I shout above the clamor, "Out! Now! The stairs go up and out the right double doors! Hurry! Hurry!" I rush to help an older woman with a toddler. Then I act as a crutch to hurry along our retired butler. People stream out around me. 

Dad is next, wringing his hands. I see that his pupils are dilated. He is trembling and leaning to the right.

"Dad, take Mom out," I say firmly.

"She needs a doctor," he whispers. "And her medicine." Then he turns to Hale with a fierce expression I've never seen before. "But I need to help here."

To Hale he orders in an icy tone, "Let me negotiate. Dismantle the explosives. We have the woman, Eady's old maid, Neena."

I wish I had a watch. "Where's Kile? I need Kile! Dad, get out! There's no time! Neena escaped! She's behind this! Let me handle it! Go!"

Dad rubs a grimy palm over his bandaged face. He's confused, not thinking clearly, maybe concussed.

Eerily calm now, Hale says, "You have about one minute to clear out or we all die."

"You can have a seat on the cabinet! I'll pardon you! Anything to stop the bloodshed!" Dad begs.

"You need to get out." Hale says to me, paying no mind to my father, which tells me how little time we have for anything but survival. The room is half cleared.

"Dad, go!" I order.

Mom appears behind him, holding her chest. Her skin looks waxen. I spin Dad around to see her.

"America, my love." He hoists her up into his arms, kisses my forehead, and rushes past me. He's still limping but he's moving faster than I thought he was capable of. They might make it. While negotiating the crowds and stairs, I see him murmuring reassurances to Mom, whose eyes widen and fasten on me in alarm.

Kile. He stands before me holding his shoulder but flashing furious eyes at Hale. I curl into his chest for a hug. I can tell by the ginger way he's holding himself that he has injuries I cannot see. My brothers are behind him supporting Josie between them. Osten has tears running freely down his face, his frightened eyes wide and dazed looking. Kaden has a bandage seeping blood on his forehead and a sling around one arm. His pants are torn off at the knee and his shin is splinted.

"Please take them," I whisper to Kile. "Please, I beg of you."

Kile stiffens, "Is it true? A bomb?"

"Yes. If you care about me, help me with this. Make sure my brothers make it safely up, and Josie. My dad just left. Please, I won't go until everyone is out." The room is almost clear. "I'll be right behind you," I say, unsure if I mean it. By my mental calculation, we're out of time.

Osten, Kaden, and Josie hobble to the door. I see Lucy and Marlee behind them, both seeming not right and leaning on each other.

Tears fill my eyes, and I beg once more, "Please."

Kile eyes Hale who has deposited the slumped woman on the floor and is running his hands over the walls. He said he could dismantle a bomb, didn't he? The woman drags herself up and goes to help him.

"I want to stay," Kile says brokenly.

"It'd be selfish. We aren't selfish. Love sometimes means sacrifice, right?"

A deep pain passes through his body. Shuddering, he says, "Right, your Highness."

Kile heaves Osten on his back and instructs him to hold on. Then he hoists Josie into his arms.

He says firmly to me, "I love you, you know that?"

"I know it."

He arches a brow and says sadly, "You said you wouldn't send me away again."

"I owe you."

With a grim expression, he charges forward. The ladies cling to him and the kids cry and whimper. Without him I don't think they'd have a chance.

I race to Hale. "How many?" I ask desperately. "Here, and how many up there?" I still wonder if this is a trick. Is he setting us up to blow to bits upstairs?

Hale scans the room. People stream by, going quickly. The room is almost empty.

Kile will be back as soon as he hands the others off to safety.

Hale and the woman continue doing their apparent search for the bombs.

"Hale! Tell me what to look for. We need to work together, not against each other."

"I'm not in charge anymore! I lost control, okay? Maybe I fell for your princess dream talk." His hands frantically skim over the walls, now on the last one.

"No, you helped me see the real world. That was true."

"And you hate me for it."

"I hate you for the way you did it!"

He grabs my shoulders and shakes me hard, my neck jolts with pain and I gasp out a sob.

"You have to go! This can't be for nothing!"

Leger races to me, listening to his ear piece.

Hale grips my arm so tightly I cry out. He holds me in front of him and pushes me to the exit.

