed me late tonight? And I would need to talk to my parents in the morning to tell them my final decision. If I was needed and my father found me there…it would be endgame for my relationship with her. But I needed her like I needed air. I couldn't sleep without her by my side, I knew that after spending the night with her in the safe room. "I will. But I'll need to leave early."

"Okay," she said and I could see how happy she was by my decision.

I couldn't help but smile at the relief in her eyes. "Okay." I took off my pants and socks. I couldn't remember the last time I slept in such little clothing. As of late, I had been sleeping in decent clothing in the case of an attack or emergency meeting with my parents. It was almost soothing to be back to this casualty. I crawled back to her, snuggling up against her under the covers. I could feel her heart pounding. Her small body seemed to fit perfectly within mine.

"Sleep well, my America," I whispered, placing a quiet kiss behind her ear.

There was a pause before she said, "I love you."

I held her tighter. "I love you." The euphoria of our union seemed to fill the air with thousands of electric particles, sparking and playing with other atoms. With the assurance that she loved me, sleep had no problem overtaking me.

I woke up the next morning, expecting to feel disoriented but quite on the contrary, I felt rested and at ease. Somewhere in the night we had shifted so her head was on my chest. Tiny strands of red hair brushed my chin as my chest rose and fell slowly. I knew she was awake because I felt her body tense slightly. "We could wake up like this every day," I mumbled into her hair, my lips lingering there.

She laughed. "You're reading my mind."

I always did seem to answer her thoughts and her mine. I sighed. "How are you feeling, my dear?" I figured I would try this again.

"I feel like punching you for calling me 'my dear' mostly." She poked my stomach and I couldn't contain the laugh.

I sat up so I was leaning down over her. "Fine then." I had to have some nickname for her. "My darling? My pet? My love?"

"Any of those would work, so long as you've reserved it solely for me," she told me, her hands tracing over the bare skin on my chest. "What am I supposed to call you?"

"Your Royal Husbandness. It's required by law, I'm afraid." My own hands glided over her skin, winding up to the soft spots on her neck.

She squirmed away. "Don't!"

Triumph swelled within me. "You're ticklish!" She protested but I couldn't resist in running my hands all over her, delighting in her squeals. My fingers brushed a particularly sensitive spot on her waist and she shrieked. Her scream brought in the guard from outside, his gun drawn and green eyes searching for the threat. America screamed again and brought the covers up to hide herself, her face turning red.

The guard looked taken aback and almost sad at the sight in front of him. His eyes flashed between the two of us but I couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation. I had always imagined this happening. "I assure you, Leger, she's perfectly safe."

Officer Leger cleared his throat and looked at the wall, avoiding eye contact with either of us. "Of course, Your Majesty." He bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

America fell over, moaning into her pillow. I felt bad for her embarrassment but I was secretly exhilarated by the thought of someone catching us in the middle of something. I hugged her. "Don't be so embarrassed. It's not as if we were naked. And it's bound to happen in the future."

"It's so humiliating," she wailed into her pillow.

Wait, what? She was embarrassed to be caught with me? "To be caught in bed with me?"

"No! It's not you. It's just, I don't know, this was supposed to be private." Regret seeped in her voice. I realized that she must have never been caught like this before and though I hadn't either, this was my home. She was technically still a guest. She also had just professed her love for me and I could see where she wanted privacy. But privacy wasn't part of a One's job description.

I stroked her cheek, hoping to soothe her. "I'm sorry. I know it's going to be hard for you, but people will always be looking at our lives now. For the first few years, there will probably be a lot of interference. All the kings and queens have had only children. Some by choice, I'm sure; but after the difficulty my mother had, they'll want to make sure we can even have a family." The words spilled out and I felt awkward talking this far in advance before we were even engaged. I loved her and I wanted her to have my children but it seemed too soon to be talking about having children. I just wanted a big family so badly and I was scared my mother's poor luck would follow me.

She reached up and cupped my cheek. "Hey. I'm one of five, remember? I have really good genes in that department. It'll be all right."

I smiled, relieved to hear the thrill in her voice. "I really hope so. Partly because, yes, we're duty bound to produce heirs. But also…I want everything with you, America. I want the holidays and the birthdays, the busy seasons and lazy weekends. I want peanut butter fingerprints on my desk. I want inside jokes and fights and everything. I want a life with you." I could see our lives perfectly, more clearly than with any other woman. I knew we would have fights; with the two of us, it was inevitable. Our temperaments were oil and water but somehow it worked as perfectly as cake and ice cream.

"I want that, too," she assured me again. Her confession of wanting a large family on our first date was still fresh in my mind and I worried that I wouldn't be able to do that for her.

"How about we make it official in a few hours?"

