Come What May

A/N: And I'm back! It's officially February, I'm officially on vacation, which means more time for writing! I'm sorry I didn't update through all of January, but the investigation and university work consumed more time than I'd expected. But anyway, now I'm back and I bring you the first chapter of Book 3! This is probably my favorite book in the series so I'm really excited! Although, now that I think about it, with only two chapters in, The Royal Heir Book 2 is giving it some serious competition! How excited were you guys for its release?! I was literally jumping with joy, especially when that ADORABLE image of Drake holding your baby came up!

Oh, I could talk about this series all day. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this latest chapter, and thanks so much for sticking with this story!

"Drake… Drake!"

I felt Myers' desperate hands on me, but the burning on my shoulder was intense and it was difficult to feel anything beyond that. I hissed in pain as I tried to clutch my shoulder. As soon as my hand made contact with it, I couldn't help but scream. "Aah!" I quickly drew my hand back, only to realize it was covered in deep, crimson blood. My blood.

I'm bleeding…

I'm bleeding, because I got shot…

I suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous. I distantly heard Bastien calling my name, felt him pull me up, felt Myers take my uninjured arm and place it over her shoulders. I leaned into her, barely able to support my weight.

"Camilla! There's a servant's entrance to the left! Help Drake and stay low! I'll cover you!" Bastien yelled.

Myers tightened her hold on me. "Come on, Drake. Let's get you out of here."

I gritted my teeth. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." I tried to let go, to walk on my own, but I merely stumbled, with Myers catching me almost instantly. She held me, and pressed her hand up against my wound. I sucked in a breath.

"I'm sorry! I have to keep pressure on it or you'll bleed out!"

"Camilla, get him out of here!" Bastien yelled. "Now!"

Myers nodded, her eyes resolute, and she began running me out of the ballroom. Her hand never once left my shoulder, even as my blood covered her hand and dripped down her wrist.

"Hurry!" Bastien yelled behind us, pointing to a black SUV waiting at the end of the drive.

He took off running, unlocking the car, as Myers led me to it. She opened the copilot's door, and I gingerly sat down. Bastien punched an address into the GPS console, then moved out. He exchanged a few words with Myers, before she got in the driver's seat and slammed her foot on the gas. I reeled from the momentum, and Myers steadied me with her arm over my chest. Gripping the steering wheel with one hand, she drove us out of the palace, the other hand keeping pressure on my shoulder. My eyelids began drooping, and I was vaguely aware of a soft fabric grazing the skin of my neck. I forced myself to open my eyes, and realized Myers was using fabric from the skirt of her dress to try to stop the bleeding.

That's not right… I thought. Her beautiful dress… covered in my blood.

"Turn right in 600 meters, onto the King's Highway." The mechanical, robotic voice of the GPS broke the silence.

I heard sniffling, and turned to see Myers, her eyes on the road, but shimmering. Did I do that?

"Drake… stay with me. Don't close your eyes. Please."

"Myers…"

"Stay with me." She kept repeating those words over and over again, and I tried my hardest to hold on to her voice. To hold on to her.

"I'm not leaving you, Myers." I whispered, my eyes closing on their own, before I forced myself to open them.

She took a left, as we got off the road and into a path in the forest. The terrain began getting bumpy, and I hissed when a jolt from the car caused her to accidentally move her hand and rub at my wound.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Drake, I'm sorry!" She kept apologizing as she slowed down, trying to drive through the bumps and valleys of the terrain as slowly as possible. We kept on climbing upwards, the terrain rising on a steep curve.

"Proceed straight ahead 100 meters."

"Okay… okay…" Myers mumbled, driving ever so slowly, before parking.

"You have reached your destination."

Myers shut off the engine, and jumped out of the car. In an instant, she was opening my door and helping me out. She helped me climb up the porch of a small cabin, opening the door and leading me to the couch.

I groaned as I sat down, sagging into it. Melting onto it. Myers ran back to the door, trying to flip on the lightswitch, but nothing happened.

"Shit." I heard her curse.

"Maybe the generator's busted." I told her. "They must have emergency backup, since it's a safehouse."

"Lights are the least of our problems now. We have to stop the bleeding. Where's the first aid kit?" I heard her run back to the small living room, and watched as she began fumbling around in the dark, tripping on her skirt. "Fucking dress!" She unzipped it halfway, before practically tearing it off herself.

At that moment, I tried to move, to help, and a jolt of burning hot pain shot through me. "Aah!"

"Hold on, baby. I'm coming." I heard her fumble around once more, until… "There it is!"

I clenched my teeth, becoming more and more aware of the pain. "Man, am I happy to see that thing."

Myers turned and looked at me then. Her chin began trembling, her eyes filling with tears. She sniffled, bit then quickly closed her eyes and shook her head, taking a deep breath as she knelt before me.

"Myers… Camilla, look at me… please."

She swallowed, clenching her jaw before looking at me. "Drake…" her voice was unsteady, "you took a bullet for me." Her voice broke, and she looked away, angrily wiping at her eyes, trying desperately to regain her control over herself.

"Aw, come on, Myers. Don't sound so impressed. You're scaring me." I joked.

She sobbed out a laugh, sniffling as a few tears managed to escape. "You idiot. Why would you do that?" She took a deep breath, let it out. In. Out. "I just want you… I want you to know how much that means to me..." She lowered her head. Her voice broke again. "That you'd do something like that."

I brought my hand to the back of her head, even though I tried to make light of it. "Okay, now I know it must be looking grim…"

She sobbed out a laugh again, sniffling and moving back up to look at me. "Hey, can't a girl be grateful and sincere once in a while? You could just say you're welcome."

"You're… welcome."

She nodded, her soft face hardening with resolve. "Okay… okay." She moved to take out supplies from the first aid kit. "Now, I'm going to do whatever I can for you until help arrives… even though I have no medical training whatsoever. I can do this. I can do this."

I was about to quip about how reassuring that was, when I saw her hands were trembling as she moved to help me out of my jacket. Gathering all the strength I had left, I reached for her wrist. "Myers… you can do this. I trust you."

She nodded, determination filling those beautiful brown eyes, and she moved to peel my jacket off of me, tossing it to the floor. My shirt quickly followed.

"Okay… first, I need to clean it up… I just need to… do that…" Myers grabbed an alcohol swab and tore it open. She moved to wipe the blood off my skin, but stopped millimeters before touching it. "This'll probably sting a bit."

Myers dabbed the wipe to the edges of the wound, the alcohol immediately burning my skin. "Aah!" I sucked in a breath, clenching my jaw, my muscles tightening instinctively.

"Sorry! Drake, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry."

"No, Myers… I… I'm fine." I took a deep breath. "Sorry. I'm fine."

She took my good hand, gripping it. I tried to squeeze back, but… I was tired.

"Ssh…" She shushed, twining our fingers. "It's gonna be okay. You're fine. We're fine." She shushed comfortingly, and she began to clean the wound even more gently. I began to relax under her care, as she tore swab after swab to gently clean my wound. I tried to contain my hisses each time she pressed a new wipe to my skin, but she noticed the hitches in my breath anyway.

