Amberly

It had been a week since I had arrived in London at the castle. For the most part I had remained in my room staying as far away from Anthony as possible. He tried to get my attention at dinner but I ignored him, annoyed that he was still that same boy from all those years ago. I would have left the first night if Queen Olivier hadn't talked me into staying. If somewhat reluctantly. I wasn't sure she wanted me here either.

Already, I had witnessed what prince Anthony and his partner in crime, King Frederick were capable off and it took all my will power not to run from the castle screaming and jumping on the next plane back to Illea.

Anthony wasn't the only thing making me want o go back to Illea. The morning after I arrived I was able to see the Report where Adam announced his choices and I was still reeling from the revelations.

I always knew there was something amiss about her identity and I suspected she wasn't who she said she was but I didn't want my theories to be true. Especially, for Adam's sake, he looked so lost. I knew father wouldn't let him go to her and it was only confirmed when I called him immediately after seeing the report.

'Adam?'

'Amberly,' he had mumbled and I remembered it was probably in the middle of the night over in Illea.

'Sorry, were you asleep?' I asked guiltily.

'No, I can't sleep.' He muttered sadly and my heart hurt for my little brother.

'I saw it Adam, who is she?'

'I don't know. I don't know who the girl on the screen was and I have no idea who the girl I danced with that night was but it doesn't matter now. Mother and father aren't going to let me go and look for her.' He answered angrily and I heard him get up and begin to pace.

'I didn't think they would.' I mused thinking of how I could help my brother.

'What do I do Amberly?' He asked desperately after a few seconds of silence.

'I don't know, maybe you should just wait for them to arrive on Friday.' I offered cautiously.

'What? I can't wait that long. Then I'll have thirty-five girls here and not one of them is the one I want to see.' He almost yelled.

'I know Adam but what if this other girl, the one from Likely can help you?' I reasoned.

'How could she help me?' He sighed.

'What if she knows the true identity of the girl you danced with that night? If mother and father won't let you leave because you don't know who she is then find out who she is. They might let you go after her if you have some solid information.'

'You think so?' He asked hopefully.

'It's the only option you have now. The selection is going to continue whether you find her or not. The country is already too invested for it to end.'

'What if this other girl knows nothing? Then where will I be?' He asked and I could hear the helplessness in his voice.

'You can't think like that Adam, you need to believe she can help you find her otherwise you'll never be able to get through this.' I implored.

'Okay,' he muttered.

'Adam, you're going to find her. She can't have just disappeared.'

'Father thinks so.' He answered bitterly.

'Father's just under a lot of stress right now and he forgets about what it was like to be young. He already found his love.'

'I know.'

'You need to be rational about this Adam, you're the prince and future ruler of Illea you can't be traipsing aimlessly across the country looking for a girl whose name you don't even know.'

'You sound like dad.' He shot back angrily.

'Sometimes you need a little reason in your life Adam.'

'I just want her Amberly.' He replied in a small voice.

'I know Adam.' I whispered, wishing I was there to comfort him. 'I'm sorry but I need to go. I promised queen Olivier that I would have tea with her today.'

'That's all right, I suppose I should get some rest anyway. There will be thirty-five girls here on Friday who will want my attention. They may get annoyed if I fall asleep on them.' He answered defeatedly.

'Adam you're going to find her.' I replied earnestly.

'Yeah, Amberly.' He mumbled before the line went dead.

That was a week ago. I hadn't heard from him since then. Instead, I'd been worrying about the mischievous antics of a prince and his father who seemed to never want to grow up. So far, I had been able to escape incident but I knew it was only a matter of time before I was targeted by one of their pranks. I could see it in the way they would have hushed whispers at the dinner table and then look at me suspiciously. How was this ever going to work? The only thing that was keeping me here at the moment was the knowledge that I needed to do this, otherwise I would have left that first night.

Letting out a long sigh I left my bedroom for breakfast. Every meal I dreaded the tricks they might play on me but I went none-the-less.

