The Elite (Selection)

hold on to your affection for him so tightly when a single moment could take his heart away for good.”
    I squinted, unsure of what he meant.
    “I have eyes all over this palace. I know there are girls offering him more than you’d dream. Do you think someone as plain as you could stand a chance next to them?”
    Girls? As in plural? Was he saying that more than what I’d seen in the hall between Maxon and Celeste was happening? Were our hours of kisses last night tame compared to everything else he was experiencing?
    Maxon had said he wanted to be honest with me. Was he keeping this a secret?
    I had to decide in my heart that I trusted Maxon.
    “If that’s true, then Maxon will let me go in his own time, and you have nothing to worry about.”
    “But I do!” he bellowed, then dropped his voice. “If by some act of stupidity, Maxon actually chooses you, your little stunts would cost us everything. Decades, generations of work gone because you thought you were being a hero!”
    He got in my face to the point that I actually took a step back, but he came closer, leaving very little space between us. His voice was low and harsh, and far more frightening than when he was yelling.
    “You’re going to need to learn to hold your tongue. If not, you and I will be enemies. Trust me when I say that you do not want to be my enemy.”
    His angry finger was pointing into my cheek. He could rip me to shreds right now. Even if there was someone nearby, what would they do? No one was going to protect me from the king.
    I tried to sound calm. “I understand.”
    “Excellent,” he said, suddenly turning cheerful. “Then I’ll leave you to settle back in. Good afternoon.”
    I stood there, only realizing once he left that I was shaking. When he said to keep my mouth shut, I assumed that meant not even thinking of mentioning this to Maxon. So, for now I wouldn’t. I was betting this was a test to see how far he could push me. I willed myself to be unbreakable.
    As I thought it, something in me changed. I was nervous, yes, but I was also angry.
    Who was this man to order me around? Yes, he was king; but, really, he was just a tyrant. Somehow he’d convinced himself that by keeping everyone around him oppressed and quiet, he was doing us all a favor. How was it a blessing to be forced to live in a corner of society? How was it good that there were limits for everyone in Illéa but him?
    I thought of Maxon sneaking Marlee into the depths of the kitchens. Even if I wasn’t here for very long, I knew he would do a better job than his father. Maxon at least had the capacity for compassion.
    I continued to breathe slowly, and once I felt composed, I carried on.
    I walked into my room and scurried over to press the button that sent for my maids. Faster than I could have imagined, Anne, Mary, and Lucy came running breathlessly into my room.
    “My lady?” Anne said. “Is something wrong?”
    I smiled. “Not unless you think me staying is a bad thing.”
    Lucy squealed. “Really?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “But how?” Anne asked. “I thought you said—”
    “I know, I know. It’s hard to explain. All I can say is that I’ve been given a second chance. Maxon matters to me, and I’m going to fight for him.”
    “That’s so romantic!” Mary cried, and Lucy started clapping her hands.
    “Hush, hush!” Anne called out sternly. I thought she would be excited and didn’t understand her sudden seriousness.
    “If she’s going to win, we need a plan.” Her smile was diabolical, and I grinned with her. I’d never met anyone as organized as these girls. If I had them, there was no way I could lose.
    END OF BOOK TWO

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
    WELL, HELLO THERE, SASSY READER. Thank you for reading my book! I hope it made you have unbearable feelings that you find yourself tweeting about at 3:00 a.m. That’s what it does to me, so …
    To Callaway, the sweetest hubby a girl could have. Thank you for your support of and pride in what I do. You make it so much better. Lurve you.
    To Guyden and Zuzu, Mommy loves you bunches! I’m crazy about the stories I write, but you’ll always be the best things I ever made.
    To Mom, Dad, and Jody, thanks for being the weirdest family possible, and for loving me just like I am.
    To Mimi, Papa, and Chris, thanks for your love and support, and for being so excited every step of the way.
    To the rest of my family—too many names to even think about listing—thank you! I know that, wherever you