"You alright?"

"It's no picnic, that's for sure."

"I'm sorry. That was a stupid question." She mumbled.

"It's okay. Myers… I could use a distraction."

"A distraction, huh? Okay… okay…" She paused for a moment, thinking. "If you wanted me to take your shirt off, you could've just asked." Her lips twitched mischievously, but her grin did not reached her eyes, which were still fully focused on my wound. "Not that I mind seeing you without your shirt, but getting shot creates a few problems for us, don't you think?"

I gasped out a small laugh. "Heh. Well, now I just feel ridiculous I went through all that blood loss and all."

Myers grimaced, but she tried to hide it quickly. "You'd better." She whispered, hands steady as they worked on me.

I looked to the first aid kit pointedly. "Is there any whiskey in there? If I've ever needed a glass, it's now."

"Sorry, baby, I don't think they made this first aid kit with you in mind. There's only rubbing alcohol."

I tried to smile. Emphasis on tried. "Damn. I should talk to Liam about that. If I ever get the chance…" I muttered under my breath, it finally hitting me that we were alone, with no information about our friends… about whether or not they're alive… if my sis- No, don't go there.

"Don't." Myers whispered, sharp and commanding. Her chin began trembling again, her eyes watering again. "You are going to be fine. And everyone else is fine."

She drew one last wipe over my now clean chest, before tearing another one open to clean the blood off of her hands. Once she was done, she ran one hand over my chest while rummaging the kit with the other. Pain mixed with the sensation of warmth and the stirrings of pleasure as she continued to caress me ever so tenderly.

"How does it feel?"

"Myers, when you touch me like that, it makes me forget I even got shot."

Myers snapped her eyes back to mine at my words. I saw how desire mixed with sorrow and guilt, each feeling warring for dominance. Sorrow won. She brought her eyes quickly back down to the first aid kit, fishing out a roll of gauze. She bid me to sit up a bit, and began wrapping the cloth over my chest, starting at my shoulder. "Okay… okay… oh, you have no idea how thankful I am right now about that elective course I took in college in CPR and First Aid Training."

"There was an elective course on that?"

"Yeah… I decided to take it after the Orlando nightclub shooting of 2016…" She shrugged sadly. "Just… seemed like a good skill to have, as shootings in the US became more and more frequent…"

A moment of silence passed between us. I wasn't really sure how to respond to that…Thankfully, she broke it first.

"You remember the last time I patched you up after a fight?"

My lips twitched. "How could I forget? I've got a couple of regrets in life, but punching Tariq after what I saw that night… not one of 'em."

"And to think we thought our problems were big back then."

"Myers…" I took her chin, made her meet my eyes. "Taking a hit for you was as worth it then as it was tonight." She swallowed, her hand momentarily still. I cupped her face. "I keep thinking back to that moment… if you'd been hurt…"

Myers shook her head slightly, and pressed a kiss to my palm before leaning into it. "But I wasn't. Thanks to you."

"I… I need you to know that I'll always be there to protect you." I swore.

A single tear escaped from her eyes and made its way down her cheek. I wiped it with my thumb and she smiled sadly. "You've more than proven that."

She resumed wrapping gauze around me, finally tucking the end it, before securing it with surgical tape. "How's that?" She asked uncertainly.

"Good as new. You did great."

"Okay…" Myers breathed out a sigh of relief. "Looks like the bleeding's stopped. We'll have to keep an eye on it to make sure." She began moving, grabbing all the wrappers and all the used alcohol swabs.

As she began to stand, I grabbed her wrist. "Leave it. I… There's something I need to say."

"Okay…" She put all the stuff in the table in front of us. "What is it?"

"Tonight, for a split second, I was terrified."

Myers' eyes softened. "Oh, honey… You were shot… anyone would be scared."

I shook my head. "No, not then. When I saw the gun aimed at you, and I thought…" I choked, remembering that awful sight, that horrible feeling of paralyzing fear. "I thought I might lose you."

"Drake…" Myers' traced delicate fingers across my cheek. "I love you." She whispered softly, her thumb caressing my cheekbone. Her eyes were shining with a vulnerability and an intensity I'd never seen before, and for a moment there, it felt like looking at the sun. You couldn't look for long without being burned, despite its beauty. And yet when I tried to pry my eyes away, I couldn't. Those eyes were all consuming, all encompassing, and I could get lost in them forever. "I love you so much, Drake Walker." She whispered fervently.

I wrapped my good arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "I love you too, Myers. I was a fool to try to fight it."

She chuckled. "Yes, but you're my fool."

I cupped her neck and pulled her in for a kiss, before looking around, searching for my jacket across the floor. After all we'd waited to get here, and everything that happened tonight… Life is short and I didn't intend to waste one more second.

I knew what I had to do.

"Myers…" I looked at it significantly, "can you…?"

"Of course." She stood and reached for it, handing it back to me. "I'm sorry… I know you liked that suit…"

"Doesn't matter." I began searching the pockets, desperately hoping Nana's ring hadn't fallen out somewhere amidst the commotion. I finally found it, and took out the small velvet box. Her eyes widened as she saw it, before meeting my own. My heart thundered in my chest, a different kind of fear almost gripping me completely.

"I've… been thinking about this for a while, but I kept talking myself out of it. Now… after what happened tonight, knowing you could've been shot, or… Well, it all made me realize that life's too short to waste anymore time. We should make the most of the time we have while we've got the chance."

"Drake…"

I opened the box. "Myers… Camilla… will you marry me?"

Camilla nodded eagerly, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yes. Yes!" I smiled, my heart just bursting with joy, as I slipped the ring on her finger. She squealed with delight. "Let's seal it with a kiss."

Myers leaned over, the kiss slow and impossibly tender. She kissed me as if she were afraid I would break, or disappear. She kissed me like a woman who loved me completely, and yet was afraid she'd lose me.

"Hmm…" I moaned when we parted. "That was good. I think I can do better."

I met her lips once more, but this time I deepened the kiss. I kissed her like a man who promised to never let anything come between me and her. I kissed her like a man who would be with her forever, who would never leave her, who would love her forever.

We parted a moment later, a sigh escaping her lips as she held up her hand to look at her ring.

"I almost don't believe this is happening." I muttered.

Myers kissed my cheek tenderly. "Believe it, Drake Walker. It's real."

I smiled, and looked back to her outstretched hand, at the ring on her finger. "I hope it's okay. It's an heirloom."

"It's gorgeous. Whose was it?"

"My grandmother's."

"Wow, Drake… I'll cherish it." She squeezed my hand before moving to get up. "It's getting pretty late, and you're probably exhausted. I shou-"

"Stay." I told her. "Stay out here with me. At least for a little while. Like I said, we should make the most-"

"Okay." She sat back down slowly, but on the other side of me so as to rest her head on my good shoulder, snuggling into me. We spent the next few moments in silence, before I heard her chuckle. "You do realize what this means, right? Us getting married?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll get a new suit for the wedding."