Breakfast went smoothly but I did notice the two were more suspicious than usual. I usually spend most of my time speaking with Elliot. Jared rarely had anything to say and queen Olivier was reserved whenever I was around. I couldn't figure her out but it felt as if she didn't like me too much. After the first day where she insisted I have tea with her I hadn't spoken to her. It seemed as if she was avoiding me I just didn't know why.

When I was leaving breakfast I felt relief flood my body like it usually did after ever meal. It was another meal I had made it through unscathed.

I was heading to the library when I heard hurried footsteps behind me and I spun quickly to see who it was but there was no one behind me, just an empty corridor. Slowly, I returned to walking down the hallway a little uneasily. I heard them again and quickly turned my head but no one was there. What was going on?

Finally, I reached the library doors and glared down the corridor for the mystery person as I pushed them open.

Before I could even take a step inside a bucket of ice-cold water splashed over my head and I let out an alarmed squeal, stumbling back. The marble floor was slippery from the excess water and before I knew it the world was ripped out from underneath me until I was on my backside dumbfounded by what just happened. From somewhere down the end of the corridor I heard muffled laughter and immediately my blood began to boil. Anthony. I wouldn't be surprised if there was steam coming off me where the water that horrid child had dumped on me began to evaporate.

I stomped down the corridor determinedly until I reached the end and found him hunched over barely holding himself together.

'Anthony,' I growled but he continued to laugh, only enraging me further.

'You..and then…your face…' He gasped trying to stand up. I crossed my arms angrily over my chest and waited for him to compose himself.

'Amberly-' He started after his laughter finally subsided.

'No, you don't get to speak,' I hissed and I watched as his smug grin fell onto his lips. I realised after a few seconds that I had been paying too much attention to his lips and quickly shook myself to rearrange my thoughts.

'Yes, Amberly?' He prompted arrogantly, not missing my extended attention to his lips.

'You're a childish, conceited prince.' I mumbled as water pooled at my feet.

'Yes, this may be true but, I'll be your childish, conceited prince,' he chuckled stepping closer to me.

'What? If you think I'm marrying you after that you're an even bigger fool than I first thought.' I shot back taking a few steps away from him, moving my arms to my hips, defiantly.

'Oh, you're going to marry me Amberly.' He answered knowingly and all I wanted to do was slap that smug look off his face.

'I would rather marry a toad than ever be married to you.' I spat pushing past him furiously and heading for the gardens trying to calm down. How could I ever be married to that for the rest of my life?

Anthony

'Toads?' I mused out loud, watching Amberly storm off. She was even more beautiful when she was angry with me. I could feel the goofy smile on my face but I couldn't do anything to stop it. She was just so angry at me but I didn't miss how she stared at my lips for just a few seconds too long. She wasn't going anywhere but I knew how I was going to get her next. I just needed a few dozen toads and my father's help. Amberly was going to have some fun and I was going to give it to her.

'She's coming,' I whispered as dad dumped the last of the toads on her bed. The others were already hopping around her room sporadically. Dad and I quickly gathered all the boxes and dashed out the door of her room that led to the room beside it. I ducked my head out the door way and saw she was just about to enter her room. She was still a little damp from the water by the library and her hair had dried into these adorable curls that I found myself wanting to run my fingers through. At that moment my father came up beside me and waited for the fireworks. She wiped something from her face and opened the door, slipping inside. Was that a tear?

However, I didn't have too long to think about it because moments later she came running back out of the room screaming with dozen's of toads following her. She pushed herself up against the wall and was trying to shake the imaginary toads from her body whilst watching the remaining toads hop past trying to escape from her room.

Dad and I were laughing so hard it was only a matter of time before she found the two of us. When she did her blue eyes were alight with a fiery anger.

'You,' she growled storming over towards the two of us. We both quickly straightened up, even father was afraid of the look on her face. It was far worse than the one I had received an hour ago after the water incident.

'What is wrong with the two of you?' She demanded but never waited for our answer. 'This isn't funny. I can't believe you rule a country and you will someday take his place. You are both a disgrace.' She ranted as my father and I both cowered before her. Then I notice something in her hair and it was moving. I knew my father had noticed it too because he was trying to suppress his laughter. It all became too much for the both of us when the toad hopped form her blonde locks and she fell back against the wall startled by it's sudden appearance. She let out a startled squeal watching the offending toad hop obliviously down the corridor after it's comrades.

