The One (The Selection #3) - Kiera Cass Page 0,95
and I move close to each other as the ceremony starts.
“Hello, my dear,” he whispers.
“Don’t start,” I warn in return, and we’re both left smiling.
He holds my hands as if they’re the only things pinning him to the earth, and I focus on that as I prepare myself for the words coming, the promises I’ll never break. It’s magical, really, the power this day has.
But even now I know this isn’t a fairy tale. I know that we’ll have hard times, confusing times. I know that things won’t always happen the way we want them to and that we’ll have to work to remember that we chose this. It won’t be perfect, not all the time.
This isn’t happily ever after.
It’s so much more than that.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CAN YOU JUST PUT YOUR hand on the page and pretend I’m giving you a high five? Seriously. How else do I thank you for reading my books? I hope you’ve had as much fun with America’s story as I have, and I’ll never be able to express how happy I am that you took the time to go through it with me. You’re keen. Thank you so much!
First of all, a huge thank-you to Callaway. It still makes my day when I see your “Husband of the #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiera Cass” email signature, and I’m so glad you’re proud of me. Thanks for being my biggest supporter through this whole journey. Love you!
Thank you, Guyden and Zuzu, for being such great kids and letting mommy run off to her office to work. You’re wonderful little people, and I love you bunches.
To Mimoo, Poopa, and Uncle Jody, thanks for all your encouragement, and the same goes for Mimi, Papa, and Uncle Chris. Lots of little things couldn’t have happened without your help, so thank you for being there, not just for me, but for our whole little family.
To the best agent ever, Elana Roth Parker. I wanted you to want me so bad! Thanks for your faith and hard work and for just plain old being cool. If I was ever in a street fight, I’d want you right there beside me. I mean that in the best way possible. *HUGS*
To Erica Sussman, my fantastic editor. So much of this story worked because of you. Thank you so much for taking me on. I’m crazy about you and your purple pens and your smiley faces! I feel bad for any author who has to work with an editor that isn’t you. Absolutely the best!
To everyone at HarperTeen, for being so brilliant and for working so hard. You were the place I longed to call home, and I can’t believe how good you are to me! Thank you so much!
To Kathleen, who takes care of all the foreign rights. Thanks for getting my books (and me!) all over the world! It’s still unbelievable.
To Samantha Clark, for running the Kiera Cass fan page on Facebook without ever being asked to do it or complaining about any work it brings her way. So, so cool of you! Thank you!
To everyone who runs a Selection-based Twitter, Tumblr, or Facebook account. Half of the time I can’t read the language you’re posting in, and that alone is insane to me! Thanks for being diligent and creative and for talking to me. For realsies, you guys are the best!
To Georgia Whitaker, for making a really rad video and earning her name a spot in the book. Thanks for letting me borrow it!
Who am I forgetting? Like a thousand people, I just know it . . .
To Northstar church (which I swear I started going to years after The Selection was born), thanks for being home to the Cass family and for your constant encouragement.
To FTW . . . I don’t even know what to say. You guys are ridiculous, and I love you.
To The Fray, One Direction, Jack’s Mannequin, Paramore, Elbow, and a slew of other musicians, thanks for keeping me inspired over the years. You were fuel for these stories.
As well as Coke Zero and low-fat Wheat Thins. Sometimes also Milk Duds. Very important to my survival over the years, so thanks.
Lastly, and most important, to God. Years ago, writing saved me from a very dark time in my life. It wasn’t on my radar at all, but it became my lifeline. I believe it was grace that brought this into my life, and even on the most stressful days, my job makes me happy. I feel blessed a thousand times over and even though I write for a living, I still can’t find the words to express my gratitude. Thank you.
mobilism.org
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PHOTO BY ROBBIE POFF
KIERA CASS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Selection series, as well as the self-published fantasy novel The Siren. She is a graduate of Radford University and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, with her family. Kiera has kissed approximately fourteen boys in her life. None of them were princes. You can learn more about Kiera’s books, videos, and love of cake online at kieracass.
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BACK ADS
BOOKS BY KIERA CASS
The Selection
The Elite
The Selection Stories: The Prince & The Guard
CREDITS
COVER ART © 2014 BY GUSTAVO MARX/MERGE LEFT REPS, INC.
COVER DESIGN BY ERIN FITZSIMMONS
COPYRIGHT
HarperTeen is an imprint of Publishers.
THE ONE. © 2014 by Kiera Cass. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of e-books.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cass, Kiera.
The one / Kiera Cass. — First edition.
pages cm
Summary: “As her Selection approaches its finish, America must decide where her heart truly lies—and Prince Maxon must pick one winner to wear the crown”— Provided by publisher.
978-0-06-205999-4 (hardcover bdg.)
978-0-06-232547-1 (int’l ed.)
978-0-06-234071-9 (special ed.)
978-0-06-233849-5 (special ed.)
978-0-06-233850-1 (special ed.)
EPub Edition March 2014 9780062060013
[1. Marriage—Fiction. 2. Contests—Fiction. 3. Social classes—Fiction. 4. Princes—Fiction. 5. Love—Fiction. 6. Revolutionaries—Fiction.]
I. Title.
PZ7.C2685133One 2014
2013021356
[Fic]—dc23
CIP
AC
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14 15 16 17 18 CG/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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