"Bianca Juliette Rose. Get in here."

  Bianca paled visibly, but composed herself and went into the room. The Masked one had that affect on everyone. 

  the Masked one was pacing the room, muttering to himself. He looked up as he saw Bianca enter the room, his green eyes slits through the mask.

  "Good, you're here,"he growled. "I called you to discuss yesterday's attack. We were unsuccessful. We failed to kill Maxon."

  "Do not fear, Masked one,"Bianca said calmly. "Soon, we shall destroy him as his pathetic family. And anyone who stands in our way."

  "I am not afraid!"the Masked one roared. He banged his fist on the wall. "Do I look like I am afraid?"

  "No, Masked one,"Bianca said hurriedly. "I am sorry."

  He grunted. "We must change tactics. We cannot win this with brute force. So we must trick them."

  "Trick them?"Bianca glanced up, surprised. "How?"

  He looked her up and down, not in a hungry way, but critically, like she was a piece of art and he was judge. "I have no idea why Declan even suggested you for the idea. But we have no other options."

  Bianca's confusion was increasing. "What options?"

  "We have decided,"the mased one said slowly,"To let you enter the Selection."

  Bianca nearly choked.

  Her, enter the Selection? Her, the third-in-command of the Southern rebels?

  "I have arranged you a tutor to tutor you about the Selection,"he continued. "You will be seducing the prince. And once you are his bride, you shall kill him and act heartbroken. Then you shall be seen being 'killed' by one of us, and come back. Both of the heirs of Illea lost? That is the perfect way to throw everyone's suspicions on the Ones. Then we shall take over."

  Bianca's head whirled.

  The masked one scowled at her. "Your first lesson is after lunch. Now go."