After catching her breath she threw a harsh glare at the two of us who were using each other for support and then stormed off down the corridor.

A butler was making his way down, probably trying to figure out what all the commotion was about and I heard her tell him to pack her things and bring them to the foyer, she was leaving. Immediately, I sobered up and ran down the corridor until I was standing in front of her, blocking her path.

'What are you doing?' I demanded a little panicked.

'I'm leaving.' She answered trying to shove me out of the way but I laid my hands on both of her shoulder's instead and I realised this was the closest I had been to her since she arrived.

'You can't leave. You're my fiancé.' I answered anxiously. 'We're to be married.'

'Not anymore, I could never be married to you.' She hissed throwing my hands off her shoulders and pushing past me. I watched in horror as the petite blonde walked purposefully away from me and I'm not sure if anything in my life had ever terrified me more. I looked back at my father who had a smug look on his face.

'Dad, what do I do?' I demanded, terrified that she would just leave me.

'Maybe you should have thought about that before you put toads in her room?' He answered walking past me.

'She's not really going to leave is she?' I asked my father worriedly as I jogged up beside him.

'I don't know. She looked pretty worked up.' He said casually, walking past the remaining croaking toads in her room.

'She can't leave. She only just got here.' I replied desperately.

'Your mother warned you and you know she's always right.'

'You said to fight for her.' I yelled in frustration, feeling a hopelessness wash over me.

'You're not fighting very hard then, are you? She's already willing to leave.' He mocked rounding the corner of the corridor with both of our offices.

'What do I do?' I asked helplessly.

'Find a way to make her stay. Anyway you can.' He emphasised, closing his door on me, leaving me alone in the empty corridor. Sometimes he was absolutely no help. How was I going to make her stay? Her bags were already packed. Then it hit me. She couldn't leave if her parents wanted her to stay. I ran across to my own office and grabbed frantically for the phone. I wasn't going to let her go that easily.

Maxon

'Prince Anthony?' I asked, bemused he was calling me, especially in such a frantic state. It was the middle of the night when I was woken to take this call. I wasn't happy leaving my sleeping wife alone in our bed.

'King Maxon, I-I…need your help.' He sounded very nervous and immediately I knew something was wrong. What had this boy done to my Amberly?

'What's the matter?' I asked dubiously.

'I messed up.' He admitted defeatedly.

'How?' What could he have done in a week that had him calling me for help?

'Amberly wants to leave.' He sighed.

'Leave? She's only been there a week. What could you have possibly done in that time that would make her want to leave?' I asked a little amused that the young prince was able to make her angry enough to leave so quickly.

'Well, lets just say it involved toads and she didn't appreciate my sense of humour.' I shook my head at the juvenile prince as my wife entered the room, sleepily wrapped in her robe. I quickly put the phone on speaker so she could hear the tales of the hapless prince.

'Then there was one and it got stuck in her hair…' He rambled as America gave me a confused look. As soon as she was within reaching distance of me I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into my lap.

'Prince Anthony,' I whispered against her ear and I felt a light giggle roll through her body against my chest as she tried to keep quiet.

'And what would you like me to do Anthony?' I asked cutting his story short.

'I was wondering if there was anyway you could keep her here for at least a month? I know if I had more time I could prove to her that we're meant to be together.' He replied firmly. I knew the poor boy had already fallen hard for my stubborn Amberly and I smiled to myself remembering what it was like to fall for a woman who was too stubborn to see the man sitting in front of her. I gave America's waist a tight squeeze and she looked back at me with a knowing look, obviously thinking that same thing as me.

'I don't know Anthony, it seems you've ruined your chance with my daughter. Amberly doesn't give second ones.' America slapped me playfully across the chest knowing I was only messing with the poor boy.

'Please, you have to help me. She can't leave.' He pleaded shamelessly.

