the walls, no pieces on the inlaid shelves. Even the paint was a little drab.
“This is the princess’s suite,” Maxon said quietly.
My eyes widened.
“I know it’s not much to look at right now. The princess is supposed to choose the decor, so once my mother moved to the queen’s suite, the room was stripped.”
Queen Amberly had slept here. Something about the room felt magical.
Maxon came up behind me and started pointing. “Those doors go to the balcony. And over there”—he pointed to the other end of the room—“those doors go to the princess’s personal study.
Right here”—he noted a door to our right—“this goes to my room. Can’t have the princess too far off.”
I felt myself blush thinking of sleeping here with Maxon so close.
He stepped toward the armoire. “And this? Behind this piece of furniture is the escape to the safe room. You can get to other places in the palace this way, too, but that’s its main purpose.” He sighed. “This is a slight misuse, but I thought it would be worth it.”
Maxon placed his hand on a hidden latch, and the armoire and the panel of wall behind it swung forward. I saw him smile at the space behind it. “Right on time.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” another voice said.
I sucked in a breath. There was no way that voice belonged to who I thought it did. I stepped to see around the hulking piece of furniture and Maxon’s smiling face. There, dressed in very plain clothes and with her hair pulled into a bun, was Marlee.
“Marlee?” I whispered, sure I had to be dreaming. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve missed you so much!” she cried, and ran to me with her arms open. With her hands out, I could see clearly the red, healing welts on her palms. It really was Marlee.
She wrapped me in a hug, and we crumpled to the ground, I was so overcome. I couldn’t stop from crying and asking over and over what in the world she was doing here.
When I quieted down long enough, Maxon got my attention. “Ten minutes. I’ll be waiting outside. Marlee, you can leave the way you came.”
She gave him her word, and Maxon left us alone.
“I don’t understand,” I said. “You were supposed to go south. You were supposed to be an Eight. Where’s Carter?”
She smiled through my misunderstanding. “We’ve been here the whole time. I just started working in the kitchens; and Carter’s still on the mend, but I think he’ll be in the stables soon.”
“On the mend?” So many questions were racing through my mind, I wasn’t sure why that one popped out.
“Yes, he walks and can sit and stand, but it’s hard for him to do anything too strenuous. He’s helping in the kitchens until he’s fully healed. He’s going to be fine though. And look at me,” she said, holding out both hands. “We’ve been very well taken care of. They aren’t pretty, but at least they don’t hurt anymore.”
I carefully touched the swollen lines on her palms, sure they couldn’t actually be painless. But she didn’t flinch, and after a moment I slid my hand into hers. It felt funny, but at the same time completely natural. Marlee was here. And I was holding her hand.
“So Maxon’s had you in the palace the whole time?”
She nodded. “After the caning, he was afraid we would be hurt if we were left on our own, so he kept us here. Two other servants, a brother and sister who had family in Panama, were sent instead.
We’re going by new names, and Carter is growing out his beard, so after a while we’ll blend in. Not a lot of people know we’re in the palace in the first place, just a few of the cooks I work with, one of the nurses, and Maxon. I don’t even think the guards know because they have to answer to the king, and he wouldn’t be pleased to find out.”
She shook her head before quickly moving on. “Our little apartment is small, basically just enough room for our bed and some shelves; but at least it’s clean. I’m trying to sew us a new bedspread, but I’m not—”
“Hold on.
She smiled. “We got married two days ago. I told Maxon the morning we were caned that I loved Carter and that he was the one I wanted to marry, and I apologized for hurting him. He didn’t care, of course. He came to me two days ago saying there was some big event happening and that if we wanted to get married, this was the time.”
I counted back. Two days ago was when the German Federation had come. The entire palace staff was either helping serve them or preparing for the ladies from Italy.
“Maxon gave me away. I’m not sure I’ll ever see my parents again. The more distance they have from me, the better.”
I could tell she was pained to say so, but I understood why. If it had been me and I was suddenly an Eight, the kindest thing I could do for my family was disappear. It would take time, but people would forget. Eventually, my parents would recover.
To push away her sad thoughts, she fanned out her left hand, and I noticed the little band across her finger for the first time. It was twine tied in a simple knot, but it was a clear statement: I’m taken.
“I think I’m going to have to get him to give me a new one soon; I’m already fraying this one. I guess if he works in the stables, I’ll have to make him a new ring every day.” She playfully shrugged.
“Not that I mind.”
My mind had jumped to another question that I worried might be rude to ask, but I knew I would never be able to have this kind of conversation with my mom or Kenna. “So, have you … you know?”
It took her a moment to understand, but then she laughed. “Oh! Yes, we have.”
We both giggled. “How is it?”
“Honestly? A little uncomfortable at first. The second time was better.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Yeah.”
There was a bit of a pause.
“I’ve been really lonely without you. I miss you.” I played with the little piece of twine on her finger.
“I miss you, too. Maybe once you’re the princess, I can sneak up here all the time.”
I snorted. “I’m not so sure that’ll happen.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her face turning serious. “You’re still his favorite, right?”
I shrugged.
“What happened?” The question was laced with concern, and I didn’t want to admit that it had started with losing her. It wasn’t her fault.
“Just things.”
“America, what’s going on?”
I sighed. “After you got caned, I was upset with Maxon. It took me a while to realize that he wouldn’t have done something like that if he could have stopped it.”
Marlee nodded. “He tried so hard, America. And when he couldn’t, he did everything he could to make the situation better. So don’t be mad at him.”
“I’m not anymore, but I’m also not sure I want to be the princess. I don’t know if I could do what he did. And then there was this poll in a magazine Celeste showed me. The people don’t like me, Marlee. I’m at the bottom.
“I’m not sure I have what it takes. I was never a good choice, and it seems like I’m plummeting.
And now … now … I think Maxon wants Kriss.”
“Kriss? When did that happen?”
“I have no idea, and I don’t know what to do. Part of me thinks it’s a good thing. She’d make a better princess; and if he really likes her, I want him to be happy. And he’s supposed to do another elimination really soon. When he called me out today, I thought I might be going home.”
Marlee laughed. “You’re so ridiculous. If Maxon didn’t have feelings for you, he’d have sent you home a long time ago. The reason you’re still here is because he refuses to lose hope.”
Something between a choke and a laugh came out of my mouth.
“I wish we could talk more, but I should go,” she said. “We’re taking advantage of guards changing to do
