Aisling

'What's this?'

'Lessons,' Alice answered taking one of the seats towards the front of the room.

'What do you mean lessons?' I asked a little panicky, hovering behind the chair beside her.

'You know, etiquette, politics and the like. One of us will be princess at the end of this and they need to make sure we're ready for it,' Alice replied, taking out a notebook and pulling the large textbook in front of her. There was one on every table and it made my heart drop out from my body. I had never been to school before. Everything I knew was from Flora and she didn't know that much either because of her illness.

'Come on Aisling, sit down,' she laughed as all the other girls filed in. Looking around anxiously I noticed there were six empty seats. I jumped when the door to the room closed and a stern looking woman walked in.

'Who's that?' I asked, as all the girls sat up straighter in their chairs.

'Anne, apparently she was queen America's maid during her selection but now she's our tutor,' Alice informed me. She was a maid? How was it possible that she could become what she was?

'Lady Zander, will you please take your seat?' She asked impatiently and I quickly shook myself almost knocking the seat over in my haste to do as she asked. I muttered a, 'sorry,' as the other girls giggled. I noticed the 'Willows' were shooting me smug looks and I ducked my head even further, until my nose nearly touched the desk. Medea was looking especially smug about my embarrassment and I knew it was only going to get worse. I didn't belong here.

'That's enough ladies. Now Lady Zander I know you've missed an entire week of lessons but I'm sure you'll be able to catch up,' She announced before turning back to the class and beginning her lesson. I didn't hear the first half of the lesson but when I finally tuned in I realised it was one on the foreign relations of Illea. I didn't understand a word and my cheeks flamed again as a blinding headache ripped through me.

'Aisling, what's wrong? You look green,' Alice asked in a concerned whisper.

'I'm just not feeling well I guess,' I muttered, holding my head in my hands against the desk trying to calm myself down.

'Now, girls why don't you open your books and read about Illea's relations with New Asia,' Anne instructed and I felt the room spin as everyone shuffled their books and began to read. Alice was throwing me concerned looks as I reluctantly pulled the book in front of me and opened the front cover. The words spun on the page in front of me as shameful tears began to fill my eyes.

As soon as we were dismissed I almost ran from the room, eager to get out of there as soon as possible. I heard Alice call out to me but I was already gone. I didn't care where I went as long as it wasn't near anyone else.

I had the source of my fear tucked under my arm as I raced down the halls of the palace, tears which had been threatening to fall for the last half hour already streaming down my face. Finally, I came across a door which led to the gardens and I ran passed the startled guards and collapsed on the nearest stone bench curled up so the book was cradled in my lap.

'Worthless,' I muttered over and over again as the tears continued to fall.

Moments or minutes later I heard footsteps beside me and I quickly swiped at my tears and glared down at the book trying to find a semblance of composure. Desperately wishing whoever it was didn't come over to me.

'Lady Zander?' They asked apprehensively, and I curled up a little further hoping if I ignored them they would go away.

'I'm Michael, Adam's brother,' He introduced stretching his hand out towards me and reluctantly I extended mine not raising my eyes from his feet.

'Aisling,' I muttered with my hoarse voice from all my tears and he shook it gently before releasing it again. I quickly pulled it away wanting to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

'You know, it usually helps if you open the front cover,' He teased pointing at the book that still rested in my lap.

'It wouldn't help,' I grumbled, wishing I could throw the book off a cliff.

'Illea and the world of politics,' he read the title of the book with ease, sitting down on the bench beside me. 'That sounds very dry.'

'I wouldn't know.'

'Aisling, why are you upset?' He asked in a quiet, gentle voice.

'It's embarrassing,' I replied as the tears began to burn at the back of my throat again.

'I'm sure it's not as bad as you think,' He assured me, but it didn't lessen my shame.

'I'm worthless,' I whispered, glaring down at the book accusingly as if it were its fault I was this way.

'No you're not, why would you say that?' He asked, worriedly.

'I can't read,' I muttered under my breath, but I knew he heard me.

'Oh,' was the only response he could come up with to my embarrassing confession. What sixteen year old couldn't read?

'I'm pathetic and useless,' I answered angrily, rubbing my right arm absently, feeling the bump of every burn through my sweater.

'No you're not, don't say that,' he chastised, shuffling closer to me.

'I am, I can't even read. Who can't read?' I asked angrily, looking up at the red headed prince and staring right into his caring brown eyes.