'If you don't care enough about my daughter to show her the respect she deserves maybe I don't want her staying with you.' I answered as America buried her head in my chest trying to stifle her giggles. We both knew Amberly and Anthony were meant to be together. It was plain to see for everyone but my stubborn daughter.

'No, please king Maxon, you need to help me. I don't think I could live without her. I've been dreaming of this day for years. I have a ring.' He blurted out desperately trying to win me over. I watched as America's eyes went wide in shock at the prince's admission.

'A ring?' I asked, covering America's mouth as she tried to say something.

'Yes an engagement ring. I bought it when I was sixteen. She's the only one for me, I'm certain of it. I just need time to prove it to her.' He finished sadly.

'Maybe you should lay off the toads then.' America laughed pulling my hand away.

'Who's that?' He asked in alarm.

'It's America sweetheart.'

'I-I…'

'I think you should put him out of his misery, my love.' I whispered in America's ear. She nodded unable to wipe the smile from her face.

'Anthony, you need to relax. Amberly isn't going anywhere. We know what she's like. She already made decisions about you before she even got on the plane. She's not coming home for at least two months. Even then I don't think I'll allow it. You're a good boy Anthony, just like your father. She just needs a chance to see it and you need to show it to her.' I quickly placed a kiss on America's lips as the young prince tried to string a sentence together.

'Thank you queen America,' he finally managed to get out.

'You're welcome Anthony, now I think you have to go and stop Amberly before she tries to fly the plane herself.'

'She was having her bags packed.' He answered nervously.

'Then you better get going.' America laughed as the prince quickly said goodbye to chase after my stubborn eldest daughter.

'He's in trouble.' America smiled turning in my lap to face me.

'No more trouble than I was in when I first met you.' I smiled pulling her lips back to mine.

'Do you think this is going to work?' She asked pulling away from me and resting her hands on my chest.

'I have no doubt but she's not going to make it easy for him.' I mused pushing her beautiful red hair back from her face. It was still as vibrant as ever, much like the woman who now rested in my lap.

'What if he gives up on her?' She asked quietly.

'There is no way that boy is giving up on her. I think she would need to kill him for him to ever give up on her and even then he would hang around as a ghost.' I laughed resting my head on America's shoulder.

'I hope she doesn't take too long.'

'Probably as long as you took.'

'Such a waste of time.' She smiled pulling my face up to hers.

'Thankfully, you finally came to your senses.' I murmured against her lips as her eyes drifted closed. Taking one last look at her, I lost myself in kissing my wife. I would always be the luckiest man in the world as long as she was by my side.

Amberly

I was still fuming in the foyer waiting for my bags when Elliot came in and approached me cautiously. I quickly tried to wipe the furious look off my face but a smile was beyond my capabilities.

'Hello Amberly.' He greeted looking up at me with unmasked curiosity in his eyes.

'Hello Elliot.' I replied flatly ashamed I was being rude to the beautiful little boy who was nothing like his eldest brother.

'Amberly, are you in love with Anthony?' He blurted out and my eyes widened in surprise at the suddenness of his question.

'No, Elliot I do not love your brother.' I sighed, looking away from him.

'But you are going to marry him, why do you not love him?' He asked me and I could hear the confusion in his little voice.

'It's not as simple as that Elliot.'

'Are you friends with Anthony?'

'No, Elliot.'

'We're friends, right?' He asked innocently and I felt the small smile finally escape onto my face as I looked down at the youngest prince.

'Of course we're friends Elliot.'

'You can marry me then.' He announced sweetly taking my left hand in his. 'A lady should never be alone. Daddy says that about mummy all the time.' Despite myself I laughed at the beautifully innocent words of the young boy who had just proposed to marry me. How could he be related to those two imps?

'How about we just be friends Elliot?' I chuckled, 'I'm not looking for a husband at the moment.'

'Oh good,' he sighed in relief. 'I don't want to kiss a girl.' He scrunched up his little face and I lost myself in blissful laughter watching the little charmer.

'Bye Amberly,' he sang releasing my hand and bouncing out of the foyer.

'So, you can laugh?' Someone asked behind me in amusement.

'When I find something funny,' I replied flatly not turning to face the obnoxious prince.