The room is empty aside from his companion. She turns from the walls that she has been scanning like an inspector. When she faces us I gasp, "Jayel!"

"No idea," she mutters to Hale, and darts past us.

Hale scoops me up and takes off at a sprint. Leger is right behind us seeming torn between stopping Hale and rushing us forward.

It all depends if Hale was telling me the truth.

We make it to the doorway when a strange tremor runs through the floor and shakes the bare light fixtures.

"No time!" Jayel hollers from ahead of us. She crouches down and holds her arms over her head.

A cacophony rings out. Heat. Fire. Noise. Smoke. Screaming. The bomb. It went off. I try to see if everyone made it out but a familiar warm, hard body is smashed on top of me, holding me to the ground. I try to lift my head. I have to see if Leger made it out! I can't move.

A forceful ripple jolts the body over me. More sporadic blows thump down. I feel Hale spasm. His body buffers what I feel to only pressure. I can't breathe for the liquid fire engulfing us. I can't see or speak. My lungs fill with acrid smoke and I close my eyes. So hot.

Massive splintering and cracking sounds and then shouting. Shouting I recognize as Heath. 

Wet, sticky, foam...and then cool air drifts over me. More shouting. Hands prod at me. A large weight is peeled from my back. I sit up. Someone wipes my face. Heath is holding me up, letting an EMT take my vitals. I look at what was on me. Hale. The lifeless body of Hale is next to me. His back is blanketed with wounds. A shard of wood sticks through to his lower chest. His face is frozen in a grimace of pain. Soot and blood and rubble cover him like a grave of ruin.

I sob. "Hale, why?" I reach out and smack his shoulder. Heath holds my arm back.

I shudder with sobs.

"You showed me so much. I don't know why you would—"

"He changed his mind, your highness," Heath says calmly. "Illea needs you more than anyone. You can make it better." Around me my home is a wreckage. I only pray my loved ones made it up top and out.

I turn back to the person who protected my life with his own. "I will. I promise, Hale."

Then they ask if they can give me something for the pain and to calm down. I nod and lean into Heath, trusting him more than I ever thought I would a guard or a friend. Never did I think I'd have both in one man. Together we refuse the stretcher and he carries me out. As I let the drugs sweep me under, I ask, "Kile?"

"He's okay," Heath says. I don't have time to ask after my parents. My eyes slide shut and I'm out. I dream of a boy with pencil smudges on his fingertips and too long hair falling sloppily in his eyes, books always in his arms, dreams tumbling off his lips. 

The very same boy is there when I open my eyes. Kile rushes to Heath with fear and gratitude in his expression. He's real. Kile envelopes me in his arms and we weep with the overwhelming joy of love.

I wake up next in a white room with speckled ceiling tiles. Tubes poke into my arms and a mask is over my nose.

Kile is sitting next to me, looking tired but clean. We're in the infirmary again.

Our eyes meet.

"I'm sorry," I say. My voice is low and husky from the smoke. "I shouldn't have asked you to leave. I didn't know another way."

His expression crumples into relief but also anguish.

"Me too. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have listened to you. I just knew you'd never forgive yourself if anything happened to them. I was coming back for you when—"

"The bomb," tears run down my face and my ears ring. "It went off." I'm fuzzy with drugs but Kyle's face tells me a lot.

"Your parents and brothers are fine. Banged up, but okay. So is Josie and my mom, Lucy...even Leger is going to make it."

"Is Hale okay?" I ask in a small voice.

"No, Eady, he is dead."

"Oh God," I bite my lip. "No." I clench my covers and try to block the sadness and anger welling up inside me. I can't seem to plug it up. I break down, letting the sobs and grief roll over me. I can't deny how this affects me. I wish I could at least hide it. I can tell my reaction cuts Kile.

"You cared for him?" Kile's voice breaks, and I suspect his heart does too. I don't know how to explain that I hate Hale but I also owe him for helping me understand my country and then helping me survive to lead it.

I shake my head and hug myself, wishing the tears would stop. Dead. Gone. I won't ever be able to pay him back. Revenge wise or in gratitude. Hale is gone. Because of me. If I had believed him sooner about the bomb...if I hadn't run from him in that safe room...if I hadn't gotten out of that loft...

