We were rushed to safety in different directions. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Maxon lift Kriss into his arms and rush out the left door. The guard to my right was pulling me the opposite way. Did he realize I didn't belong with the royalty? Had he noticed the shift in Maxon's favor?

The nameless guard led me down the hall, up the stairs and to a far corner. No one was up here. "What are you doing?"

The man looked me straight in the eye as he opened a safe-room. "Protecting my Queen." With that he shoved me into the room and shut the door.

What did he mean? I'm not a queen and I never will be. A small part of me wanted to be thankful, but the larger part crumbled. I had truly lost Maxon. There was no going back.

I sank to my knees. I had dons this to us. He had paved is a way, a way to happiness, a way to love, and I ruined it by keeping my betrayal a secret. I should have told him last night. I should have told him when he proposed. That way I would have had a chance to explain myself. To explain how confused and hurt I was in those moments. That I loved him. Oh God, did I love him.

I laid a blanket down and couldn't help the flood of memories from the last time I was in one of these rooms. The feel of his arms around me. The way he kissed me. The look on his face of such surrender and love meant only for me. And last night—the first sob broke through and I let the pain consume me.

I tried to imagine him here with me. The words he would say. The promises he'd make. That tomorrow we would be okay. That I was safe with him and he's never let anything hurt me.

To those thoughts, I wrapped myself in the thin blanket and fell asleep.

K