'Oh come on Amberly, you loved my tricks when you were eight and we went to princess Nicoletta's wedding.' He whined, coming around in front of me.

'I grew up.'

'What's the fun in that?'

'Life isn't always fun Anthony. You need to grow up and live inside the adult world.' I replied not looking at him.

'Sometimes Amberly, life is too serious.' Anthony replied without his usual amusement.

'We are leaders in the eyes of our people. We're meant to be responsible, wise and noble. You are none of those things.' I answered harshly, looking up and staring straight through him.

'Leaders need to be more than that. They need to be able to empathise with their people, connect with them on a human level. You can't be all work all the time, life is hard enough.' Anthony reasoned trying to take my hand in his but I pulled away giving him an angry glare.

'You're wrong. They need us to be strong and regal not childish and unfocused.' I retorted irritatedly, looking deeply into his challenging eyes.

'You will see Amberly,' he answered quietly before moving away from me.

'No, I won't. I'm leaving this very instant.' I announced petulantly, watching as he walked away from me with his obnoxious strut.

'You're not going anywhere, love. I spoke to your parents.' He answered smugly, without stopping his progression from the room. 'You're here for at least two months, maybe more. Whether you want to be here or not. I have plenty of time to convince you but I'm only going to need a week.' He chuckled infuriatingly before disappearing down the corridor.

I barely kept my frustrated scream locked inside as I breathed in deeply trying to cleanse myself of the aggravating prince. I would never see it his way, no matter what he did. Children didn't get to be right.

I turned on my heel and stomped angrily up the stairs intent on calling one of the only people who would listen to me.

Adam

'Amberly, please calm down.' I sighed after listening to her rant about prince Anthony for the last forty minutes. 'He can't be that horrible.' I reasoned, she was still there after all and as far as I knew he was still in one piece. I immediately regretted my words taking the phone away from my ear as my elder sister went on another ear splitting rant about her fiancé. She'd only been there a week how could he have caused so much trouble in that time?

'Adam Dale Schreave, are you even listening to me?' She demanded as I placed the phone back to my ear.

'Yes, yes, he's obnoxious.' I placated, uninterested. I was beginning to believe that she might just like this prince.

'This is important Adam, I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life with this…this child.' She spat.

'Stop being so dramatic Amberly.' I sighed too preoccupied with my own problems to be able to focus on hers.

'Adam, you're not listening.' She whined and I was beginning to wonder who really was the child out of the two of them.

'Look Amberly, I know you're struggling with everything but I really can't deal with this right now.'

'You can't deal with this?' She repeated, outraged.

'Well, if you haven't forgotten today's a pretty big day for me. There are thirty-five girls coming to the palace expecting me to fall in love with them. Not to mention the entire country will be watching along, waiting for me to fail.' I ground out rubbing my hand over my face. I can't believe she called me at five in the morning to rant about prince Anthony.

'Oh Adam, I completely forgot the Selection officially began today. How long until they all arrive?'

'They arrive later this afternoon.' I sighed trying to keep my eyes open. I hadn't slept in days. Ever since my parents told me I couldn't go and look for her. The only hope I had was that this girl would know something about her. I couldn't even entertain the idea that she didn't because that would mean I would never see her again and that thought hurt too much. When I did sleep I was haunted by her green eyes. I couldn't do this anymore, I needed to find her.

'Adam?' She asked cautiously after a few moments of silence. 'What if you don't find her?'

'Amberly, I can't.' I answered helplessly.

'I know Adam but if you can't find her you're going to need to choose from the other girls. What are you going to do?' I hated how reasonable she was being. I didn't want to be reasonable and rational. All I wanted to be right now was irrational and reckless.

'I don't know Amberly.' I answered harshly. 'I didn't put a lot of thought into the other girls. For all I know none of them will love me or even like me. For all I know they're only here for the crown and the glamour of life as princess. I know nothing about girls. They could show me one face and when we are married they could tear it away revealing their true nature and there would be nothing I could do to fix my mistake.' I was almost yelling by the end and I had gotten to my feet to start pacing without realising.

