If this were a simpler matter, I'd have eliminated everyone else by now.

Castes never meant that much to me.

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

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.

I would be the best of us, the highest of the lows.

It was almost comforting, this mutual acceptance of our secrets.

Correct. President Wallis was the president before the Chinese assault and continued leading the United States throughout the war