The Favorite - Kiera Cass Page 0,15
be recorded that Carter and Marlee Woodwork have been forgiven of their past crimes and now live under the protection of the palace. Let it further say that they have no caste and are above any such segregation.”
“So recorded!” one man shouted back.
As soon as he had finished speaking, Maxon stood and took off his crown, while America positively leaped out of her seat and ran down to throw her arms around me. “I hoped you would stay!” she sang. “I can’t do this without you!”
“Are you kidding? How lucky am I to serve the queen?”
Maxon joined us and gave Carter a firm handshake. “Are you sure about the groundskeeping? You could go back to guarding or even be an adviser if you like.”
“I’m sure. I’ve never had a head for that kind of thing. I was always good with my hands, and that kind of work makes me happy.”
“All right,” Maxon said. “If you ever change your mind, let me know.”
Carter nodded, wrapping an arm around me.
“Oh!” America galloped back to her throne. “I almost forgot!” Picking up a small box, she returned to us, beaming.
“What’s that?” I asked.
She smiled at Maxon. “I’d promised you I’d be at your wedding, and I wasn’t. And even though it’s a little late, I thought I could make up for it with a little present.”
America held out the box to us, and I bit my lip in anticipation. All the things I thought I’d have at my wedding—a beautiful dress, a fantastic party, a room full of flowers—had been missing. The only thing I did have on that day was an absolutely perfect groom, and I was happy enough about that to let everything else pass.
Still, it was nice to receive a gift. It made things feel real.
I cracked open the box and resting inside were two simple, beautiful gold bands.
I covered my mouth. “America!”
“We did our best at guessing your sizes,” Maxon said. “And if you’d prefer a different metal, we’d be happy to exchange them.”
“I think your strings are sweet,” America said. “I hope you put the ones you’re wearing now away somewhere and keep them forever. But we thought you deserved something a bit more permanent.”
I stared at them, not able to believe they were real. It was funny. They were such small things, but they were absolutely priceless. I was close to tears with joy.
Carter took the rings out of my hand and handed them to Maxon, removing the smaller one from the box.
“Let’s see how it looks.” He slowly rolled my string down my finger, holding on to it as he slid the gold one on in its place.
“A little loose,” I said, fiddling with it. “But it’s perfect.”
Excited, I reached for Carter’s ring, and he tugged off his old one, keeping it with mine. His fit wonderfully, and I sat my hand on top of his, fanning out my fingers.
“This is too much!” I said. “It’s too many good things in one day.”
America came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me. “I have a feeling lots of good things are coming.”
I hugged her as Carter went to shake Maxon’s hand again. “I’m so glad to have you back,” I whispered.
“Me, too.”
“And you’ll need someone to stop you from going overboard,” I teased.
“Are you kidding? I need an army of people to stop me from going overboard.”
I giggled. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough. You know that, right? I’ll always be here for you.”
“Then that will be thanks enough.”
EXCERPT FROM THE SIREN
She will risk everything for love.
Read on for a sneak peek at this
sweeping fantasy romance from Kiera Cass!
ONE
IT’S FUNNY WHAT YOU HOLD on to, the things you remember when everything ends. I can still picture the paneling on the walls of our stateroom and recall precisely how plush the carpet was. I remember the saltwater smell, permeating the air and sticking to my skin, and the sound of my brothers’ laughter in the other room, like the storm was an exciting adventure instead of a nightmare.
More than any sense of fear or worry, there was an air of irritation hanging in the room. The storm was throwing off our evening’s plans; there would be no dancing on the upper deck tonight. These were the woes that plagued my life, so insignificant they’re almost shameful to own up to. But that was my once upon a time, back when my reality felt like a story for how good it was.
“If this rocking doesn’t