"No! I mean, yes, you'd better. But besides that. Now that I'm a duchess… when we get married, you'll be a duke."

When she said those words, I heard tires screeching to a halt inside my head. "I'll… what?"

"Duke Drake Walker of Valtoria… Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

I felt my eyes widening, a look of pure horror on my face. Duke… Drake Walker… of Valtoria.

DUKE DRAKE WALKER OF VALTORIA!

HOLY SH-

"Hey…" Myers nudged my shoulder. "You don't have to call yourself a duke if you don't want to. It's just a title."

"The title I can ignore." I told her. "It's the rest of it I'm worried about." I sighed. "I'm going to have to start acting all lordly now, aren't I?" I pictured myself trying to act like Bertrand, and I couldn't help but cringe.

"I know you better than that." She said, a grin on her face as she echoed the words I'd said to her earlier, when we were talking about her ascension.

I smirked. "That's supposed to be my line."

"Well, it was a good one. And it's true. If there's anyone who can end up a duke and stay the same loyal, snarky, down to earth man I want to marry… it's you."

"That was a decent compliment until you got to snarky."

"It's an important part of the Walker M.O. Right up there with avoiding formal events at any cost."

Touche, Myers. "... Guess I can't argue with that."

"Hey… look on the bright side. Now you'll always have someone to ditch parties with, because I'll always be right there with you."

I turned my head, nuzzling her with my nose. "There's no one I'd rather sneak out of ballrooms with." That's if there's any balls left after this… "But we gotta make it back to court before any of that matters."

"I hope everyone's alright…" She sighed.

"I… hope so too, Myers." I talked my tongue, frustrated. "I would've gone back for them, but…"

"Hey, how many times do you want to get shot in one night? We were lucky we made it out of there."

I nodded. She was right. "Liam had his guards with him, and he can handle himself in a fight…"

"Yeah…You know, Hana probably know some self-defense too."

I chuckled. "At this point, she could tell us she's a wushu champion and I'd believe her."

"But… what about Maxwell?"

"That man has more lives than an alley of cats."

"Isn't the expression 'more lives than an alley cat'?"

"Not in Maxwell's case." I told her, earning a small laugh. "You've seen him move on the dancefloor. Hell, you've seen him walk. I don't think anyone could hit him if they tried. They'll be alright, Myers. I have to believe that."

She hummed. "You're pretty comforting when you put your mind to it."

"For you, Myers, I try."

"No." Myers turned her head to meet my eyes. "You don't try. You succeed." She moved to press her lips to mine. "I love you." She whispered.

I looked at her then, wondering how long she'd been waiting to say those words - intentionally - to me. Was she just as scared as I was? Was she waiting for me to say them first? Was she scared of pushing me too hard too fast?

Knowing Myers, that last option was probably the right one… but what if… if I hadn't been fast enough… what if she'd been shot tonight?

What if I lost her without ever telling her how I felt?

"What is it?" Her voice broke through my train of thought.

"You could've died today, Myers." I told her honestly. "I could've lost you."

"But I'm here… thanks to you."

I sighed. "I was able to protect you… this time. Next time…" Because there will be a next time, I'm sure of it. "We might not be so lucky. But whatever happens, whatever comes next… at least we have tonight."

I reached to brush my thumb against her lips, before cupping her neck and bringing her closer and taking her mouth with mine. She responded immediately, the kiss a passionate war of lips and tongues that left us both breathless.

"Drake…" Myers whispered my name as we parted. With that breathy whisper came memories of earlier tonight, of her under me, over me, writhing under me, my name on her lips.

"Myers…" I tangled my fingers in her hair, and felt as she shivered in anticipation.

"I have a better idea…" Myers grinned as she brought her lips a breath away from mine… before pulling back, swinging her leg over my lap and straddling me.

"Oh. I can work with that."

"Mm-hmm." She nodded, before tangling her fingers in my hair, gently massaging my scalp, before bringing her lips to mine.

I ran my hands down her back to her thighs, then up to her waist and her chest.

"Drake… wait." My hands stilled immediately. "Maybe… maybe we should stop." Her eyes flitted down to my wounded shoulder. "You lost a lot of blood, and maybe you should rest… I don't want-"

"Myers, stop. Do you want me?"

Myers bit her lip, before looking at me. I saw once again as concern and desire mixed in her eyes, both warring for dominance. After a moment, she admitted, "I do."

I nodded, placing my hands on her back and pulling her closer to me until her chest was pressed against mine. I brought my lips to her shoulder, kissing and biting up the curve of it, to her collarbone and her neck. "And I want you, Myers."

"Are you sure?" Her voice was hesitant, but there was no disguising the undercurrent of lust in her tone.

I nodded. "I've already wasted too much time. I want to make the most of every second we've got. A scratch isn't gonna get in the way of that."

Something seemed to break inside Myers at my words, something snapped. She cupped the back of my neck and pulled me into a ferocious kiss. Her tongue begged entrance, and I opened my mouth to meet it with mine. She bit my lower lip, earning a growl out of me, as her hands roamed my torso. My own hands roamed down her back, deftly unclasping her bra and pulling the garment down her arms and onto the floor.

Myers moaned against my mouth as I began to knead her breasts, and she bucked her hips against me. Her deft movements sent heat coursing through my veins, my jeans beginning to feel uncomfortably tight. Myers felt this, and stood. "Hang on." She said breathlessly, getting up with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Let me do this part."

I was about to protest, but the words died on my tongue as she lowered her underwear, stepping out of them and standing before me completely naked. I couldn't help my eyes as they roamed down her body, from her hair, already disheveled, down to her neck, her small breasts that fit so perfectly in my hands, her stomach, her thighs…

My mouth began to water as I took her in. "Myers…"

She lifted an elegant brow. "Yes?"

I gathered all of my strength and pushed myself off the couch, wrapping an arm against her waist and pulling her flush against me. I kissed her, hard, as I moved to touch her, my hand straying in between her thighs. She gripped my wrist with a small laugh, and shook her head. "Not yet." She whispered in my ear, licking the spot underneath it, as her hands deftly unbuckled my belt, and she helped me out of my jeans. I kicked them off, as she tugged off my boxers. I kicked those off too. "Better?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then come here." I growled.

"Ssh." She told me, pushing me ever so gently back on the couch. "So impatient."

"Myers…" I growled in warning. If she didn't get over here right now… I didn't know how much longer I would be able to control myself.

Myers braced herself on the armrest as she straddled me again, sinking on to me. I groaned as I sheathed myself within her, her heat enveloping me completely. I heard her gasp, her head turned upwards and her eyes closed, before she began to move. She lifted herself completely off of me, and sank down onto me again ever so slowly.

"Myers…" I moaned as her slow movements drove me crazy. I had to desperately fight the urge to simply take her hips and ram into her wildly, but then she cupped my neck with both hands and pulled me in for a kiss.

Everything else seemed to dissolve except Myers.