'And you think this other girl, this mystery girl will love you for you and not the crown?' She asked quietly.

'You didn't see her Amberly,' I answered wistfully. 'She was breathtaking, everything about her was mesmerising. She was just so real. She didn't even recognise me when I met her.'

'What? How is it possible she didn't know who you were?'

'I don't know but she didn't seem too happy to find out who I was. In fact she was trying to leave when they announced her name and again when I tried to dance with her.' I laughed remembering that magical night.

'How strange?' My sister mused.

'I can't give up on her Amberly. It has to be her. I'm so fearful that the others will be beautiful on the outside but inside they'll be a wart covered toad.' I finished bitterly.

'Do not mention toads to me ever again.' Amberly growled and I pulled the phone away from my ear, looking at it in confusion.

'What?' I asked placing the phone back to my ear, seriously questioning my sister's sanity.

'Never mind,' she mumbled.

'Okay…' I dragged out the word wondering just how troublesome that prince was being. Maybe I should have listened better to her forty minute rant.

'Look Adam, even if you do find this girl you need to give the others a chance. You can't be certain that this girl will be it for you after only one night. You need to be reasonable.' She was never going to understand what I felt for that girl the night of the ball. What I still feel for her now. The feeling was so overwhelming it was almost impossible to ignore. I knew it was a feeling I would never have for another girl for the rest of my life. I needed to find her.

'You're going to be fine Adam, everything will work out in the end.' She tried to reassure me and I felt Amberly's absence like a piece of me was missing.

'I wish you were here Amberly.' I admitted in a low voice. 'I could really use your help.'

'I'll be watching all the reports and calling our brother and sisters all the time. I'll call you almost everyday, maybe even twice if I need to rant about Lucifer's child.'

'I miss you Amberly.' I smiled, sadly. I've always run to her whenever I have needed help. She has always been there when I wasn't strong enough to protect myself. She would stand up for me when the tutors were scolding me for not paying attention or being too slow to learn something.

I remember when one of the prince's from Germany was picking on me and stole my violin. They broke it right in front of me when I was only ten. It was new, mom and dad had just given it to me for my birthday. Amberly had caught him and punched him in the face despite him being five years older than her. She was always the stronger one but now I was the eldest sibling and I needed to be the strong one. Not only for my brother and sisters, but for me.

'Adam?' My mother asked from my doorway still in her robe and slippers.

'I've got to go Amberly, mom's here.'

'Bye Adam, you're going to be fine.' She reassured before I ended the call.

'What are you doing up sweetheart?' She asked coming in and sitting on my bed which hadn't been slept in, just rumpled a little.

'Amberly, isn't handling prince Anthony very well.' I answered rubbing at my tired eyes.

'I know your father and I just got off the phone with a very panicked prince.' She smiled.

'Why did he call?' I asked sitting at my desk heavily. I didn't know how I was going to get through today.

'She wanted to come home and he wasn't sure how to make her stay.' She laughed.

'She wanted to leave?' I asked trying to recall if she had told me that but my brain was so full with my own problems.

'Yes, I think he may have pulled a prank on your sister and she wasn't too happy about that.'

'Toads?' I answered and she nodded her head.

'I'm not sure our Amberly was prepared for just how mischievous prince Anthony and his father can be. The men in that family never grow up.' My mother smiled nostalgically. 'They're wonderful people Adam. Amberly just needs to see Anthony for the good person he truly is.'

'Amberly isn't going to like his tricks.' I mused thinking about my serious, rational sister.

'No, she isn't,' mom laughed. 'But she needs this. She needs to remember that life isn't always about work but that you need to have some fun too. Otherwise she will grow up into a very bitter woman.'

'Is he going to treat her right mom?' I asked, a little wary of what my sister was getting herself into.

'He loves her Adam.' She answered firmly.

'Already?' I asked alarmed. 'How?'

'I think he has loved her since they were children, she's just too stubborn to see it.' She answered deep in thought about her eldest daughter.

'I need to find her mom.' I said quietly looking down at my clenched hands.

'I know Adam.' She sighed.

'Please let me go.' I pleaded for the hundredth time this week.

