Kiera Cass - The One

THIS TIME WE WERE IN the Great Room enduring another etiquette lesson when bricks came flying through the window. Elise immediately hit the ground and started crawling for the side door, whimpering as she went. Celeste let out a high-pitched scream and bolted toward the back of the room, barely escaping a shower of glass. Kriss grabbed my arm, pulling me, and I broke into a run alongside her as we made our way to the exit.

Hurry, ladies! Silvia cried.

Within seconds, the guards had lined up at the windows and were firing, and the bursts of sound echoed in my ears as we fled. Whether they came with guns or stones, anyone showing the smallest level of aggression within sight of the palace would die. There was no more patience left for these attacks.

I hate running in these shoes, Kriss muttered, a heap of dress draped over her arm, eyes focused on the end of the hall.

One of us is going to have to get used to it, Celeste said, her breath labored.

I rolled my eyes. If its me, Ill wear sneakers every day. Im already over this.

Less talking, more moving! Silvia yelled.

How do we get downstairs from here? Elise asked.

What about Maxon? Kriss huffed.

Silvia didnt answer. We followed her through a maze of hallways, looking for a path to the basement, watching as guard after guard ran in the opposite direction. I found myself admiring them, wondering at the courage it took to run toward danger for the sake of other people.

The guards passing us were completely indistinguishable from one another until a set of green eyes locked with mine. Aspen didnt look afraid or even startled. There was a problem, and he was on his way to fix it. That was simply who he was.

Our gaze was brief, but it was enough. It was like that with Aspen. In a split second, without a word, I could tell him Be careful and stay safe. And saying nothing, hed answer I know, just take care of yourself.

While I could easily be at peace with the things we didnt need to say, I had no such luck with the things wed said out loud. Our last conversation wasnt exactly a happy one. I had been about to leave the palace and had asked him to give me some space to get over the Selection. And then Id ended up staying and had given him no explanation as to why.

Maybe his patience with me was falling short, his ability to see only the best in me running dry. Somehow I would have to fix that. I couldnt see a life for me that didnt include Aspen. Even now, as I hoped Maxon would choose me, a world without Aspen felt unimaginable.

Here it is! Silvia called, pushing a mysterious panel in a wall.

We started down the stairs, Elise and Silvia heading the charge.

Damn it, Elise, pick up the pace! Celeste yelled. I wanted to be irritated that she said it, but I knew we were all thinking the same thing.

As we descended into the darkness, I tried to reconcile myself to the hours that would be wasted, hiding like mice. We continued on, the sound of our escape covering the shouts until one mans voice rang out right on top of us.

Stop! he yelled.

Kriss and I turned together, watching as the uniform became clear. Wait, she called to the girls below. Its a guard.

We stood on the steps, breathing heavily. He finally reached us, gasping himself.

Sorry, ladies. The rebels ran as soon as the shots were fired. Werent in the mood for a fight today, I guess.

Silvia, running her hands over her clothes to smooth them, spoke for us. Has the king deemed it safe? If not, youre putting these girls in a very dangerous position.

The head of the guard cleared it. Im sure His Majesty

You dont speak for the king. Come on, ladies, keep moving.

Are you serious? I asked. Were going down there for nothing.

She fixed me with a stare that might have stopped a rebel in his tracks, and I shut my mouth. Silvia and I had built a friendship of sorts as she unknowingly helped me distract myself from Maxon and Aspen with her extra lessons. After my little stunt on the Report a few days ago, it seemed that had dissolved into nothing. Turning to the guard, she continued. Get an official order from the king, and well return. Keep walking, ladies.

The guard and I shared an exasperated look and parted ways.

Silvia showed absolutely no remorse when, twenty minutes later, a different guard came, telling us we were free to go upstairs.

I was so irritated by the whole situation, I didnt wait for Silvia or the other girls. I climbed the stairs, exiting somewhere on the first floor, and continued to my room with my shoes still hooked on my fingers. My maids were missing, but a small silver platter holding an envelope was waiting on the bed.

I recognized Mays handwriting instantly and tore open the envelope, devouring her words.

Ames,

Were aunts! Astra is perfect. I wish you were here to meet her in person, but we all understand you need to be at the palace right now. Do you think well be together for Christmas? Not that far away! Ive got to get back to helping Kenna and James. I cant believe how pretty she is! Heres a picture for you. We love you!

May

I slipped the glossy photo from behind the note. Everyone was there except for Kota and me. James, Kennas husband, was beaming, standing over his wife and daughter with puffy eyes. Kenna sat upright in the bed, holding a tiny pink bundle, looking equal parts thrilled and exhausted. Mom and Dad were glowing with pride, while Mays and Gerads enthusiasm jumped from the image. Of course Kota wouldnt have gone; there was nothing for him to gain from being present. But I should have been there.

I wasnt though.

I was here. And sometimes I didnt understand why. Maxon was still spending time with Kriss, even after all hed done to get me to stay. The rebels unrelentingly attacked our safety from the outside, and inside, the kings icy words did just as much damage to my confidence. All the while, Aspen orbited me, a secret I had to keep. And the cameras came and went, stealing pieces of our lives to entertain the people. I was being pushed into a corner from every angle, and I was missing out on all the things that had always mattered to me.

I choked back angry tears. I was so tired of crying.

Instead I went into planning mode. The only way to set things right was to end the Selection.

Though I still occasionally questioned my desire to be the princess, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be Maxons. If that was going to happen, I couldnt sit back and wait for it. Remembering my last conversation with the king, I paced as I waited for my maids.

I could hardly breathe, so I knew eating would be a waste. But it would be worth the sacrifice. I needed to make some progress, and I needed to do it fast. According to the king, the other girls were making advances toward Maxonphysical advancesand hed said I was far too plain to have a chance of matching them in that department.

As if my relationship with Maxon wasnt complicated enough, there was a whole new issue of rebuilding trust. And I wasnt sure if that meant I wasnt supposed to ask questions or not. While I felt pretty sure he hadnt gone that far physically with the other girls, I couldnt help but wonder. Id never tried to be seductive beforepretty much every intimate moment Id had with Maxon came about without intentionbut I had to hope that if I was deliberate, I could make it clear that I was just as interested in him as the others.

I took a deep breath, raised my chin, and walked into the dining hall. I was purposely a minute or two late, hoping everyone would already be seated. I was right on that count. But the reaction was better than Id hoped.