Page 8 (1/2)
PART I
I PULLED THE TOP LAYERS of hter over my shoulders Carter was quiet now, and his silence sent deeper chills through my body than the lack of heat in the palace cells did It had been horrific to hear his grunts of pain as the guards beat the hope out of hi
I shivered as I drew my knees closer to rateful for it if only because it arm on my skin We knew We knew it could end this way And still we met How could we have stopped?
I wondered hoould die A noose? A bullet? So much more elaborate and painful?
I couldn’t help wishing that Carter’s silence o first I’d rather havethat his last memory was of mine Even now, alone in this cell, all I wanted was for his pain to stop
So Was this it? Was this the end? I shutto hold backone of the belovedmy punishment? Oh, CarterCarter, what have we done?
I didn’t think I was a vain person Still, nearly every day after breakfast, I felt like I had to go back toto the Woain until the evening And at that point, of course, I’d reapply all e my outfit anyway
Not that anything I was doing see much of an effect Maxon was polite and friendly, but I didn’t think I had a connection with hi wrong with me?
While I was certainly having a wonderful ti the other girls—well, so Selected, I had thought that I was funny and pretty and sirls whose daily mission was to impress one particular boy, I felt dim and dull and less I realized I should have paid much more attention to my friends back home who had always see a husband and settling down They had spent their ti about clothes, and makeup, and boys—while I had paid more mind to my tutors’ lectures I felt like I had missed some important lesson, and nooefully behind
No I , that was all I’dfrom Silvia’s history lesson earlier this week I’d even written so I wanted Maxon to think that I was smart and well-rounded I also wanted him to think I was beautiful, so it felt like these trips to my room were necessary
Did Queen A all the time
I paused on the stairs to look aton the carpet I didn’t see anything, so I et to the Women’s Room
I flicked my hair over my shoulder as I approached the first floor and went back to focusing on whether there wasI really wanted to win I hadn’t spent much time with Maxon, but he seemed kind and funny and—
“Ahh!” My heel snagged on the edge of the stair, and I fell with a smack onto the marble floor “Ow,” I muttered
“Miss!” I looked up to see a guard running toward ht?”
“I’
“I don’t kno ladies walk in those shoes It’s a miracle the whole lot of you don’t have broken ankles all the time”
I giggled as he offered me his hand
“Thank you” I started brushingout my dress
“Any time You’re sure you aren’t hurt?” He lookedfor scrapes or cuts
“My hip hurts a little where I fell, but otherwise I feel perfect” Which was true
“Maybe we should take you to the hospital wing, just to be safe”
“No, really,” I insisted “I’m fine”
He sighed “Would you do o anyway? If you were hurt and I didn’t do so to help, I’d feel awful about it” His blue eyes were terribly convincing “And I’d be willing to bet the prince would want you to go”
He o”
He grinned, his shtly crooked “Okay then” He scooped asped in shock
“I don’t think I need this,” I protested
“All the saet down “Now, correct ht?”
“Yes, I am”
He kept grinning, and I couldn’t help but s hard to keep all of you straight Honestly, I don’t think I was the best in training, and I have no idea how I ended up in the palace But I want toto at least learn na, I’ll knoho they’re talking about”
I liked the way he spoke It was as if he was telling a story, even though he was si a fact about hiht
“Well, you’re already going above and beyond,” I encouraged “And don’t be so down on yourself I’m sure you were an excellent trainee if you were placed here Your coreat potential in you”
“You’re too kind Will you remind me where you’re from?”
“Kent”
“Oh, I’m from Allens”
“Really?” Allens was just east of Kent, above Carolina We were neighbors in a way
He nodded as he walked “Yes, ma’am This is the first time I’ve ever been out of ”
“Sa used to the weather”
“It is! I’ for fall to kick in, but I’m not sure they even have fall here”
“I knohat you mean Summer’s nice, but not every day”
“Exactly,” he said firine how silly Christmas must look?”
I sighed “It can’t possibly be as good without snow” I meant that I dreamed about winter all year It was my favorite season
“Nowhere close,” he agreed
I didn’t knohy I was s so much Maybe it was because this conversation felt so easy I’d never had an easy ti to a boy Admittedly, I hadn’t had a lot of practice, but it was nice to think that ht
As we approached the entrance of the hospital wing he slowed
“Would youI’ve broken a leg or so”
He chuckled “Not at all”
He set me down and opened the door forat a desk
The officer spoke for me “Lady Marlee took a little tu, but we just wanted to be safe”
The nurse stood right up, looking happy to have so to do “Oh, Lady Marlee, I hope you’re not too hurt”
“No, just a little sore here,” I said, touching my hip
“I’ll check you out right away Thank you so
o back to your post”
The guard tipped his head to her and started to leave Just before the doors closed, he gavelike an idiot
I was pulled back to the present as the voices in the hallway grew louder I heard the guards’ greetings overlapping one another as they all said one word: Highness
Maxon was here
I rushed to the satedof my cell I watched as the door to the cell across the hallway—Carter’s cell—was opened, and Maxon was escorted in I strained to hear as said, but though I could make out Maxon’s voice, I couldn’t decipher any words I also heard weak mutters in reply and knew they were from Carter He ake And alive
I sihed and shivered, then lifted the tulle back over my shoulders
After a few ain, and I watched as Maxon approached uards let him in and shut the door behind hiasped
“Good Lord, what have they done to you?” Maxon walked over, unbuttoning his suit coat as he did
“Maxon, I’m so sorry,” I cried