She shrugged. "I guess I don't have any other plans today."

Again, I couldn't contain myself and I practically tackled her, pinning her to the bed so I could shower her body with kisses. I could tell she was still shaken up by Officer Leger by her reluctance in kissing me back so I stopped. I got dressed as she pulled on her robe. I saw her try to not look at my back as I pulled my shirt on and I felt self-conscious but I didn't miss the almost admiration in her eyes as she quickly looked away.

I gave her one last kiss before leaving. It was harder to part with her than I thought it would be. I told myself it was only for a few hours and that the wait would be so worth it. Of course, I had matters to attend to, starting with Officer Leger. I looked him squarely in the eye, sensing that there was more to his baffled reaction than just surprise. "The lady would appreciate your discretion, officer." I would really like your discretion too, I added in my head.

He nodded solemnly and I continued on down the hall. I ran up the steps to my room, surprising a couple maids who were carrying breakfast trays. "Good morning!" I greeted, unable to contain my happiness. In just hours I would be engaged to the woman I loved.

I didn't have time to change my whole suit so I hoped changing my tie would be enough to make it seem like I didn't not sleep in my own room the night before. I ran back downstairs and slowed when I got down to the second floor, pacing myself for this conversation I had to have with Kriss. I paced a couple times outside her door before I finally knocked. I wasn't nervous to tell her that I wasn't choosing her. I was nervous for her reaction.

"Maxon?" I heard a voice ask from behind me.

I turned and saw Kriss, already dressed, walking toward me. "I thought you would be in your room," I explained.

She nodded. "Yes, I was just visiting some of the girls."

I found it odd that she would be doing that so early in the morning. The palace was only just starting to wake up. I couldn't imagine that the girls were awake. Then again, with Kriss I always felt that there was more to the story.

She smiled and leaned on her toes to kiss my cheek. I couldn't help but notice the lack of chemistry in the motion. With America simply being this close to her would be enough to make me want to rip her clothes off but with Kriss there was none of that.

"Would you like to come for a walk with me? I wish to talk to you about something," I told her.

She nodded eagerly. "Of course." There was caution in her eyes and I knew that she was not under any pretense as to what I was most likely going to tell her.

We started walking down the hallway with our hands loosely entwined. I just couldn't wait to get this over with so I could get back to America. My wish came true though because as we rounded the corner I saw her, her body pressed into Officer Leger's. She backed away like he shocked her. He turned to face me but he was obviously too stunned to speak.

I didn't know what went through my mind first but I just remember hearing this earth-shattering scream inside. I knew it was too good to be true. I knew there was something strange about the two of them, how they were always so chummy…they were seeing each other. America had lied. She had lied about everything.

I heard Kriss gasp beside me but all I could see was red and America shaking her head quickly. I took a deep breath and said, "I found Kriss in the hall and was coming to explain my choice to your both before the cameras showed up, but it seems we have other things to discuss."

America looked at Kriss and I realized that Kriss actually looked upset. "Kriss, would you please return to your room? Quietly?" I didn't leave any room in my voice for argument and I knew she would listen to me. She curtsied and walked away, looking over her shoulder before she rounded the corner.

I had to take another deep breath before exploding. "I knew it. I told myself I was crazy, because surely you would have told me if I was right. You were supposed to be honest with me." I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity. How many times had I let myself be pulled into her scheme against my better judgment? "I cannot believe I didn't trust myself. From that first meeting, I knew it. The way you looked at him how distracted you were. That damn bracelet you wore, the note on the wall, all those times when I thought I had you and then suddenly lose you again…it was you," I said, turning to Officer Leger.

"Your Majesty, this is my fault. I pursued her. She made it perfectly clear that she had no intentions of being in a relationship with anyone but you, but I went after her anyway." I wanted to believe him but he was just as much a liar as her.

I stepped up closer to him and stared him down. "What's your name? Your first name?"

He swallowed. "Aspen."

"Aspen Leger," I said slowly. How many times had she whispered his name? How many times had she sighed his name in his ear like she had done with me no more than ten minutes ago? I could just imagine them meeting secretly, laughing at my stupidity behind my back. "Get out of my sight before I send you to New Asia to die."

He looked terrified. "Your Majesty, I – "

"GO!" I shouted, losing all control for a half second. He turned and walked away. I had no idea what he was about to say but I had no interest in hearing it. She finally met my eye and I saw a world of hurt in her eyes. I nudged my chin to her room and she walked in, me close behind. I closed the door and ran a hand through my hair. I saw the bed that we slept in last night. I was so glad I stopped myself before we went too far. "How long?" I asked quietly, my anger simmering and about to explode.