'Who cares if you can't read?'

'I do,' I shouted, anger running hot in my veins. 'Do you know how humiliating it is not being able to read?' Silence, all he did was stare with those annoyingly blank brown eyes. Why was I angry at him? He never did anything but sit beside me, offering me comfort and all I've done is yell at him.

'I'm sorry, it's not your fault,' I sighed, falling back on the bench in defeat.

'I could help you,' he offered gently.

'Why would you do that?' I asked flatly.

'I like reading,' he shrugged.

'What if I can't do it?'

'Well, you're never going to know if you never try,' he answered.

'You would really help me?' I asked hopefully, looking up at the prince who had a warm smile on his face.

'Sure, you'll be doing me a favour. If I'm with you I can't get in trouble for one of Marinda's schemes. I have cleaned enough dishes for a lifetime,' he laughed.

'It seems I am becoming the go to alibi for the two of you,' I smiled.

'Did you want to start now?' He asked getting to his feet and extending his arm for me just like his older brother.

'That would be lovely, apparently I'm already a week behind in whatever the other girls have been learning. However, considering my lack of education I'd say I was probably about sixteen years behind. Luckily, I don't want this princess job. I would be a horrible, illiterate princess.' I laughed.

'You don't want to be princess?' He asked in shock as I wrapped my arm around his, the book in my other hand.

'No,' I replied adamantly.

'You know if you marry Adam, you will become princess,' he said slowly, cautiously.

'I don't want to marry Adam so it doesn't really matter does it,' I answered as he led us through the palace with ease.

'You don't want to marry him?' He asked a little shocked by my admission. 'Does he know that?'

'I've told him many times,' I answered flatly. 'Yet, he still won't let me leave.'

'He did travel across the country looking for you.' He reasoned.

'I didn't ask him to do that.'

'Aisling? Michael?' A slightly angry Adam asked as we made our way slowly up the stairs. 'What are you doing with him?'

'Walking,' I answered vaguely. I didn't want anyone else to know Michael was teaching me to read.

'I can see that. Michael what are you doing?' He demanded turning to his younger brother, marching down the stairs until he was glaring down at us from the one above.

'I-I…' Michael looked at me nervously, uncertain of how to answer his older brother.

'He's helping me with something,' I cut across him anxiously and Adam looked between the two of us dubiously.

'With what?' He asked angrily.

'Does it matter? You don't have a monopoly on my time. Why don't you go and spend some with the other girls? I know they're all dying to meet you, but you being the selfish, arrogant prince that you are, have been ignoring them.' I deflected, hoping to keep the conversation away from Michael and I. Adam glared down at the two of us for a few moments before storming past us, muttering about something I couldn't make out.

When he was out of sight and his footsteps had faded away I felt Michael relax beside me, letting out a shaky breath.

'I thought he was going to kill me,' he breathed as I pulled him to get him moving up the stairs again.

'Why, it's not as if he can stop who I spend time with,' I answered.

'You're his Aisling.'

'Excuse me?' I demanded turning to face him at the top of the stairs.

'What I mean is you're part of his selection. You are here for him, not me or the rest of our family. Technically, I think he might have a monopoly of on your time,' he explained apologetically.

'That's ridiculous.'

'Did no one explain the rules to you?' He asked surprised.

'What rules?' I asked in frustration.

'Of the selection.'

'No,' I answered looking at him accusingly.

'You know you're here for Adam, right. To compete for the chance to become his wife and princess?'

'I got that much,' I replied flatly.

'And you can't be in any relationships with any other men whilst you're here?' He asked nervously.

'What, and he thinks because I was walking with you-,'

'Adam's very protective, Aisling,' Michael cut me off.

'I don't want to be here,' I almost yelled as my frustration for the conversation grew.

'Yes, but it's Adam's choice whether you leave or not,' he explained.

'Are you saying I need to try harder to make him send me away?'

'No,' he answered in alarm. 'No, oh please don't tell Adam I encouraged you to rebel against him.'

'I-,' I stopped before I could answer as a shrill noise went around the palace.

'What is that noise?' I shouted to be heard, dropping the book in fright and throwing my hands over my ears.

'I think it's the alarm, telling us there are intruders in the palace,' he answered in a mix of confusion and distress.

'Intruders?' I asked anxiously, looking around us for these intruders.

