Recap

The last part from the real series that will be relevant in this story! All rights go to Kiera Cass!


And then, at the last possible moment, everything was ruined.


Maxon stepped around the corner, holding Kriss by the hand. His eyes locked on to me, body pressed into Aspen with the intensity of my defense. I backed away, but not quickly enough. Aspen turned to face Maxon, prepared to give an excuse but still too stunned to speak.


Kriss's mouth dropped open, and she quickly covered it with a hand. Looking into Maxon's shocked eyes, I shook my head, trying to explain without words that this was all a misunderstanding.


It was only a second before Maxon regained his cool demeanor. "I found Kriss in the hall and was coming to explain my choice to you both before the cameras showed up, but it seems we have other things to discuss."


I looked at Kriss and was at least consoled by the fact that there was no triumph in her eyes. On the contrary, she looked sad for me.


"Kriss, would you please return to your room? Quietly?" Maxon instructed.


She curtsied and disappeared down the hall, eager to get away from the situation. Maxon took a deep breath before looking at us again.


"I knew it," he said. "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." He rolled his eyes. "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 lost you again . . . it was you," he said, turning to Aspen.


"Your Majesty, this is my fault," Aspen lied. "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."


Without responding to Aspen's excuses, he walked right up to him, looking him in the eye. "What's your name? Your first name?"


He swallowed. "Aspen."


"Aspen Leger," he said, testing the words. "Get out of my sight before I send you to New Asia to die."


Aspen's breath caught. "Your Majesty, I—"


"GO!"


Aspen looked at me once, then turned and walked away.


I stood there, silent and still, afraid to risk a peek into Maxon's eyes. When I finally did, he nudged his chin toward my room, and I went in, with him following me. I turned to see him close the door and run his hand through his hair one time. He moved to face me, and I saw his eyes catch on the unmade bed. He laughed humorlessly to himself.


"How long?" he asked quietly, still in control.


"Do you remember that fight—" I started.


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


I shook where I stood. "After Kriss's party."


His eyes widened. "So basically since he got here," he said, something like sarcasm in his voice.


"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," I pleaded.



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