Everything thing seemed to slow… to still. Her fragrance invaded my nostrils, my skin seemed to glow under her slow caresses, and her taste was intoxicating, inebriating. I kissed her collarbone, down to her chest as she moved against me, driving us both crazy with this torturous pace.

And yet...

For all that earlier tonight had been burning desire, desperate kisses and passionate caresses as we finally succumbed to our feelings… This - now - felt like so much more.

Myers touched me lightly, slowly, tenderly - almost as if afraid she would bruise me with her touch. She kissed me with a deep, burning passion - but it was tempered with devotion, with care, with love. Myers gave herself completely to me - her body, yes, but also her mind, her soul. My chest tightened as I realized this beautiful, intelligent, sexy, exciting woman was mine, only mine.

And so, I followed her lead. I touched her gently, almost reverently, drawing gasps and moans as I discovered her. I kissed her with unhurried dedication, running my tongue slowly over her skin as she whispered my name over and over again.

Her movements began to quicken slightly, and she shuddered as her release drew near. I met her willingly, bucking my hips to meet hers, pressing my forehead against hers as she tightened around me. With a cry of ecstasy and relief, she fell over the edge, and I fell with her.

Later, we were curled up side by side underneath the sheets and bed covers Myers had insisted on carrying out to the living room. "You have to sleep sitting up. We have to keep your wound elevated above your heart."

Myers rested her head on my good shoulder, drawing lazy circles on my chest. She hummed contentedly. "That was worth staying up for."

I laughed at that. "Glad I could make it worth your while."

"You know what I mean."

"I do." The glint of her ring caught my eyes, and I took her left hand. I stared at the rock on her finger, finally hitting me that she'd actually agreed to marry me. Me! "Part of me still can't believe you said yes."

"Part of me still can't believe you asked." Myers chuckled. "I guess some dreams really do come true."

"You're living proof, Myers."

"Hmm… I guess. But, just so you know, I was talking about you. Not the duchy, the fancy dresses, or the lavish lifestyle."

"You're telling me your dream was to marry me? Damn, Myers, you have to aim a little bit higher than that." I teased.

"Sorry," she shrugged, "I just wanted you. For so long now… Until a couple of days ago, I almost thought it'd never happen. That we would never happen."

"How long?"

She was silent for a moment, a pensive look on her face. "Lythikos. That night I went to look for you during the blizzard…"

"I remember."

"You'd been so guarded, so standoffish until then. I knew you didn't like me. But that night… you let down your walls down for just a moment, and… that was it. I was a goner." She laughed quietly.

I was silent for a moment, mulling over her words. I remembered that night well… I remembered being angry at her for standing up for me, thinking she was stupid for ruining her station at court over me. I remember being shocked to see her, to see she'd gone out in a storm to look for a guy that wasn't even nice to her. I remembered falling on top of her in the snow… I remembered thinking she was more beautiful than the stars in the sky. I remembered how I felt like I trusted her, even if I wasn't sure exactly why, but I trusted her enough to tell her about Savannah even though I barely knew her. I remember thinking how right her hand felt in mine.

And… I remembered that was the day I began telling myself she was here for Liam.

"That was it for me too." I whispered.

"What?" Myers jerked her head back to look at me. "I don't believe you…"

"It was… when I pushed you in the snow-"

"When you fell on me in the snow…"

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Fine. After I fell on you in the snow… I remember I turned to look at you. Your eyes were glued to the sky, big and shimmery - and I remember thinking you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. After that night…" I sighed, "I spent the rest of the season trying to convince myself that you didn't feel the same, or trying to remind myself that the whole reason you were here was for Liam."

"Hmm… I'm sorry."

I clicked my tongue. "Why?"

"I don't know… maybe I should've told you how I felt sooner… I…" She hesitated, "I honestly didn't even dare to think you might feel the same, until that night at Applewood."

I sighed, shaking my head. "I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me earlier."

"I know…" Myers snickered then. "We were a mess, weren't we?"

"Yeah," I yawned, "we were. But we're here now."

"Hmm… you're right." Myers pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. "And I wouldn't trade our time together for anything in the world."

"Mm-hmm." I felt my eyelids begin to droop as the exhaustion of everything began to hit me.

"Sleep. I'll wake you if anything comes up. You need to rest."

"Hmm… okay." I closed my eyes, leaning on her a bit more heavily. "Hey, Myers," I yawned once again. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Those were the last words I heard before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I jolted awake the next morning to a hard knocking. I tensed immediately, and moved to get up, but Myers pushed me back on the couch. "I'll get it."

"Myers, no!" I whispered. "You don't know who it could be. Let me get it."

"Drake, I'm not going to let you get shot again!" Myers whispered harshly back with a protective tone as she struggled to get on her blood soaked gown. "Besides, don't you think if it was an assassin, that they would really knock politely on the door before killing us?"

Ah… I grit my teeth. "Fine… but at least go to the kitchen and get a knife before answering."

Myers regarded me thoughtfully, a hint of fear flashing through her eyes. "Okay. You're right."

She headed to the small kitchen and took the biggest knife there was, before moving to answer the door. I heard the knife crash on the floor, followed by a strangled sob from Myers, and a small bark.

"Oh my god! You're okay! You're all okay!" I heard Myers sob once more, before…

"I am… so pleased to see you in good health." I heard Bertrand's voice, choked with emotion.

I craned my head to see our friends in the doorway, Myers holding onto each of them like there was no tomorrow. A strong wave of relief washed over me, my chest tightening and I also felt like I could cry at seeing them safe.

"Seeing you all safe… I…" Myers choked on her words, and I knew she was trying very hard to keep her tears in check, "I feel like I can finally breathe again. I was so worried."

"I know exactly what you mean." I heard Hana's voice.

"Not knowing was awful." Maxwell added.

"You know, doctors usually prescribe peace and quiet to shooting victims!" I yelled good-naturedly, so so unbelievably happy to hear them. "Hard to rest when everyone's making such a racket."

Liam was the first one I saw, as he ran to kneel next to me. Hana was next, as she walked up to me and gave me a careful hug. Then Maxwell, who squeezed my good shoulder. Bertrand nodded from the corner of the room. My sister wasn't here… I shook that thought away.

Liam grimaced when he saw the bandages on my shoulder, and my blood-soaked jacket and shirt on the floor next to me. Damn, this place looked like a warzone in the daylight. But Liam tried to smile nonetheless. "Hey, didn't anyone ever tell you not to be a hero?"

"Heh. Not sure anyone thought they needed to."

"Wait, so how did you all make it out of the palace?" Myers asked, sitting down next to me.

Everyone moved to sit down. Hana spoke up. "After Maxwell and I were separated from you in the crowd, we tried to get back to you, but palace security wouldn't let us go back."

"They said their orders were to clear the room…" Maxwell said with a frown. "Not many people were crazy enough to be trying to get back in."

"I'm just glad you're both safe." Myers sniffled, wiping a few tears from her cheek. "And you, Liam?"