"Do you remember that fight – "

"We've been fighting since the day we met, America! You'll have to be more specific!"

She was shaking. "After Kriss's party."

I felt my eyes widen. There was no way it was that long. Months. Months this had been going on right under my nose. "So basically since he got here," I said.

"Maxon, I'm so sorry. At first I was protecting him, and then I was protecting myself. And after Marlee was caned, I was afraid to tell you the truth. I couldn't lose you," she pleaded.

"Lose me?" I repeated. "Lose me? You're going home with a small fortune, a new caste, and a man who is still pursuing you! I'm the one losing here today, America!"

"I'm going home?"

Was she seriously stupid enough I would still want to marry her? "How many times am I supposed to let you break my heart, America? Do you think I'd honestly marry you, make you my princess, when you've been lying to me for most of our relationship? I refuse to torture myself for the rest of my life. You might have noticed, I get plenty of that already."

She started crying and it took everything in me to not comfort her. To not wrap her in my arms and forgive her for everything. Then I kicked myself for even thinking that. What else could she have possibly been lying about? "Maxon, please. I'm sorry; it's not what it looked like. I s-swear. I love you!"

I stepped up closer to her, shutting all of my emotions away. "Of all the lies you've told me, that's the one I resent the most."

"It's not – "

I sent her a look that should have killed her. "Have your maids do their best. You should go out in style." She was really just too beautiful to be so depressed. The last thing I saw as I walked out was the envelope sitting on her bedside table. I considered taking it but something was telling me to leave it there for her.

I sauntered back up to my room, completely forgetting about Kriss. My mother was waiting for me outside my door with a knowing smile on her face. "I went to check on you last night and saw that you weren't there. Out all night, I see?" She eyed my suit, the fact that it was the same one from the day before not getting past her. I just stepped past her and walked to my closet to pick out the suit I would be wearing for the party. I hated disrespecting my mother because she got enough of it from Father but I was in no mood for banter. "How's America this morning?"

"I'm not marrying her," I told her quickly.

Mom gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. I ignored her reaction. "What?" she asked. "How could you not be marrying her?"

I finally turned to face her. My eyes started to burn with tears that were begging to be shed but I swallowed them back. "I can't explain. Just know that I've made my decision and I'm marrying Kriss."

"But…the ring – "

"I know," I said, cutting her off and staring at the row of shirts hanging in front of me. "I can have the jeweler fix it later."

My mom stood there for another few moments before approaching me and just resting her hand on my arm. She didn't have to say anything. I knew how close she had become with America and how much this was paining her as well. "I love you," she said, kissing my cheek and wiping the lipstick off with her thumb. She smiled sadly at me and walked out, leaving me to my thoughts.

The Great Room was packed for the party. For once, instead of my parents being the focal point of the room, it was me. I saw it as a good warm-up for when I was king but I was never a very good actor and it was hard to pretend that the woman on my right was not the bane of my existence.

I made it a point to ignore her, focusing my attention on Kriss. I also just needed to try to get into a place with Kriss where marrying her wasn't such a terrible thing. I could see the Selected girls and they all seemed to be waving and cheering America on. None of them were saying a thing to Kriss. Celeste and America were having some kind of silent conversation and Celeste looked sad and furious at me at the same time. I looked away from her at the table in the back of the room where the Northern rebels were seated.

I just wanted to get the night over with. I looked over at America and saw her looking up at Officer Leger, who had ironically been placed as guard at our table. "Trying to arrange a time to meet later?" I asked her, venom leaking out of my voice.

"No, of course not," she told me, whipping her head back to look at me.

I shrugged. "It's not like it matters. Kriss's family will be here this afternoon for a small celebration, and yours will be here to take you home. They don't like for the last loser to be alone. She tends to get dramatic." I kept my voice flat even though I just wanted to break down and apologize. But I couldn't. She was a liar, a traitor. I was not going to let myself be fooled anymore. "You can keep the house if you want. It's paid for. I'd like my letters back though."

"I read them," she whispered. "I loved them." And she meant it. That's what was killing me. I could tell how heartbroken she was and I could also tell that there was so much more to this story but I couldn't take any more risks on her.

I snorted. "Don't know what I was thinking."

"Please don't do this. Please. I love you." Her face was crumbling. She was so close to making me take her back but if I had to suffer through this, she had to as well. She was trying everything she could to make me forgive her and I refused to get sucked into her manipulation.

"Don't. You. Dare," I ordered through gritted teeth. "You put on a smile, and you wear it to the last second." She blinked back some tears and gave a weak smile. God, she was beautiful. "That'll do. Don't let that slip until you leave the room, do you understand?" She nodded. "I'll be glad when you're gone," I spat at her. I didn't turn back to Kriss fast enough to not see the devastation on her face.