Would he be alive? Would I?

"You loved him?" Kile asks, reading me astutely as always.

"Not in a way that I understand. He tortured me. Was awful to me. But he didn't kill me. Then he changed his mind." I hold myself tighter and endure more breaking sobs that shudder through my body as if I'm being tossed on rough waves. "That took a strength that I admired. He cared about me in a twisted way...I can't believe he is dead." I try to sit up.

Kile gently stops me. "You're kind of a mess of bruises, scrapes, burns, and sprains. You'll be staying here a while again." He passes me a box of tissues.

I sniffle and thank him. Hiding my face in a bunch of them, I say, "Do you hate me now?"

"No," he chuckles and scoots his hip on my bed. He rests his hand on my knee. "I could never hate you, Eady. I don't understand you sometimes, but..."

I stutter out, "I shouldn't have sent you away or hidden my love." I reach for his hand but he is already reaching for me. We meet halfway and clasp each other as if the danger is not yet over. I cling tightly. "I'm not hiding it again. Ever." I feel him exhale against my neck.

"Love?" he echoes. Ah, so he is insecure also. Why didn't I say it more?

"I love you," I proclaim.

"I love you, too," he answers immediately.

"Of course," I smile. So does he. I'm sure it hurts both of our injured, swollen faces, but it's unstoppable. Like us.

***

Ahren breaks away from Camille and runs across the tarmac. He throws himself into my arms, almost bowling me over. I forgot how boyish my twin can be. He forgets that he's a grown up man with even more muscles than I remember. He's been gone six months.

"You!" I shout over the helicopter blades cacophony. Anger, hurt, and joy are all there in my voice, washing over him and causing him to grin.

He grabs my hand and we run inside, down the maid's stairway, and to the small anteroom before the jade parlor. It's one of our favorite rooms because no one else seems to ever use it. I'm out of breath when he shuts the door behind us. I'm still recovering from the many internal injuries I suffered from the explosion and the castle's ceiling raining down on me and Hale.

"You missed everything!" I shout. I didn't intend to lay into him immediately. "I needed you!" I cry, pushing him hard in the chest. He doesn't budge. Seems to be expecting my temper, in fact. His chest is hard and broader than before. He's changed.

"I know." He looks down. "I know."

"I forgive you," I gasp out. Then I collapse on the braid trimmed settee and huff out a petulant breath.

"You do?" he asks, plopping down beside me, barely leaving me any room just like he used to. I look at the way he is pressed up against my side, our thighs smashed together and our feet even tangled up. His eyes meet mine and we both raise the same eyebrow at the same time. It's like looking into a mirror. Except I'm seven minutes older and even though I have these pretty breasts, I'm the future ruler. He is merely my younger brother, free to dash off with his love and leave me a note wishing me luck with the whole ruling our country thing.

I pout out a lip and say just what I always used to say when he sat too close.

"Just because we shared a womb..."

He shoulder bumps me, like he used to, a bit too hard to be considered polite.

And just like that, despite his desertion of me, I know he and I will be fine. Somethings are too strong to be broken. He'll always be part of my heart, no matter the distance between us in miles.

***The next night...***

We make it halfway through the elegant welcome home ball before Ahren finds us.

"Really?" he asks, arching a brow at Kile and my entwined hands.

Kile and I stand close together near the pastry table. We've been reenergizing after an evening full of dancing exclusively with each other.

"How very lov-ey dov-ey," Ahren says in a singsong. "I do believe people are getting a very couple-ey vibe from you two."

Ahren and I stayed up all last night talking. So he is playing dumb for Kile's discomfort.

It works, Kile blushes deep scarlet. "Umm," he begins, side eyeing me. "I thought Eady told you we're...um...we...kind of..."

Ahren points at the nonspace between Kile and me. "You two? No, ew," he makes a grossed out face.

"Um," Kile flashes me a curious glance.

I let him off the hook. 

I say to Ahren, "Shut up, dummy. You know I heart Kile and Kile hearts me." I stick my tongue out at my twin. 

Ahren laughs and shrugs at Kile, "Dude, I had to give you a little guff. We may be buds but I got her back. Hear that?" 

