Schreved

Chapter 26

||A/N: I know I'm not doing this in a chronological order like the original books, but I'm just pulling out the most memorable moment from all three||
Tonight I had to be on my A game. My hair had to be perfect. My makeup had to be perfect, everything had to be perfect.
Mary had put my hair into an elegant up-do and let a few whispies fall down. Lucy went heavier with my makeup than ever before. She used foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, she contoured a tiny bit, highlighted and set my makeup on my face in a matter of an hour. Anne put me into a long white dress that had blue diamonds on the top, that pushed up my cleavage and white lace sleeves that went down to my wrists. She then added my song bird necklace and the blue bracelet from Maxon.
I don't wear the button anymore, though. I don't feel any type of romantic love towards Aspen anymore. He's more of a brother to me.
"Okay miss! You're almost done!" Lucy handed me a pair of blue diamond hills and told me to walk around in them and get used to them. I did as I was told.
"Oh, America! You look beautiful!" Mary acted like she was wiping tears away from her eyes.
"Y'all are too kind. Do you think Maxon will like it? I really hope he does."
"Pshh. If that boy doesn't like it, then he ain't worth it, America," Anne said.
"Okay okay okay! Now I have to go. I don't want to be late!" I said my goodbyes, they wished me luck and I was out the door.
In the hallway I found a guard waiting for me.
"Lady America, I'm here to escort you to the Report room. Allow me." He held out his arm and I greatly accepted it. We walked down
the hallway in comfortable silence.
When we got to the room everybody was bustling about. Maids were surrounded around Queen Amberley and the advisors around a sitting Maxon and Kriss was pacing the floors. I chose to walk over to her.
"Kriss, what's wrong?" She looked up at me like I was stupid.
"Are you stupid or something?" She asked, her southern accent coming through. Her words made me take a step back and realize just how much this meant to her. "This competition is everything to me! I need the crown! I need him to choose me so we can have one of our own on the thro-" she cut herself off. She slapped a hand over her mouth and looked over at Maxon. He had a shocked look on his face and he just sat there. He shook his head and walked over to us.
"Good evening, ladies. Kriss, America, could I speak to you two privately in the hallway please?" His body was radiating with heat and I could fell his anger. It angered me just thinking about her betraying him. I saw Kriss straighten her back and put on a fake smile out of the corner of my eye.
"Of course, Maxey-Poo." Her voice sounded fake. Just like her.
"Sure, darling," i said in the most seductive way possible. He smirked. He only smirked!
"Fol... follow me." He tried to clear his voice quietly and unnoticed but I noticed. I finally realized what kind of hold I had on him. I could practically control him if I wanted to.
As we made our way out to the hallway, Maxon made his way in between Kriss and I. I felt his fingers tangle up in mine and I instantly relaxed. Kriss noticed, I know she did, I hoped she did. We rounded another corner and came to a stop.
"I have come to a time in my life that I have to think about what would really make me happy, who will make me happy. After what you said, Kriss, made my decision a whole lot easier. I've known about you being a rebel for a long time now, and I don't wholeheartedly agree with your terms. You showed me respect, but how much of that was for the crown and not me?" She had tears streaming down her face and black streaks going from her eyes to her jaw.
"All of it was for you, Maxon! I don't want the crown! I want you! I've always wanted yo-" she was cut off by a hand being held up by Maxon.
"Don't even, Kriss. Don't lie to me or yourself. I never loved you. I don't know how I could, if I'm being honest. I'm sorry but we're not going to get married. You're dismissed to go back to the Report." With that she left. He turned towards me.
"You're mine now, darling," he whispered into my ear. It made me shudder.
"You know, I'm the one that is supposed to be charming, hot, tempting, seductive and enduring tonight. Not you." His body was pressed up against mine and we were slowly moving backwards, until my back hit the wall. His forehead was on mine and his hands were on my waist.
"You know, this dress if extremely beautiful, but it'd look much better on the floor." His words made my breath hitch in my throat and my legs go wobbly.
"Oh really now? Are you sweet talking me, Maxon?" I put on my "sexy voice" just to mess with him.
"Mhmm. You want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I can." His lips were inches from mine.
"And?"
"Because you're mine." He got closer to my ear.
"And?"
"So I can do this." He lowered his lips to my neck and slowly started kissing and making trails up, sucking, claiming it for himself.
"A... and?"
"So I can fully take you as mine and love you forever." His kisses slowly made their way lower, to my collarbone, to my shoulder.
"What's an-another r-reason?" I wanted him to keep going, to hold back nothing.
"So I can make lo-"
"Maxon! Seriously? You couldn't keep your hands off her? Not for forty-five more minutes?" It was the Queen once again that intruded on our little, well big, moment. I blushed as Maxon still had me pressed up against the wall.
"I suggest, that you both get in there before Gavril has a heart attack!" Neither of us moved. "So that means put the girl down, Maxon!" He did as he was told and she nodded in approval. "Good. Now Maxon go inside and fix your hair, and America I need to talk to you. Alone." Her voice was all business and it made me quite terrified.
"Y-yes, Mother." He pecked me on the lips and left. I walked over to her and she just stared at me. Then she smiled.
"You seriously couldn't wait? How weird do you think that is for me? That's the second time I've cock-blocked y'all! That's embarrassing." I bursted out laughing and so did she. "But," laugh "seriously, though. Next time, get a room!" We both continued laughing for a long time until she quickly regained her elegance.
"A lady should never laugh above a hushed tone. Also, a lady should never have several hickeys on the side of her neck and go out in public," she said in an even faker British accent. Then she left me in the hallway.