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CHAPTER 1

THIS TIME WE WERE IN the Great Roo through theElise i for the side door, whih-pitched screa a shower of glass Kriss grabbed side her as we made our way to the exit

“Hurry, ladies!” Silvia cried

Within seconds, the guards had lined up at the s and were firing, and the bursts of sound echoed in uns or stones, anyone showing the sht of the palace would die There was no more patience left for these attacks

“I hate running in these shoes,” Kriss muttered, a heap of dress draped over her arm, eyes focused on the end of the hall

“One of us is going to have to get used to it,” Celeste said, her breath labored

I rolled my eyes “If it’s me, I’ll wear sneakers every day I’m already over this”

“Less talking, !” Silvia yelled

“Hoe get downstairs from here?” Elise asked

“What about Maxon?” Kriss huffed

Silvia didn’t answer We followed her through aas guard after guard ran in the opposite direction I found e it took to run toward danger for the sake of other people

The guards passing us were coreen eyes locked with mine Aspen didn’t look afraid or even startled There was a problem, and he was on his way to fix it That was simply who he was

Our gaze was brief, but it was enough It was like that with Aspen In a split second, without a word, I could tell hi, he’d answer I know, just take care of yourself

While I could easily be at peace with the things we didn’t need to say, I had no such luck with the things we’d said out loud Our last conversation wasn’t exactly a happy one I had been about to leave the palace and had asked hiet over the Selection And then I’d ended up staying and had given him no explanation as to why

Maybe his patience withshort, his ability to see only the best indry Somehoould have to fix that I couldn’t see a life for me that didn’t include Aspen Even now, as I hoped Maxon would choose inable

“Here it is!” Silvia called, pushing a mysterious panel in a wall

We started down the stairs, Elise and Silvia heading the charge

“Damn it, Elise, pick up the pace!” Celeste yelled I wanted to be irritated that she said it, but I kneere all thinking the sa

As we descended into the darkness, I tried to reconcilelikethe shouts until one ht on top of us

“Stop!” he yelled

Kriss and I turned together, watching as the uniforirls below “It’s a guard”