Kile nods, squeezing me to him. He and Ahren fist bump.  

"Why are you so buff?" I ask, swatting Ahren's new broad chest. "I thought you'd be busy picking flowers and delivering chocolates to Camille 24/7. Instead you work out or something?" He's looking dashing in his tux, obviously a couture chic made in his now home country, probably selected by the perfect Camille.

"You've learned so much, Queen Eadlyn," Ahren says coyly. "But you still don't know everything. A married man finds many ways to exercise his muscles," he waggles his eyebrows and now it's my turn to blush.

Kile chuckles.

"I do get bored while she is ruling the country, you know. You'll see," Ahren says to Kile, casting his gaze back onto the ballroom, no doubt looking for his lovely wife. He dotes on her more than ever. 

I reply hotly, "Kile is going to help me, thank you very much. He is in charge of all new development and overseeing all structural inspections and renovations. I need him."

Ahren turns wide eyes to me and looks thoughtful. Kile whispers in my ear that he's going to go dance with Josie, who's been begging him to all night. I nod, knowing that he is being kind in giving me privacy, but also feeling confident he'll be right back. I wonder if that will fade, the need to be close together. Even if we're in the same room, I want Kile by my side. Closer. Closer still.

"You too, baby boy," I say to Ahren. "You could definitely help more. In Illea, I mean. We want you to, Dad and I."

"Really?"

"Yes, we were overlooking your talents by just thinking one Shreave should rule. I need all you boys to help me. And everyone who has a skill or idea for making the future better. I want to shake things up. That's how to find where to improve."

"Dude, you got more mature and responsible when I was gone. I didn't think that was possible."

"And you got more biceps. We are what we are." It is so nice to have him back. I can joke and be myself with him in a way I can't with anyone else on this earth.

"What happened? It's like you shrugged off all the pressure but kept the power."

I laugh, throwing my head back and garnering some curious stares. People like seeing us back together so no one is bothering us, for now.

"My whole life, I let myself become what other people wanted. But no longer. I am what I want now. I will still help transition our political process to be more democratic, while maintaining the monarchy. Kaden has a vision and eventually I want him to take the crown. I'd like that. He has some great ideas. I mean, really great. And Kile does, too. Combined with mine, we can share decisions and power, each in our specialty. No one needs to be burdened with the whole weight alone."

"You're giving the crown up?" Ahren's mouth falls open in shock.

"A little at a time. I need to be able to walk away if I want to and still have it be okay. We could use your help Ahren. You have mad charm skills. Seriously, diplomacy..."

"I still can't believe it. What, you'd leave the castle? Go off and live in a condo making dresses? I don't see that satisfying you. What about your tiaras?"

I give him a playful shove, paired with a serious face.

"If you'd seen me in the last month of the Selection, you'd know how well I actually like the spotlight and having to make decisions. Not at all."

"I should have been here." He ducks his head. "You have changed."

"Duh. Half of me left. I had to fill in the pieces. Turns out, it was all fun, creative, passionate, and lazy pieces. The parts of me that are like you!"

He laughs out loud. "You know what? I've been ultra-responsible without you there to do it for me. Camille even noticed. She said she thought I grew up a bit without my family around to pick up the slack. I'm a pretty darn good Prince Consort, if you can believe that."

"I do."

"But honestly? I didn't feel right the whole time. We need to see each other, even if we don't live together in the palace. I'll visit your condo if you visit my wife's country."

"Deal. And I doubt it will be a condo. Maybe a hut, clean design, efficient, near my people."

"Still your people, ay?"

I smile. "More than ever. I am one of them now. I feel truly free. Free of castes, free of judgement over my every move and kiss. I feel free to choose my own path."

"Did someone mention kiss?" Kile appears next to me and our hands intertwine, naturally, no effort or staging needed. He squeezes lightly and leans in a fraction towards my lips, staring at them with a spark in his eye but also a question that I don't usually see. He darts his glance to Ahren and I get it. I nod slightly and Kile's eyes widen. Then he grins, a full on lopsided smile that opens my heart wide and reminds me that hut, condo, or castle, he is the one I want to wake up next to, forever.