"My security detail held off the attackers until Bastien was able to get me out of the ballroom. Once the assassin's saw I was out of reach, they fled." He clenched his jaw, swallowing. "Clearly you and I were the targets."

We all heard Myers' gasp, her eyes wide and afraid. I took her hand, and she relaxed a bit. With a deep breath and a shake of her head, she turned to Bertrand. "And you, Bertrand?"

"It was utter chaos, but luckily I was able to usher a few others to safety as I escaped."

"Well, I made a little pit stop on the way out to get this little guy." Chase was curled comfortably in Maxwell's arms. "I couldn't leave him in the palace all alone."

"Maxwell, I'm not sure if I should hug you or slap you. That was so dangerous, but I'm so happy to see his furry face." Myers shook her head slightly, as the dog jumped off of Maxwell's lap and into hers. He sniffed at the blood on her dress, before licking her face. "You're my good boy." Myers cooed. "So what happened then, once everyone was clear?"

"We regrouped and went to another safe house. My security forces escorted us here once we were sure that our presence wouldn't put you in further danger." Liam told us.

"Liam, did… anyone get hurt? What about Savannah and the baby?"

I tensed immediately, and tried to sit up. Myers helped me up, and took my hand. I held onto it like a lifeline, and shot her a grateful look as she was brave enough to ask what I couldn't.

"There were injuries, but no one was killed." Liam looked at me carefully. I clenched my jaw, preparing myself for the worst, when… "Savannah and Bartie were among the first to escape."

I let out a shuddering breath, my head falling on Myers' shoulder. I squeezed her hand as she wrapped her arms around me, kissing my head.

"They're safe, and staying in the city." Liam finished.

I took a deep breath, wiping the few tears that had managed to escape.

"For what it's worth, I saw to their well-being personally." Bertrand spoke up.

"Savannah wanted to come, but she decided it was best to keep Bartie near to support services, just in case." Maxwell added.

"I was… god, I couldn't even let myself think about-" I swallowed hard, my throat tightening once more.

"Drake, it's okay. They're okay." Myers smiled a teary smile at me, squeezing my hand. I nodded, so grateful she was here next to me, supporting me.

"If there's anything good to be said about last night, it's that no lives were lost." Liam said sadly.

"Thank goodness…" Myers mumbled.

"Unfortunately, some people were caught in the crossfire and sustained serious injuries. Lady Kiara was caught by a knife, though I'm assured there will be no permanent damage…" Liam hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck before looking at Myers, "and Camilla, your former secretary was also shot."

"Oh my god." Myers looked like she was about to start hyperventilating. "Justin?"

Liam nodded. "He and Kiara are both in the hospital now, receiving the best care Cordonia has to offer. Bastien was also wounded helping me escape," Liam looked at me, pure sorrow in his eyes, "His leg may never be the same, but he should still be able to walk."

Oh no… My stomach churned. It must have been a serious injury if the doctors were saying he might be able to walk. "Bastien…"

Hana sighed. "I still can't wrap my mind around how something so horrible could happen…"

"Yeah… who do you think could be behind it?" Maxwell asked, his eyes looking at all of us before landing on Liam.

"Cordonia has its fair share of enemies, but it's pointless to speculate and worry about it now." Liam answered honestly. "Bastien will have more information when we return to the palace."

"And when's that going to be?" I asked.

"My guards and the police are still securing the palace. It'll be an active crime scene until they're done. They'll call when they are certain the palace is safe, and that all the evidence has been collected."

"At which point, we'll return to face a press and a country that both want answers. Rightfully so, I'd say." Bertrand pondered sadly, before turning to Myers. "Camilla, as the new Duchess of Valtoria, there will be many people who will be looking to you for answers."

Myers nodded. "I'll personally make sure every single citizen feels safe. Whatever it takes."

"Your enthusiasm is admirable. It's exactly what the people need to see. Just know that this is the sort of event that shakes a populace to its core." Bertrand told her.

Hana nodded. "People are really afraid right now."

"Yes, they fear for the monarchy. As you know, this isn't the first royal assasination attempt."

"They should have faith in Liam." I piped up. "I know I do."

Liam nodded gratefully at me, before sighing. "Thank you, Drake. But Bertrand is right. I need to earn their trust."

"So do I." Myers said quietly. I took her hand and laced our fingers.

"In the meantime, it would do us all good to recuperate while we wait for the all-clear to return to the palace." Bertrand began to stand.

"I'm not moving from this couch until I have to." I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"No." Myers said, looking at Liam. "We need to get Drake to a hospital. The bleeding stopped, and I bandaged him as best I could, but he still needs medical attention." Her eyes pleaded with him.

Liam looked at my bandaged shoulder and nodded. "You're right. I will call my Guard to see how fast it will take to get an ambulance here, as well as a motorcade to escort us to the hospital."

"Your Majesty, I don't think you should be exposing yourself so soon after the assassination attempt." Bertrand interjected.

"I agree." Myers told him. "You guys should stay here, where it's safe and secure, and I'll go with Drake to the hospital."

Liam looked conflicted, his eyes darting between me and her. "Camilla, you were a target as well… I don't think-"

"I'm going to the hospital with Drake." She cut him off gently but firmly.

I honestly agreed with Liam and thought she should stay put. "Myers…" I sighed. "I'm a big boy. I can go by myself."

"Drake. I am going to the hospital with you and that's final. This is not up for discussion," she turned back to Liam with fire in her eyes, "so unless you issue a royal decree mandating I stay here, I'm going."

Liam sighed, but relented. "Very well. I'll make the call, and set up small contingent of guards to accompany you."

"Thank you." Myers' face softened. "Really. Thank you."

"Of course." Liam nodded, and excused himself to make the call.

In the meantime, we all looked around, until Hana broke the silence. "Why is it so dark in here?"

"I think the generator's busted." I told her. "Only the emergency lights came on when we got here."

Maxwell stood, jittery and anxious. "I'll go see if I can find it. I don't know if I can sit still right now, anyway."

"You want some company?" Myers asked. "None of us should be alone right now."

"That'd be nice." Maxwell gave her the first genuine smile I'd seen from him today. "Plus, I'm not sure I know how to fix a generator."

Myers squeezed my hand once more, before standing. I saw as the guys grimaced when they saw all the blood stains on her dress. Hana's eyes widened, before shooting me a quick, anguished look. "Milla…" she swallowed, trying to keep her eyes firmly on Myers's face. "Before you go… I brought you by a change of clothes. Something a little more discreet."

Myers sighed. "Thank you, Hana. If anyone knows my size by now, it's you. Maxwell, do you mind if I take a quick shower before we go?"

"If you don't mind showering in the dark and with cold water…" He shrugged.

"I'll be quick." Myers took the small bag Hana offered and ducked into the bathroom, wrapping her hair on top of her head in a messy bun.

Two minutes later, we heard the steady stream of rushing water, followed by a shriek. Liam darted back into the room, his phone still in his hand, but his eyes were alert and his body tense. "What happened?"