She kept her head bowed for several moments and then looked up, staring at the walls and completely overlooking the people. In an act that should have looked cowardly, she looked empowered. Even with glistening eyes and a broken heart, she exuded confidence and control. I found myself asking myself for the thousandth time that day why I couldn't forgive her and again, I couldn't find an answer.

I followed her eyes in time to see the guards pull pieces of red fabric from their pockets and tie them across their foreheads. Then one of them walked up behind Celeste and put a bullet squarely through the back of her head. The screaming and gunfire exploded at once. Guttural shouts of pain filled the room, adding to the cacophony of chairs screeching, bodies hitting walls, and the stampede of people trying to escape as fast as they could in their heels and suits.

Kriss started screaming and crying, her hands covering her face. She was going into shock and I had to get her to safety. Beside me, America wasn't moving at all. She was just watching. "Get on the floor," I told Kriss. "We're going to be fine." Nothing about this is going to be fine, I thought as I remembered the last time the rebels invaded the palace posing as guards. The death count from that was so high and there were so many people in this room.

A rebel was standing in front of us, Kriss crying out again as she jumped out of her chair to the floor. America sat in her chair transfixed as the rebel raised his gun and pointed it at me. She looked at me and looked back and in that moment the apologies flew between us, as well as fear mixed with love.

The rebel suddenly smiled and shifted his gun so that it was pointed at America. This wasn't happening. There was no way. Her story was not going to end this way. She didn't react as I jumped from my chair and flew in front of her at the same time Officer Leger pushed her to the ground.

Fire swept through my chest as I fell to the ground half-underneath the table. I knew right away that I had been hit and it was bad. "I got him! Find the king!" the rebel yelled and from underneath the table cloth I saw him run off. Through the crack I could see my people dying, left and right. They were terrified and I was stuck under a table. This wasn't where I was supposed to be.

I heard Kriss quiet and wondered if she was dead too. I didn't dare think about whether America was alive or dead. Instead I thought about everything I wasn't going to have with her. Moments that we never got to share flashed before my eyes. Her walking down the aisle in a white dress; me placing a crown on her head, bowing before her; a honeymoon on a white-sand beach; her carrying my children; us waking up next to each other when we were old and gray…I never wanted anything more in my life than I wanted all of that.

The table cloth lifted and America emerged. "Oh, Maxon," she cried. She balled up the hem of her dress and pressed it to the wound in my chest, aggravating the fire. "I'm so sorry." What on earth was she apologizing for? My vision started to get blurry. This was it. This was how it felt to die.

I reached up and covered her hand with mine. "No, I'm sorry. I was about to ruin both our lives."

She shook her head. "Don't talk right now. Just focus, okay?"

"Look at me, America." There was so much I had to say and I knew I didn't have much time to say it. She had to get to safety. She blinked and I managed to smile at her bravery. "Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway."

"Shhh," she urged.

"I'll love you until my very last breath. Every beat of my heart is yours. I don't want to die without you know that." Breathing was getting harder. It felt like my lungs just weren't working, like an elephant was sitting on me. A firey elephant.

She shook her head. "Please don't," she choked out.

I laced my hand through her hair, blood streaking it. I tried to pull her toward me but I didn't have the strength. She knew what I wanted though. She bent to kiss me. it was every kiss we'd ever had, all the uncertainty, all the hope.

"Don't give up, Maxon," she pleaded. "I love you; please don't give up."

I took a shuddering breath as Officer Leger ducked under the table, spooking America. "Kriss is in a safe room, Your Majesty," he reported. "Your turn. Can you stand?"

I shook my head. "A waste of time. Take her." Thoughts were getting harder to string together as pain clouded my mind.

"But, Your Majesty – "

"That's an order," I demanded, my voice weak with what sounded like exhaustion but I knew it was death.

We stared at each other for a long time before he said, "Yes, sir."

"No! I won't go!" America refused, holding my hand tighter.

"You'll go," I told her. She had to. I wasn't lying here dying for nothing. She had to live.

"Come on, Mer. We'll have to hurry."

She shook her head and cried harder. "I'm not leaving!"

I reached up and grabbed the front of Officer Leger's uniform, ignoring the agonizing pain that shot through my body at the movement. "She lives. Do you understand me? Whatever it takes, she lives." I knew that if it came down to it, he would lay down his life as well for her. He just tried. I got to her first though.

He nodded and grabbed America. "No! Maxon, please!" she begged, crying in earnest.

I tried to squeeze her hand one more time but it was so hard. I felt like someone had poured concrete into my bloodstream. "Be happy," I breathed out. The last thing I was aware of was her stricken face and her yells as she was dragged away from me.