'It hasn't sounded in years.' He mused before looking over at my terrified expression.

'What do we do?' I asked as my panic started to set in.

'Come on, we need to get to the safe room,' He announced grabbing for one of my hands and running back down the stairs. Two guards appeared out of nowhere and ushered us into a secret passageway closing the door behind us with only dim lights lining the wall to guide us. Michael rushed me down the stairs in front of him but I was slow and clumsy as fear controlled my limbs.

'I know you're scared Aisling but we need to hurry.' Michael said keeping his hand firmly on my lower back to keep me moving. I nodded but my legs continued to be uncooperative until finally I tripped and I watched in horror as I began to tumble down the stairs. Suddenly a strong arm shot out and wrapped around my waist pulling me back and stopping my dangerous descent. I was quickly swept up into Michael's arms and I wrapped my arms around his neck for stability, my heart racing.

'You're all right,' Michael soothed as we approached a large door that had several guards waiting outside it.

'The prince is here,' they announced and rushed us inside before the doors slammed shut behind us.

Gently, Michael set me down on the ground and I released my death grip I had around his neck.

'You okay?' He asked, bending slightly to be level with my startled eyes that were trying to take in the large dark room he had brought me to. I noticed all the other girls were here as well sitting nervously against one of the walls. Some were in tears, whilst others just sat motionless with blank expressions on their faces. Adam was among them trying to calm those who were reacting poorly to the situation but when he heard the door close he looked up and immediately his eyes locked with mine. I saw relief wash through his body as he left one of the girls he was talking to and began rushing over to me.

'Michael,' Marinda shouted as she ran across the room and launched into her twin brother's arms. He caught her easily as she started muttering things to him about being worried and killing him if he didn't make it back in time. I looked over to the royal family and saw Harmonia was wrapped tightly around the king as he whispered soothing words into her hair. Queen America sat calmly beside him watching her other three children.

'Aisling,' Adam breathed beside me. 'You're okay.'

'What's happening?' I asked turning to face him.

'I'm not sure,' he answered looking down at me intently as if I might disappear.

'Lady Zander, why don't you go and sit with the other girls?' Anne instructed, bustling over to us. I nodded and quickly ducked around Adam who looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. Instead, he let me pass and I walked shakily over to the other girls and sank down in a corner, feeling Adam's eyes on me the entire time.

Adam

I was angrily walking to the women's room when I heard the alarm go off. The only time I had ever heard it before was when we had drills to keep the palace prepared for attack. I prayed this was a drill but by the frantic nature of the guards I knew it wasn't.

Immediately, I thought of Aisling and wanted to run back for her but I knew I didn't have time. Michael would keep her safe. I ran for the other girls who were rushing out of the women's room and ensured they all made it down to the safe room before nervously waiting by the door for my brother and Aisling to arrive.

'Adam, you need to go and see to the other girls, they are frightened,' My mother instructed coming up beside me.

'No, I need to make sure she makes it back here safely,' I answered, staring into the empty passageway.

'Adam, there are twenty-eight frightened girls over there who need comfort. You can't ignore them, that's unfair on them. I know you're worried but you have responsibilities.' She said firmly and I knew it was wrong of me to ignore them. They were frightened, in a foreign place where I had never made them feel welcome or even wanted. I was a terrible person.

Sighing heavily I pulled myself away from my vigil by the door and moved to the other girls. The first girl I approached was Melody Ericson, obviously not one of the girls I had eliminated yesterday after dinner. She was a small build, hair as black as midnight and eyes so brown they were almost charcoal. When I sat beside her I realised she was shaking uncontrollably and tears were streaming down her face.

'There's no need to be frightened my dear,' I tried to soothe, a little alarmed by all the tears which seemed to be shed all around me.

'What's happening?' She sobbed and I had no answers for her. This hadn't happen since I was four, I had no idea what was going on outside those walls or why Aisling and Michael weren't back yet. I shot a look over at my parents and they were in a heated discussion that they were trying to keep from Harmonia and Marinda. Eventually, Harmonia climbed into dad's lap and all conversation stopped but they knew. They knew what was happening.

After a few more reassuring words I moved along to the next girl when there was a commotion by the doors. My eyes immediately found hers. Michael was setting her down by the doors and she looked frightened but not as terrified as the other girls. She looked away from me at Marinda who had raced over to embrace Michael. I was quickly on my feet and moving to her as if I had no choice but to go to her.