He pulls my waist to his, and we kiss, unhurried, warm, exciting, and oh so perfect. Us. Kile and Eadlyn.

"Who would have thought?" Ahren says, voicing my own thoughts as he so often does. I have missed him.

His voice has surprise and approval in the tone.

I smile into our kiss and feel the buzz of elation zipping through my veins.

I am Eadlyn, girl, heir to the throne, designer, citizen, and finally, captain of my own fate.

***

A frenzied roar of applause and cheers follows the joyous announcement that Ahren and Camille are expecting. Mom, Dad, Kile, and I laugh and hug and shake hands with a million well-wishers. Ahren lingers protectively beside Camille. She hasn't danced much tonight, preferring to sit in the balcony and watch. Ahren is doting, but also nervous. We spent much of last night talking about his hopes and fears. He missed me as much as I missed him. And that's saying something. He swears it's going to be twins, says he can hear two heartbeats. Secretly, I hope it is. I look forward to being an aunt.

Kile finally determines that we've celebrated with everyone enough. I let him spirit me outside. The cool night air is blissful on my damp skin and I breathe in deeply. It's nice not to have to fear for my safety anymore. The guards are at attention but the country has been peaceful ever since the failed coup. Without Neena leading the charge, it dispelled quickly. I arranged a small ceremony for both Neena and Hale, both victims of the explosion. 

I only attended Hale's. My family joined me, and so did his. His mother and sisters accepted the positions I offered them in the factories, overseeing employee relations and health. Jayel in particular seemed humbled by my generosity and she promised to name her next daughter after me. Not necessary, but it is nice to know people can change so dramatically.

Smiling into the night air, Kile says, "Amazing." His eyes shine.

"I know, I'll be an aunt," I say. Kile didn't know about the baby(s) until just now. "You know I like kids? I found that out. I built a permanent spot in my weekly schedule to read at every town library. You just have to hurry up and design them." We are funding a library for each town, and the staff to support them. After that it'll be schools, hospitals...we're going to be very busy. 

"Yes, mam, your Highness, my love."

"Nice, so obedient," I roll my eyes. Kile laughs and I kiss his nose.

"Better aim," he says, and points to his lips. I moisten mine and move in.

After minutes of mind melting kisses, he pulls back and says, "We'll have kids?"

"Lots," I say with dreamy wistfulness.

"We should get married first," he says thoughtfully.

I nod and smile coyly. "No hurry."

"For real?" Kile asks. "If you want, we could catch up with Ahren..."

"No, let them have their moment. They will be great parents. They're ready. I don't want to rush anything with you. We get to take our time. That's what we've earned, right?" I cuddle into him.

Kile grins bashfully and brushes his hair out of his eyes.

I murmur self-consciously against his ear, "Is that okay? If we don't even get engaged right away?" 

He hums with pleasure. The hairs rise on my neck and I smile with the tingly pleasure.

"A little time might be a good thing," he says distractedly.

I smile widely at him and he tilts his head.

I add, "If it makes you doubt my feelings then—"

He kisses me softly on the mouth and then pulls back so there is some space between us. He says, "Just keep reassuring me like that and I'll be fine." Then he quirks a brow and murmurs, "Actually..."

"What?"

Shyly, he bites his lower lip and admits, "I have a dream about you."

My eyes widen. "Yes?" I ask.

"That I get to propose to you. That I pick the time and place. It'll be sooner than later, I promise. I have a family ring, not fancy, but it means something to me. I'd be proud to have you wear it. It's silly but...I realized during the Selection that I kind of am a sucker for romance. I like the grand gestures and the flowers, sunsets, moonlit walks on the beach. I'm old fashioned?" He shrugs. I find him adorable. "I want to give that to you. I want those moments without a camera or competition. I want it to be you and me forever, starting now. Enjoying each other and all the things we get to do together now that we have time."

"Yes!" I throw myself at him. I hear his surprised gasp and feel his second of teetering. Then his strong arms wrap around me and he laughs.

"Yes, yes, and yes!" I smile into the groove between his shoulder and neck. The space where my chin fits perfectly like a puzzle piece.

He says, "Because you select me, right? You chose me."

We smile at each other with shared love and I answer, "Yes. And you chose me."

THE END.