'You know I can't Adam.' She replied sadly getting up and crossing to me.

'I need her mom.' I whispered, vulnerably.

'I'm sorry Adam.' She murmured wrapping me up in her arms but I remained motionless. 'It's going to be fine Adam. You just need to give the other girls a chance today. Some of them might surprise you.'

I nodded weakly in her hold but it felt like a lie. I needed to have her here. No other girl would compare to her. If only I knew her name.

America

My heart ached for my son. I wish I could have let him go but Maxon was right. He needed to be here right now. There was unrest among our people and I didn't want to risk his safety like that.

I pulled away from his sad form and slowly left the room, his sadness consuming me. I knew he couldn't go and look for her when he didn't even know her name not only were the people restless but there were rumours of a resurgence of rebel groups among the once elite of Illea. All those who had lost out in the collapse of the castes were rumoured to be out for revenge on the crown. They hadn't attacked yet and for now they were just rumours but I wasn't about to let my son go running around the country for a mystery girl, no matter how much I wanted him to, Maxon was only protecting him.

I wish there was another way I truly did but I couldn't see one. There was too much to lose. I wanted Adam to find happiness like his father and I had but I wouldn't let him risk his life.

However, he didn't know the dangers lurking out there in the shadows because we were protecting him and his siblings from it. When they did reveal themselves he would know why we kept him from her. Hopefully, when he knew he would forgive us for denying him his right to find love. My first priority would always be to keep my children safe.

I walked back to mine and Maxon's room to find him still up after our call with prince Anthony. He was already dressed in one of his suits ready to face the day.

'What were you doing?' He asked turning to face me, straightening his tie.

'Our daughter called Adam to rant about a certain prince.' I smiled wrapping my arms tightly around my handsome husband.

'I imagine that was a long conversation.' Maxon chuckled, running his hand through my hair and holding me close with the other.

'Maxon?' I asked after a few moments of silence.

'Hmm?' He mumbled, placing a soft kiss in my hair.

'Are we doing the right thing? About Adam?'

'You know the dangers America.' He answered pulling back to look into my eyes. 'I just got a call from the guards in Carolina that there was a threat made to the girl who was Selected there. They haven't had the send off ceremony yet which means we need to double security there to keep her safe.'

'Carolina?' I asked in alarm thinking about all of my family there.

'I already sent guards to all your family's houses to make sure they're safe but I think this was a planned move. The threat isn't random. They want to hurt us and they know Carolina will hurt you.' Maxon explained but I had already deduced that.

'What will they do next?' I asked afraid for the safety of my children.

'I don't know America. We haven't needed to deal with rebels for years, not since Adam was four.' I nodded remembering the attack.

It was the night the maid saved his life. I don't think Adam remembered much about the night but I did. I had been terrified. I hadn't seen the rebel coming for Adam until it was too late and the gun had already gone off. Then out of nowhere the maid had dived in front of it shielding her own child and mine. She had died but not before entrusting us with her new born baby girl.

I remembered how hard it was for me to get Adam to give her up to the father. He didn't trust him, I could see it in his eyes. Even at four he was protective of others. I didn't trust the man either but I had no choice but to give the child to him. It was his daughter after all.

I often wonder what happened to her. Aisling had been the name embroidered on her pink blankets. Her mother who had died had saved my child's life that night. I wish I could have done more for her child but I didn't even know where she was anymore. For months Adam had asked me about her but I had no answers, until finally he gave up asking. I wish I could find out if she was all right but it was impossible now.

'It's going to be fine America.' Maxon tried to reassure me, pulling me closer.

'I know,' I agreed taking comfort in his closeness. I would always feel safest when I was wrapped tightly in his arms. It was where I belonged. I just wished Adam could find a girl he loved, a girl who was his other half but I knew in my heart that this girl he was obsessing over had already taken a piece of his own heart he was never going to be able to get back. I just wished we could let him search for her.

I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter and thank you again to everyone who has been reading and reviewing. There were quite a few perspectives here, I hope it didn't get too confusing. Anyway, until next time all you beautiful people :)