'Aisling,' I breathed in relief as I stood beside her. 'You're okay.'

'What's happening?' She asked turning back to me.

'I don't know,' I admitted, revelling in just having her safe.

'Lady Zander, why don't you go and sit with the other girls?' Anne instructed as she came over beside us. I looked down at Aisling as she nodded and walked away from me, but I wanted her to stay. Ultimately, I knew I needed to discuss this with my parents so I let her go and instead moved over to my mother and father.

'Father, who are they?' I asked when I was standing before the two with a terrified Harmonia in Dad's arms.

'Harmonia, my darling, why don't you go and sit with Marinda and Michael. We need to talk to Adam alone.' Reluctantly, Harmonia unclenched her arms from father's neck and slid off his lap but she didn't go to Marinda and Michael who were hunched together in deep conversation. Instead she walked over to Aisling who was huddled alone in a corner away from all the other distraught girls. Her face was blank, staring into the distance. Her emotionless face scared me more than the tears but I needed to get some answers and for once Aisling would need to wait.

'Adam, there's a group that has been building in numbers for a long time now. Probably since I took the throne and married your mother.' My father admitted drawing all my attention back to him.

'Why haven't you stopped them before now, before you put all these people at risk?' I demanded, a little dumbstruck why my parents had been so impassive.

'We didn't know until a couple of months ago when they revealed themselves. They attacked a school in Hundson province, reducing it to rubble and in the destruction they left a message.'

'What was the message?' I asked cautiously.

'The Elite will rise,' My father answered gravely.

'The Elite? Who are they?' I asked confused.

'We believe they are the people who were once the higher castes of society. They were discontent when we first announced the changes to our country but after some years they went quiet and we just thought that they were adjusting to the new society but it appears they were amassing an army.'

'Why are they attacking the palace?'

'I'm not sure, we have very little information on them. They are highly secretive. They have kept themselves hidden for the last twenty years and attacked the palace today without warning. They haven't made their desires known.' My father explained.

'So what can we do?' I asked a little desperate. I may not care for the other girls like I cared for Aisling but I didn't want them to get hurt.

'We have to wait and prepare ourselves as best we can for future attacks until we know more about them.' My father sighed, defeatedly.

'We can't do anything?' I asked, outraged.

'Adam, everyone will be safe. The monarchy and this palace has survived attacks before and we can do it again,' my mother tried to soothe.

'The last major attack was twenty years ago and if the history books are correct they burnt the palace to the ground,' I shot back thinking of all the ways these monsters could get to Aisling. She had already suffered enough, how could I ask her to do the same here. I promised I would protect her. I still didn't know the extent of what she had suffered in that house and I hated that she bore the weight of that alone. Absently, I reached for her bracelet I still hadn't returned to her. I don't know why I still held on to it, maybe I was afraid she might disappear again.

'Adam, we need to be calm about this,' my father said, cutting through my thoughts. 'We can't show weakness. We need to be strong for the people and ourselves. No matter what happens we are still a family, royal or not, and we need to protect each other.'

'I know,' I sighed. 'I just don't want anyone to get hurt.'

'Neither do we Adam,' mom said, resting her hand on my shoulder gently. I nodded silently and turned my back to my parents who I still felt were hiding things from me. I crossed back over to the other girls leaving Harmonia with Aisling. The two were talking away now as if they weren't locked inside a safe room as the palace was under attack. My mind was in chaos. How could I keep her safe through all of this? For the first time since going after her I wondered if bringing her here was the best choice, was I her best choice?

America

'He's far better with crying women than you were Maxon?' I commented, trying to lighten the mood but Maxon's face remained stoic.

'I thought we were past this America,' he answered gravely.

'I did too Maxon, but we've survived this before,' I tried to reassure him holding his hand tightly in my own.

'I know but this time it's not only you I want to protect,' he answered sadly looking over at Marinda and Michael who hadn't stopped talking since Michael came in carrying Aisling. That girl seemed to have all my children charmed. If only she could do the same with the girls of the selected, but I knew what it was like to be called the favourite. Jealously was a dangerous emotion, especially in a group of girls.

'We will keep them safe Maxon,' I answered firmly. There was no other option. I would not lose one of my children.

'I know,' he sighed turning his sad eyes to me.