"Nothing. Myers' in the shower." I told him.

He looked at me, still confused.

"The generator's busted." I explained.

He shook his head. Still nothing.

"The water's cold…" I kept explaining.

"Ah. Because if the generator can't power the water heater…"

"Exactly." I told him.

He nodded and went into the bedroom, to continue his phone call. Bertrand also excused himself to make a call.

A moment later, Myers came out, wearing a simple black dress and shivering, rubbing her arms over themselves.

"You look lovely." Hana smiled at her.

"T-thanks…" Myers failed to stop her teeth from chattering.

"You need some sun and exercise. Come on, let's go." Maxwell told her, leading her out of the cabin.

I craned my neck, trying to follow her, but…

"Don't worry. The area is clear and there are guards posted outside." Hana told me gently.

I sighed. "Thanks, Hana."

"So… how are you?" She moved to sit next to me.

"I'm okay…"

"I was so worried for you. For both of you."

"Aw, Hana… we were really worried for all of you too. I'm really glad you're safe. You're… my best friends, and I'd hate it if anything happened to you, any of you."

"Drake…" she said, in a similar aww voice to Myers'. "You're one of my best friends too."

I chuckled, shaking my head slightly. I guess all this life-threatening danger is the perfect motivator to tell all the people you love how much you care for them. I was about to say more, but at that moment, my stomach rumbled loudly.

"Oh, goodness." Hana covered her mouth daintily. "When was the last time you ate? Is there food here?"

"I don't know. We haven't checked the kitchen, except to look for the first aid kit."

"Well, luckily for us, I brought brownie batter. It's premade, but… it was all I could find in the other safe house." Hana winced, but I just shook my head and laughed.

"Brownies sound great, Hana."

She smiled softly at me, and got up, heading for the kitchen.

"Let there be light!" I heard Maxwell's voice from the entrance, and a moment later the light flickered on.

Myers rushed to the couch. "Where is everyone?"

"Liam and Bertrand both had calls to make, and Hana went to the kitchen and see about making some food. She said something about having brought brownie mix…"

"Ooh, I'm so in." Maxwell practically ran for the kitchen.

Myers slumped on the couch next to me, scooting closer to me. "Hey." She took my chin, and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "How are you feeling?"

"A lot better than last night." I told her. "Thanks to you."

"It was nothing. But we're still going to the hospital as soon as the ambulance arrives."

"It really wasn't. And yeah, I know." I rolled my eyes, teasing her. She gave me a small smile. "But… honestly, the bullet wound isn't what's bothering me today."

"Then what is?"

"Honestly? Someone's coming after you and Liam. Someone dangerous and powerful. And last night, they got too damn close to hurting either of you. I won't let something like that happen again. There has to be something I can do to help."

Myers pursed her lips, staring thoughtfully into the distance. "We need Cordonia to be strong right now… The people need something big to rally behind… an event to show that the country's still strong and united." I watched as the gears turned in that gorgeous head of hers, how she looked down at the ring on her finger…

Oh no… "I'm not sure I like where this is going…"

"What if that event… was our wedding?" She looked at me, eyes filled with determination.

"Our wedding, a big courtly affair with nobles everywhere? Hard pass."

"Drake… I… I have to admit I really wanted a simple wedding, too. But think about it for another minute. We could really make a difference. Do it for Liam and the regular people of Cordonia…"

"For Liam?" I'm sorry, but you want me to agree to a monster of a fancy wedding for Liam?

"He's your best friend." Myers told me. "And he's strong, but he needs help right now."

I sighed, running my hand through my hair. I mean, I could see her point. Regular people loved royal weddings, or celebrity weddings. I remember my sister followed closely the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton years ago, gushing about the English nobles. That wedding was every little girl's dream come true: a prince marrying his commoner girlfriend he met in college.

This wedding… this wedding would be Cordonia's own celebrity wedding, where a million people would see the new Duchess living the dream: the waitress from New York, the Everywoman who came from nothing, who was a commoner just like them, get married to another commoner… A royal couple of the people… Yeah, it could be a very unifying event, if we played our cards right.

I laughed, not able to fully believe I was about to agree to this. "When it comes down to it, I don't really care if I marry you in a cathedral or a barn. As long as you're there saying 'I do'." I smiled at her.

"Drake…" She leaned in to kiss me. "That's sweet, but even if we do this, we can find a way to make sure the wedding still feels like ours."

"Oh, yeah?" I quirked an eyebrow. "What'd you have in mind?"

"We'll sneak off halfway through." She winked. "I'm sure the other nobles would hardly notice our absence."

I laughed. That really had become our thing: sneaking off from fancy events. "I'm game. Especially if it means a sneak peek of the wedding night…"

"Hmm… if you play your cards right…" Myers grinned impishly.

"Alright, I'm in."

"I knew you'd come around."

"Hard not to, when you're the one I'm arguing against."

"I am pretty persuasive, aren't I?"

I chuckled. "More than you know..." I cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a quick kiss, which soon turned hungry and passionate as she deepened it. When we pulled apart, I pressed my forehead against hers. "God, I'll never get tired of that."

"You'd better not." We pulled apart as we heard laughter and footsteps coming from the kitchen. "Now, let's tell the others about the wedding. I'm sure everyone could use some good news right about now." She took my hands as our friends sat down on the couch.

Hana placed a tray of fresh brownies on the coffee table in front of us.

"Drake and I have something we'd like to tell you all." Myers began, immediately getting their attention. They all quieted in order to listen.

"We're… getting married." I told them, my eyes darting to Liam. He failed to completely hide the surprise, hurt, and sadness in his eyes, all of which flashed through them in lightningbolt succession.

"Oh…"

"Oh my god!"

"Congratulations!"

Maxwell and Hana immediately stood to congratulate us. Myers stood to hug Maxwell, as Hana leaned to give me a very careful one-armed hug, before switching to the other person - Maxwell hugging me and Hana hugging Myers. I wasn't surprised by their reaction; hell I'd even bet they saw it coming… but I was still worried for Liam.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw him swallow, trying to get a hold on his emotions, before fixing his face into a careful, neutral smile before standing. "Congratulations, you two." He moved to hug me first, hugging me tightly, before hugging Myers.

"Yes… congratulations, Camilla." Bertrand moved to hug her as well, before offering me his hand. "Drake." I shook it.

"Thanks, guys." Myers said warmly. "Anyway, we were talking about what the country needs to see from the nobility right now. The Cordonian people need something to rally behind, so… Our wedding will be a unifying event for the whole country. A show of strength and stability to everyone in Cordonia… our friends and any enemies."

"A unifying event…" Bertrand muttered, nodding as he continued to think on it. "Nuptials for Cordonia's newest duchess would be quite exciting for the Cordonian people… it would be a celebrity wedding. That could be just the ticket to restore their faith."

"Yes…" Liam nodded, looking at us with wide eyes. "A show of hope and renewal. And love."

Myers met my eyes then, smiling warmly at me. "Exactly. There's nothing more unifying than a wedding."

