It's just the way it is. The sky is blue, the sun is bright, and Aspen endlessly loves America. It's how the world was designed to be.

Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like you have loved me.

It was a special feeling, irreplaceable, that was priceless. No queen on the throne could feel more important than me.

You’re too beautiful for your own good. Once you leave, we’ll have to send some of the guards with you. You’ll never survive on your own, poor thing.

I curled closer to May, comforted by her warmth.

That was my great ambition. Not to be Illea's princess. To be Aspen's.

Maxon lowered his lips to mine and gave me the faintest whisper of a kiss. Something about the tentativeness of it made me feel beautiful. Without a word, I could understand how excited he was to have this moment, but then afraid at the same time. And deeper than any of that, I sensed that he adored me. So this is what it felt like to be a lady.