'We're going to be fine Maxon, I promise,' I answered earnestly, placing my hand gently against his cheek. He closed his eyes and leant into me and I desperately wanted to be alone, hidden away from the world, away from the scorned Elite of society and away from danger. I wanted to go back to the secluded island we had our honeymoon on where it was just us, no interruptions. We were just two people in love, not a king and a queen escaping from the pressures of a nation.

I remembered the island perfectly. It was so small when you sat on one side you could easily see the sand on the other. The sun kissed your skin and the water so blue it was as if it weren't even real. Nicoletta had offered it to us as a wedding gift but we never got to take her up on it until almost a year later.

The country was in upheaval, we didn't have the time to disappear for a moment let alone a week. Not to mention the pressure of trying to raise a child among the chaos. We hadn't even had Adam yet and we were drowning. Those first few years were the hardest. The stress of ruling a nation ate away at both of us until one day we both snapped.

'America!' Maxon had shouted across the council room as I stormed out, annoyed he had rejected another of my ideas. The room was silent as the members of the council looked at their rulers in alarm. They were all new, after we held an election of sorts in the provinces to choose the new council members.

My father was our closest advisor and when he saw the cracks begin to show that day he quickly cleared the room leaving the two of us alone.

'America, you need to be reasonable,' he ground out through a clenched jaw.

'I'm not reasonable Maxon, you knew that when you married me,' I shot back, spinning viciously to face him. His own anger danced in his eyes and we both silently stared at each other, daring the other to speak first.

'We can't keep this up Maxon,' I breathed defeatedly, letting my shoulders slump after a long silence.

'I know,' Maxon agreed quietly.

'What are we going to do?' I asked in a low voice, terrified of what he might say.

'I don't know,' he admitted and we both fell into silence again. It filled the room, all our worries, all our harsh words over the months pressing down on us both, suffocating and stifling us.

Eventually, I had left the room without saying another word to Maxon and went straight to Amberly. I snuck into her room as Mary was putting her down for a nap.

I took her from Mary as she finished her bottle and sunk into the rocking chair in her nursery watching her sleep in my arms. She was so beautiful and peaceful. I couldn't seem to pull my eyes from her and without realising tears began to fall down my cheeks. I was so lost, how were we going to fix this?

I didn't notice Clarkson had joined me until he sat beside me, watching Amberly closely. He was always there taking Amberly when Maxon and I would fight. He insisted on feeding her at meal times and played with her almost all day when Maxon and I were busy. He loved Amberly and was obviously devoting his life to making her happy.

'America, why don't you and Maxon go on that honeymoon now? Take a step back and get away from all of this.' He asked quietly never pulling his eyes away from Amberly.

'We can't,' I whispered.

'You can, I can look after the country for a week,' he announced and I looked up at him a little surprised.

'You would do that for us?' I asked and he nodded his head, still looking down at Amberly.

'You would look after Amberly as well?' I asked already knowing the answer. Maxon and I needed time alone together. We needed to remember why we fell in love in the first place. We really hadn't had any time to adjust to being married since the first day of our marriage. It was just one problem after another. We were always busy rebuilding the palace, rebuilding the nation and having Amberly. There had never been any time for the two of us to just be together.

'I would do anything for her,' he answered earnestly, running his hand along Amberly's forehead gently.

'Thank you Clarkson.' It still felt strange calling him that but he wasn't king anymore and he was better for it.

'I love Amberly and right now what she needs is for her parents to have a break, from everything,' he replied leaning over and placing a feather light kiss on my sleeping child. Amberly stirred in her sleep reaching out for her grandfather as if, even when she was unconscious she knew he was there. He smiled down at her and I knew she was the only thing in the world that mattered to him. He would protect her with his life and it warmed my heart to see the once cold and merciless king soften all because of a baby girl who never judged him for his past mistakes. My baby girl who loved him from the moment she rested in his arms.

I watched Clarkson as he left the room with a small smile on my face. I stayed and held Amberly that day, never returning to my duties. That time was hard but we were twice as strong when we came out the other side.

'We're going to be fine Maxon,' I repeated after my trip down memory lane.

'I know America, it's just hard to see that right now.' He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulling me in so my head was resting against his chest and we waited for the guards to tell us it was safe to leave.

Amberly

'Adam, what do you mean there was an attack?' I asked in alarm.