"I suppose we shall all have to add wedding preparations to our to-do lists for our return to the palace…" Bertrand took out his phone, no doubt adding said preparations to one of the many lists on his phone right now.

At that moment, we heard sirens and saw flashing red and blue lights through the windows. Someone knocked on the door, as Bertrand went to open it.

"Your Grace, the ambulance is here." That was distinctly Tanner's voice, and I tried turning my head to look at him. He met my eyes and nodded, before stepping back to let the paramedics in the room.

"Thank you, Tanner." Bertrand said. I was actually a little surprise he knew the name of a security agent, but I figured they must have officially met last night.

I immediately tried to get up, when Myers held me back. "Drake, don't." She craned her head in the door's direction. "They're bringing in a gurney."

I rolled my eyes. "I can walk, Myers."

"Drake!" She frowned at me. "Please wait for the gurney."

"Fine…" I mumbled.

Everyone stood, making way for the paramedics. They brought the gurney as close to me as I could, and helped me on top.

"Wait," Myers turned to the guys, "I left my phone in my room last night. How are we going to keep in touch?"

"Mine's in my jacket, but…" I grimaced. Myers moved to lift my ruined jacket, finding my phone inside one of the pockets, unharmed but with no charge. "Damn."

"Oh, right!" Maxwell began fumbling, fishing her phone out of his pocket. "I got it for you when I went to get Chase last night, and charged it at the safehouse."

"Maxwell, you're a lifesaver." She gave him a brief hug, before following the paramedics as they wheeled me out. "I'll keep you guys updated, and call you if anything comes up!"

"Likewise," Liam told her, "and Camilla… please, be careful."

"I will." She nodded at him, before climbing in the back of the ambulance with me.

Myers sat down, giving the paramedics plenty of space to check my vitals and do their jobs. One of them inspected the bandages, took my blood pressure, my blood sugar… pretty much everything that had to do with my blood. The other one asked a couple of questions about my age, weight, etc. We finally reached the hospital, and I was rushed through the ER and to a private suite. Huh… I guess Liam wasn't lying about the injured receiving the best care Cordonia has to offer. Once inside, a nurse came in and plugged my finger into a heart monitor, as well as an IV needle into the veins on the back of my hand.

"What is that?" Myers asked her, a protective tone in her voice that earned a smile out of me.

"Just fluids, Your Grace. A normal saline solution." The nurse smiled kindly at her, and myself, before leaving the room.

"Patient: Drake Walker, 26 years old, victim of a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Given previsional First Aid treatment last night, where the bleeding was controlled but hasn't received any medical attention since." A tall, Asian woman wearing a doctor's white robe entered the room, reading a chart, and Myers stood to greet her. "Hello, Mr. Walker and-" her eyes widened as she saw Myers and attempted a curtsy. "Your Grace!"

Myers offered her hand, and the doctor looked at it warily before shaking it. "Just Milla is fine, Doctor. Or Camilla, if you'd be more comfortable."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly, Your Grace." The doctor inclined her head, before walking past her to my bedside. "Mr. Walker." She offered me her hand I shook it. "My name is Dr. Akemi Yonekura and I am the head of Traumatology here at Asterwood Hospital. I will be personally overseeing your case, as well as your treatment." She looked at me and Myers in turns.

"Nice to meet you." I told her.

"Now, given what we know of the situation, I understand why you couldn't have come here to the hospital right away last night. I must stress, however, that you were extremely lucky that you were able to stop the bleeding."

I wouldn't exactly call myself lucky…

"With that said, first things first, how is your pain level right now, from one to ten?" She pointed to a chart on the wall, where 1 was a smiley face with no pain and 10 was a red, crying face that stood for worst possible pain.

"A five." I told her. The burning had calmed down… a bit.

"Which means at least a 7, if not an 8." Myers told the doctor. "He's downplaying it."

Dr. Yonekura eyed me sternly. "Mr. Walker, I need you to be honest, so that I can determine the administration and dosage of the painkillers. If you lie or try to 'downplay it', as her Grace says, you could be given insufficient medication that would do nothing for your pain. Now, I will ask again, how's your pain level at the moment?

I grit my teeth, feeling every bit like a scolded child. "A seven."

The doctor nodded. "Very well. A nurse should be by in a moment with an IV. Now, I am anxious to x-ray your shoulder. From what I can tell, since your scapula appears to be unbroken, the bullet is still lodged in your shoulder. An x-ray should tell us where the bullet pieces are located, and if you should need surgery or not."

"Wait, what do you mean he might need surgery?" Myers asked. "Doesn't he have to have surgery to remove the bullet shards?"

Dr. Yonekura shook her head. "Not necessarily, Your Grace. If the pieces are lodged too close to a main artery or a major bundle of nerves, like the subclavian artery or the brachial plexus, it is much more dangerous to remove them. We would risk permanent damage to these structures, which is why it's best to just leave the projectiles well enough alone. If this were the case, the body would build scar tissue around the bullet pieces, encapsulating them so to speak, which would prevent any major infection. However, Mr. Walker would experience permanent discomfort, and perhaps even pain, for the rest of his life."

Myers' eyes widened, visibly worried, shooting me a pained look. "Myers…"

The doctor's demeanor visibly softened as she looked at us. "Please, Your Grace… Camilla. I did not mean to worry you. I want you to have all the facts, but like I said, we need an x-ray to determine Mr. Walker's treatment, which I will personally oversee."

Myers swallowed. "Thank you, doctor."

"Now, besides the x-ray, we also need to perform some blood tests, just to rule out any type of infection. The nurse will come in just a moment to draw some blood, and then we'll get you to our radiology department."

"Okay, thank you Dr. Yonekura." I told her.

She nodded, heading for the door. "I'll see you in a bit."

Myers sighed as the doctor left and immediately took a seat in the chair next to my bed. She took my hand and squeezed, a sorrowful look on her face. "I'm so sorry…"

"Myers, stop. I told you last night… This," I nodded down at my shoulder, "was worth it. I'd take a bullet for you any day as long as I got to keep you safe."

"I know you probably think that's very touching and romantic…" She grinned, "but I'd really appreciate if you never did anything like that again. I'm looking forward to having you around for at least 50 years." Myers looked at the ring on her finger. "After that, you're free to kick the bucket whenever you like."

I played with her ring, running my thumb on the diamond. "Just 50, huh?"

"Oh, yes… Fifty years, a house, a couple of dogs and horses… and maybe a baby or two." Myers beamed at me, before leaning to kiss me.

I tangled my fingers into her hair, the kiss slow and sweet, when we heard someone clearing their throat. We both pulled apart, a bit embarrassed, to find another nurse in the doorway. "Excuse me, Your Grace, Mr. Walker." She nodded. "I'm here to draw some blood."

"Right. Sorry!" Myers apologized, and the woman merely waved her concerns away.

