Ever After . . .

Chapter 33

~Maxon~

I was sitting in my office after the Report. I couldn't face Kriss after what I had said on the Report. It pained me so hard to say those things. Especially since I knew America was watching. I knew America would be hurt. But I hoped she understood why I had to say those things.

My door opens and a maid walks in. She courtesies. "Your highness, we found a letter for you. We must've forgot to deliver it today," she say.

She hands me the letter, courtesies, and leaves. I open the letter. The signature reads America. She finally wrote me back.

I quickly read the letter. It was packed with information.

It started with an apology. America apologized for hurting me during the Selection. I had forgave her, but looking at her writing it out made it more meaningful.

Then it went into the information I wanted. America knew Kriss is a Northern Rebel. Her necklace is a sign of her alliance to the Rebels. She warned me to stay cautious of her. Which now I would be.

The North Star with the threat was nothing to worry about. According to her it has been there for a long time, and people have forgotten about it. That set me at ease. I knew now I shouldn't be too worried about it.

Then America went into something else. She flat out wrote that her father was a Northern Rebel. She stated that she didn't know he was a Northern Rebel until after he had died. That's when America pieced it all together. It became alarming. America wasn't a Rebel she claimed, but she knew two people that were. My hands started to shake. I continued to read.

'Don't lash or freak out Maxon. Just relax. Take a breath and think. I would never purposely put you in any danger. You would've known I was hiding something that huge from you. Before you freak out over the guard, Aspen wasn't huge. He was the smallest secret I was hiding from you because I felt he wasn't a problem, but I was wrong. I'm sorry.'

That eased me. America tended to be a terrible liar about big things. I knew she was telling the truth here.

The rest of the letter was just a little more information on what she knew about the Rebels.

The letter ended, and I was crying. It's was huge, just a few small tears, but it was enough to be considered crying. I wipe away the tears and set the letter down. I'm about ready to leave my office when I remember the letter. No one can find the letter. I quickly shove it into a drawer so no one will be able find it.

I decide to go back to my room. It was about time for bed anyway. Going back to my room I run into Nathan. He was holding the Selection papers, and they end up on the ground.

"Where are you going?" I ask bending over to help him pick up the papers.

"Oh I was doing something in my office and was about ready to go back to my bedroom for the night," Nathan says taking the forms out of my hands. We stand up.

"Alright. Do you need anything?"

"No. I think I'm good, but if I need anything I'm sure I'll be able to find you."

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning then."

"Yeah. Goodnight dad."

I give him a small smile and leave for my bedroom. Nathan continues down the hall to his.

I walk in to Kriss asleep on the bed. I quietly change my clothes and lay down on the bed next to her. I look at my ring. How much was Kriss keeping from me? Was this all a lie? A trick perhaps. I had so many unanswered questions. But I set them aside for a dreamless sleep.