'The rebel alarm went off and we've been locked down in that safe room for two hours. Do you know what its like to have so many crying girls in one room? I thought we were going to drown with all the tears that fell from their eyes.' He answered, infuriatingly making light of the situation.

'Adam, don't joke about this, its serious,' I scolded.

'I know Amberly,' he sighed and I regretted my words immediately.

'I'm sorry Adam, is everyone all right? Grandfather?' I asked, afraid something may have happened to him.

'Everyone's fine Amberly, grandfather's fine. I think he was with Harmonia and Aisling when I saw him last.'

'Does she spend a lot of time with our family Adam?' I asked.

'Yeah, I think she has them all charmed. Michael was the one who carried her to the safe room,' I noticed a hint of jealousy in his tone and I smiled a little at my younger brother.

'Do any of the others spend time with grandfather or Harmonia?' I asked cautiously.

'No, just Aisling,' he answered.

'Is that safe?' I questioned, knowing how girls could be. The others would see this as an advantage and any way she was set apart from the others was another reason for them to hate her. I had read all the magazines and watched all the reports and it was obvious who was the country's favourite and Adam's.

'What do you mean?' He asked skeptically.

'This is just another way she is singled out from the other girls. They probably won't take kindly to her special treatment,' I answered.

'I don't understand.' Of course he didn't he was a boy and he was Adam. He was completely oblivious to anything regarding girls.

'Adam, have you been spending time with the others?' I asked trying to redirect the conversation to avoid him getting angry at me.

'Well, some,' he answered vaguely and I knew he had been ignoring them.

'Adam, you can't keep putting them to the side. You need to take more interest in this competition.' I chastised. Every time I spoke to him it seemed we were arguing over the same thing.

'I know,' he sighed and I was surprised he agreed with me so quickly.

'You do?'

'Aisling isn't ready for this yet, she needs time. I need to drag this out.' He explained.

'So, maybe you should take the time to get to know some of the other girls,' I suggested. I wanted him to get to know them. He had made this decision so early on, I wanted him to be certain of it.

'Amberly?' he asked softly and I knew he had something on his mind.

'What is it Adam?'

'I don't want to see her hurt,' he sighed. 'I don't want her here if she will be hurt. If these attacks continue I don't think I can keep her. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her.'

'You would send her away?' I asked, perplexed by my brother's revelation.

'I don't want to, but I would rather her be safe somewhere else than here in danger by my side.'

'Are you sure?' I questioned. He had travelled across the country for this girl and ignored thirty-four others for weeks.

'If I don't think I can protect her I will send her away. She wants to go to Italy anyway.'

'Wait, she doesn't even want to be there?' I asked completely lost in this conversation.

'No,' he laughed. 'She has been pretty explicit that she doesn't want to be my wife.'

'I don't understand.'

'Neither do I sometimes, I think that's half the fun,' he chucked and I shook my head at him.

'So what are you going to do?' I asked trying to keep up with my brother's mind.

'Make her realise she's in love with me,' he replied and I could hear the smile in his voice.

'You know Adam if you do that she won't leave if it gets too dangerous,' I answered. Silence filled the line for the longest time as he thought over my words. I thought he was never going to answer me.

'How's Anthony?' He asked suddenly filling the silence with a different topic.

'Fine, he took me to this wonderful old, destroyed building and waited all day as I drew it,' I smiled remembering our kiss and how sweet he had been. I wasn't going to tell Adam about that. He was my brother, he didn't need to know that.

'So, you like him?' Adam asked cautiously.

'I think I could grow to like him,' I answered. I had been avoiding him the past few days because I was afraid it wasn't real. The Anthony from that day was nothing like the one who pulled all those horrid tricks on me.

'Does he like you?'

'He says he does,' I answered skeptically.

'Don't be so stand-offish Amberly,' Adam laughed.

'I am not, I'm careful.' I retorted defensively.

'You're stubborn and you know it,' he replied knowingly and I didn't reply, too busy deciding all the ways I could kill my brother.

'You know you never give anyone a chance Amberly,' he whined.

'Shut up Adam.'

'You know if you don't want to talk to me you could just hang up,' he teased.

'No way this is the first time you've talked to me in over a week.'

'I know, I'm sorry. I didn't want to justify my decisions to you. I didn't know if you would understand.' He answered guiltily and he was right. It was hard to understand how he had fallen for a girl so quickly.

'Adam, it's your life and our decision not mine. You don't need to justify anything to me.'