"No need to apologize, Your Grace." She walked up to my bed, and took my left arm. After propping an elastic band on it just over my elbow, and tightening it, she began to feel for my veins. The woman seemed to have angel hands, since I didn't even feel when she pinched me, the needle breaking the skin. She filled about three small test tubes, before removing the needle, wiping it down and placing a band-aid on it. "An orderly will be here right away to take you to Radiology." With a kind smile and a nod, she left the room.

Myers sighed.

"Hey, I just realized something." I told her. She quirked an eyebrow, intrigued. "You just ascended last night, and everyone's already calling you 'Your Grace'."

Myers groaned. "Ugh, I know… it still feels surreal…"

"It'll definitely take some getting used to…" I told her, thinking how strange it must be for her, and how weird it'll be for me, when the time comes.

An orderly knocked on our door, another one standing behind him. "Mr. Walker? We're here to take you down to Radiology."

"Oh, okay, thanks." I told him awkwardly.

They began hauling my bed to the elevator, Myers waving goodbye from the room. I tried shooting her what I hoped was a comforting smile before the elevator doors shut. We descended back down to the first floor, through the maze-like hallways until finally arriving at the radiology department. Dr. Yonekura met us there, getting me quickly set up in front of the machine. After a couple of clicks, and a couple of changes in position later, I was back on the gurney.

As we approached my room, I could hear Myers' voice. "... downstairs, getting his shoulder x-rayed. Yeah, the doctor said he might need surgery, it depends on where the bullet pieces are lodged…" She smiled when she saw me. "He's back, I have to go. Mm-hmm… yeah, of course, I'll tell him. Okay, I'll see you in a bit. Bye!" She hung up, moving to my bedside."Hey, everything okay?"

"Yeah. Who was that?"

"Liam. They're at the palace already. He says he has a couple of meetings with the King Father and the Queen Mother, as well as the police and the King's Guard, but he'll be here to see you as soon as they're over. Also, Hana asks if you want her to bring you anything, just to make your stay more comfortable."

I shook my head. "Nothing comes to mind right now."

"Are you sure? Hana said she and Maxwell are only stopping by the palace to get some essentials, then they're coming straight here to see you."

"Um… okay. My phone charger and my toothbrush?"

"We have toothbrushes here, Mr. Walker, along with other toiletries and necessities you might need in the bathroom." Dr. Yonekura strolled into the room, smiling brightly.

"So, maybe just your charger then. And maybe a pair of pijamas and a robe?" Myers winked, taking out her phone to send Hana a text. "Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the guys are picking up Savannah on the way here!"

"Is she coming with the baby?"

"I don't think so. I think Bertrand will stay with him in the apartment."

"Yeah, that's probably for the best." I turned back to the doctor. "So, doc, how'd I do?"

She clicked her tongue. "I must once again stress how lucky you are, Mr. Walker. The bullet shattered on impact, as is expected, but not one of the pieces is near any of the structures mentioned before. We should be able to remove them easily."

"So he will have surgery?" Myers asked.

"Yes, I've scheduled it for noon today. I will be performing it myself - not to toot my own horn - but I can assure you, you are in very capable hands."

Myers breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much, Dr. Yonekura."

"Please, there is no need to thank me. After the surgery is complete, you will remain in our care for a few more days, and if there are no complications or signs of infection, you should be good to go in about a week. After that, you will be scheduled for rehabilitation with a physical therapist. We'll also be seeing each other frequently for check-ups. Finally, Mr. Walker, Asterwood has many talented psychologists who specialize in post-traumatic stress disorder, in case you find yourself needing treatment or help to deal with… the more emotional aspects of last night's events."

I nodded. "I… will think about it."

"Very well." She nodded. "I will leave you now and I'll see you in a couple of hours."

As the doctor left, Myers and I talked for a couple of minutes before my sister and our friends walked in. Savannah moved to hug me as soon as she saw me, tears streaming from her eyes.

"You idiot! Never do that again!" She chided.

"What, get shot? Believe me, I'll try."

Savannah kept on hugging me, as Myers relayed all the new information regarding my upcoming surgery and my treatment. She told them all about the x-ray, the blood tests, as well as what my rehabilitation would consist of. Savannah, in turn, then told us about how she'd managed to get out, how Bertrand had ushered her and the baby to safety, how she'd called Mom…

"Wait, you called Mom?!"

"Of course! She would have found out anyway! An assassination attempt on the Cordonian nobility is international news. I'd rather she'd find out from me than from a TV!"

"Oh… crap." Myers checked her phone. "It's 11 o'clock here, which means it's 5 a.m. in New Jersey… Dad and Wendy will be up in about an hour, just in time for the morning news…"

"Milla, you haven't called your parents yet?" Maxwell asked.

"Excuse you, I've been a little busy, in case you haven't noticed." She gestured to me and my gurney. "It slipped my mind…" She mumbled.

"Go call them now." I told her, but she shook her head.

"No, I want to be here for you before your surgery. I don't mind getting my ass chewed out by my dad and Wendy later if it means I can be here for you now." She leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead.

"That's sweet of you." I teased.

Myers ran her hand through my hair tenderly, causing Savannah to squeal when she saw Nana's ring on Myers' finger. "Aah!" She clapped her hands over her mouth as she remembered she was in a hospital. "You proposed!" She said excitedly, but at a considerably lower volume.

"That he did." Myers told her. "That he did."

"How did he do it?" Savannah asked. "I love a good proposal story!"

"Hey, yeah…" Maxwell added. "You never told us how you proposed."

"I took out a ring, popped the question and she said yes. That's pretty much how it went down." I told him.

"I'm… sure it was a little more romantic than that…" Hana encouraged.

"Oh, it definitely was." Myers grinned cheekily. "I think he just doesn't want to tell you so that he doesn't ruin the rugged 'I-took-a-bullet' tough guy image you all have of him right now."

"Now I have to know." Savannah quipped.

"I'll tell you all about it over coffee." Myers winked at her, and we all laughed.

Time passed quickly, as we talked and laughed, and before we knew it, it was noon. Like clockwork, Dr. Yonekura was in my room at 12 sharp, with another doctor in tow - the anesthesiologist - as well as a couple of orderlies. My sister, Hana and Maxwell each hugged me goodbye, before Myers gave me a soft kiss and a whispered "I love you."

Her face was the last thing I saw before they wheeled me into the O.R.

A/N2: Oh, and I added this last bit at the hospital because Drake gets SHOT! I mean, it's not a minor injury and I don't think it gets better after your MC patches him up with the first aid kit. Along the rest of the books, he mentions a doctor and a physical therapist, I think, so it's clear he had the correct treatment for his injury. And I honestly would've loved to see at least one scene of your MC supporting him in the hospital, moreso if you're romancing him! I mean, the guy saved your life, and you don't go with him to the hospital?! So these last few scenes are sort of my answer to that particular frustration.

Now, I am NOT a medical professional, or even in the medical field. So to write these scenes I did soooo much research about the treatment of shooting victims, but for the sake of realism, I beg you, if I've gotten anything wrong, please let me know so I can fix it. With that said, thanks for reading!