'Thanks Amberly.'

'So I'm guessing you haven't made any cuts yet,' I asked trying to lighten the conversation.

'Actually, I did. Yesterday,' he replied.

'Really, who?' I demanded, surprised he had shown any interest in the competition.

'Janice Fine from Panema, she had the most annoying voice you would ever hear and her laugh, I thought it was amusing at the ball but well…'

'Oh Adam, you did not make wise choices did you,' I laughed at him and how he had chosen some of the girls.

'No,' he admitted flatly.

'Who else?' I wanted to know what these girls could have possibly done wrong when he hadn't really spent any time with them.

'Missy Donner from Hansport. She was such an airhead. I overheard her at breakfast once and she thought you needed to get ice from the Arctic. She went on and on about how hard it was to get ice. I wanted to throw a pastry at her just to make her be quiet.'

'You chose her,' I accused through my laughter.

'I don't remember why, there is no way she could have hidden that kind of stupidity. I'm surprised she can put one foot in front of the other.'

'Any other airheads you have ridded yourself of?'

'Marna Barnette, she encouraged the ice theory,' he said in disgust.

'I see,' I smiled barely regaining my composure.

'Honor Grayson, I ran into her in the halls once, it didn't go well. Celine Walsh and Rosette Palimore,' he reeled off.

'Any reasons?' I asked at my brothers culling of the herd.

'Not really, they just didn't seem right.' He admitted. 'Besides, it was time I did something. No point keeping them all here when my decision was already made. Or at least I thought it was.'

'What are you going to do with the others?'

'Date them, apparently,' he answered tiredly.

'Maybe a group date would be a good start or maybe an activity where you can interact with all of them so there isn't so much pressure on you.'

'Maybe, I should probably go. I need to check Aisling isn't wandering around the palace aimlessly again. That girl has a terrible sense of direction,' I could hear the smile in Adam's voice and I knew his frustration was false. This girl had him enchanted and he wasn't eager to break the spell anytime soon. I wondered if he really would let her go if it got too dangerous. I was still pondering this when I ended the call with him and didn't notice the knock at my door until the person opened it and ducked their head inside.

'Amberly?' I looked over and saw Anthony, looking sheepish and immediately my guard was up. What had he done now?

'What did you do?' I asked dubiously and he quickly pushed the door open with his hands raised defensively.

'Nothing, I promise. I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me?' He asked. 'Alone.'

That was when I realised he was carrying a basket in one hand with a picnic blanket draped over it.

'A picnic?' I asked in surprise.

'Yeah,' he answered nervously. 'I know its stupid. We don't have to do it. I just thought…I haven't seen much of you recently.' He was rubbing his hand over the back of his neck anxiously and I realised he did it often, whenever he was nervous or guilty about something.

'No, no its fine.' I answered getting to my feet quickly. 'It sounds wonderful.'

'Really?' He asked excitedly and I realised I liked this vulnerable side of Anthony. He rarely showed it to me.

'Yes,' I smiled crossing over to him. 'Where are we going to have this picnic?'

'The roof, the elusive sun is actually out today and I want to enjoy it.' As soon as I was close enough he reached out and took my hand eager to get out of my room. He was probably afraid I would change my mind.

Anthony

I was terrified she was going to say no to me but here she was on the rooftop laying lazily against my chest, her hair shinning brightly in the rare sunlight.

She had been avoiding me since I kissed her and I was afraid I had pushed her too far. She was so quiet on the car ride back to the palace and she went straight to her room when we got back.

I let her hide for a couple of days but I missed her. I hated how she was constantly trying to keep herself from me. I just wanted to spend all my time with her but instead I spent the majority of my time worrying about her, thinking about what she might be doing, what she was thinking?

I had been so distracted over the past couple of days that I hadn't even pulled a prank once and my father had noticed. He was alarmed that I wasn't behaving as I usually did. I didn't even retaliate when he covered my floor with melted butter and I slid into my dresser causing it to fall on me, giving me a huge cut on my forehead.

'Anthony?' Her sweet voice broke through my thoughts as she spun to face me, resting her chin on my chest and running a hand over the cut my father had given me. 'What happened?'

'My father thought it would be funny to see what happens when you cover a wooden floor with melted butter.' I answered my eyes trapped inside hers as they flittered across my face, never settling on one place.

Her vanilla scent drifted on the light breeze up to my nose and all I wanted to do was kiss her again.

'Does it ever get tiring?' She asked, obviously not thinking the same thing as me.

'What?' I asked bluntly, confused by her question.

'All the tricks, don't you ever just want to stop?'

'No, they're who I am. I can't change that Amberly.' I sighed, wrapping my arms around her waist. She was silent for a long time after that and I watch as she ran her finger over my chest in rhythmic circles, lost in her thoughts. I was content to let her lie there forever in my arms, her ear pressed to my heart. If she listened close enough I'm sure she could hear that it only beat for her. It had always only beat for her. I just wished she could see that. I would do anything for her.

We stayed on the rooftop until the sun set, never uttering another word but it was a comfortable silence. She was lost to her thoughts and I was lost in everything that was her. Questions could wait for another day because today I was happy to just be in her company. I didn't need to convince her today of how prefect we would be together. I had time. The ball was only a few days away. Hopefully everything ran smoothly and maybe after that she would see me, truly see me, not the man she thought I should be.

Adam

'Adam,' she yelled behind me and I could hear the fear in her voice. All the other girls had been told to stay in their rooms but of course that's not where Aisling was. A fact I had quickly realised when I stopped by to check on her.

I quickly turned to face her and hurried back to where she stood.

'Aisling, what are you doing here? You're meant to be in your room.' I said a little frustrated. How could I keep her safe if she always so willingly stumbled into trouble?

'Adam, I have to show you something.' She replied ignoring my questions and pulling me down the corridor.

'What's going on?' I asked but she ignored me. The palace hadn't been damaged by the attack that we could tell, but a lot of the guards were still rushing around to make sure everything was secure. A lot were sent out to the palace walls to determine how they had breached them so quickly.

She stopped at the end of the corridor looking both ways, her eyes frantic and my heart sped into a gallop. Why was she so frightened?

'Where are we going?' I asked and she looked back at me finally.

'Your mother's garden. I just can't…'

'Come on, its this way,' I said pulling her down the corridor which led directly to the garden. If we followed her directions we would never get there.

When she saw the doors she broke out into a run and dragged me along with her. There were no guards at the door and she burst right through. She stopped suddenly and I looked down at her in confusion.

'Aisling, what's going on?' Her cryptic behaviour was making me really nervous. She didn't answer me instead she just raised her arm and pointed off to something in the distance, terror in her eyes. I slowly followed her arm until my eyes rested on the tree my mother had planted for me when I was born. Only, it didn't look like a tree anymore. It was as black as charcoal after a fire had burned through and the once lush green leaves were shrivelled and dead. What had done this?

'Adam, there's a note,' Aisling said as my heart dropped out through my feet.

Slowly, she pulled me towards the tree where I saw a white piece of paper fluttering in the gentle breeze that was blowing in the dying sunlight of the afternoon.

When we were close enough she pulled it from the tree and offered it to me. The black writing swam across my vision as I read the words.

'The Elite will rise when the monarchy falls. We start with the prince.'

I let the note fall from my fingers as fear swept through my body. The words raced around my mind repeating over and over again. They were going to kill me.

A little less cute in this chapter, probably why it took longer to write. Some of you have been asking about ship names and I'm not going to lie I'm terrible at them. Some of you have come up with a few and I love that you have. Maybe you guys can come up with a few and then vote on them or something. I don't know, I'm terrible at decisions too.

To the guest who is a big fan, I'm glad you're loving it. I'm also happy that you liked Harmonia's point of view. I realised as I was writing it that I had no idea how to write it. I had all these great plans and then I was like, well, I have no idea how to do this. So thank you :)

To the beautiful guest who is appalled at my updating speed :) I'm appalled as well because this one took me longer than usual. I just couldn't seem to get it right. I'm still not sure it is but I hope you liked it :)

Eep(great name by the way) I'm glad you love the cuteness because that's what I was going for with those two :) I'm excited that you love them.

To the wonderful guest who enjoys both the stories I'm supper excited that you do. I love guys who are a little overprotective, it makes everything a little bit more exciting. Thanks for your review :)

Maxon's rose, I usually post when I should be asleep too. I have random inspiration at odd times, usually two in the morning :) I'm delighted you liked the scene between Anthony and Amberly, I enjoyed writing that one :)

Thank you to everyone who's been reading and reviewing and happy reading you wondrous people.