A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter…it is a chapter that will start revealing secrets. There are many that need to be revealed, consider this a start. Thank you for all of the reviews! I was beginning to believe that this story's appeal was fading, but all the reviews showed me otherwise…thank you all!

Chapter 13

The Same Eyes

Raine took mercy on poor Kaiba, he carefully ushered out the servants—all except for Bessy. The woman was trying to help, but Raine wasn't sure if she was ready to pass out from the blood or from the harsh looks the CEO kept shooting at everyone.

"Just put her down already Mr. Kaiba," Raine groaned. "The ambulance will get here soon enough and then she'll be fine. Let Bessy see to her for a few minutes and have a drink, or three."

Kaiba finally, and with great effort, placed her on the couch. He wasn't going to leave the room, or her side. He backed up, accidentally hitting the table behind him. A vase tumbled to the floor and crashed. Iolite jumped, Seto witnessed it; did this mean she was coming out of it? God, he hoped so.

Iolite knew exactly what was going on. She had changed from real sleep to pretending a while ago. The pain had eased, and though not completely faded—it was tolerable. She was feeling much better. The problem now, what should she tell Seto? He would be mad about her leaving Mokuba, and furious that they had left the guards in the dust—back at the stables. She was tired of being watched like a babysat child. He would be furious with her, that she placed herself and Mokuba in danger. So, was feigning sleep so bad?

She needed time to think. An explanation had to be well thought out before she 'came around'. There was also the question about who had ordered the hit on Seto. Most likely it was her brothers, but what if it wasn't? Her mind wandered to a scary thought, could her father have ordered the hit? He seemed to hate Seto, but was her father that cold? Could he do that, knowing it would devastate her to lose him?

If she told Seto her thoughts, she would betray her blood, practically the only blood relative she still had who would speak to her. However, if she didn't tell Seto, she would be betraying the man she loved. She shivered and grimaced. She didn't want to lose either of them, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"She's in pain," Seto growled. "I want it stopped. Now!"

Iolite still didn't open her eyes. She simply wished Seto would scoop her up into his arms and tell her everything would be fine. God help her, she actually wanted him to love her, even if it was just a little.

Bessy brought over a blanket to keep Iolite warm, as she covered Iolite, Iolite moaned. Bessy cried out, as if she were the one in pain. She could no longer contain her sobs, "Please don't let the Princess die! She can't come home only to die!" The old woman's eyes searched Seto's cold blue ones. She then turned to Raine and whispered a soft, whimpering, "please."

"Stop that kind of talk right now! She isn't going to die." Raine growled at her, he didn't need to upset Kaiba anymore… "She lost a bit of blood, hell she was a worse tomboy as a child. How many times did she go to the hospital? I think she had her own suite there." Raine couldn't take his eyes off Iolite.

Roland finally came in, with Mokuba in tow. "What happened?" Mokuba cried out, then attempted to rush Iolite's silent form. Raine grabbed him before he got close, gently explaining that they couldn't shake or disturb her.

"What happened?" Roland asked with complete concern, "Bullet?"

"No, an arrow," Kaiba offered. "She threw herself in front of me—taking the arrow."

"She was trying to save him." Raine finished. Kaiba's head hung in defeat. "She's going to be okay, trust me, I've seen her in worse scrapes than this. The girl is too stubborn to die." Raine explained as he attempted to smile.

"With all the talk going around of things Mr. Kaiba—that she is worthy only of blue-blood, you must be disappointed in her." Raine continued, trying to get Kaiba to snap out of his downward spiral.

"I'd never be disappointed in her. She challenges me like no person ever has. I can hardly keep her in check. She's so reckless." He shook his head, closing his blue eyes. "Then again, I've been reckless with her at times as well. Very reckless."

Iolite heard the harshness in Seto's voice—when he labeled her reckless. She decided, there and then, to sleep for a week or two. Maybe when she woke up he wouldn't be so angry with her. Maybe by then she would figure everything out. Where was her father? That was nagging at her. She would never lie to Seto, she had given that promise to him—and she would never keep anything from him again. The last time she withheld vital information they nearly lost one another.

Mokuba whispered, "She made sure I was safe before she left me. She spotted something and ran after it. I didn't realize it was a person. If she hadn't noticed, big brother, you might have been killed." The small boy shivered.

Mokuba started recounting how they had dodged the guards at the stables, took off on their own and then wound up in the tree. Everyone was so wrapped up in his story they failed to notice what Kaiba did. The pain in her expression was replaced with peace.

Was she listening?

"Iolite open your eyes," Seto commanded.

She groaned loudly instead, it was overly dramatic, not convincing at all. Just what was her game? Relief swelled through him as he smiled. He knelt next to her, his lips just inches from her ear.

"You will answer my question when I'm sure you're alright." Seto promised, in a hoarse whisper, not leaving her side.

Bessy and Raine left to let the ambulance workers in, while Roland tugged Mokuba into the kitchen.

It was then that Iolite opened her eyes. They were clear, not cloudy. She slowly turned her gaze to Seto.

"You scared the hell out of me." Seto said, softly.

"Does that mean you'll be more of an angel than a devil with me now?" She managed, her voice sounding a bit weak.

"Would you want me to be less of a devil with you?" He asked with a smirk.

"No, I love my Seto the way he is…" She closed her eyes. "Please don't leave me." She whimpered.

"Never." He growled with protectiveness.

The paramedics set up an IV bag, placed an oxygen mask on her face and tended to her vitals. She was stable, though her blood pressure was low. Kaiba and Raine walked out with them, only to be informed that they couldn't travel with her. After Seto almost destroyed the paramedics with words, they agreed to two exceptions.

Once they were at the hospital she was tended to immediately. Several guards were set all around her, no one would have the opportunity to do this again.

"She'll be fine, she just needs lots of rest, fluids and not to get struck by an arrow again…" The doctor joked. It was a wound, but it would heal quickly, she was young and it didn't hit anything major. It looked worse than it was. She was given a tetanus shot and put on antibiotics as well as pain meds. They wanted to keep her overnight, but she was adamant that she wanted to go home. Kaiba tried to convince her, as well as Raine, but Iolite knew home was best. She wanted her own bed, and hospitals were too nerve-wracking for her.

Mokuba was thrilled to see her. Seto carried her up to their room, even though she insisted on walking. It could have ended quite badly, not like this, not with her in his arms and safe. Gently, he laid her on their bed and scooted in next to her. She chastised him for his shoes being on the bed, and he quickly took them off. He wasn't ready to leave her side, he just needed to hold her and assure himself she really would recover.

She lay across his chest, while he softly stroked her hair. The pain meds made her feel as if she were flying, and he was the only thing tying her to the earth.

"Did you see the man who made the attempt?" He gently asked.

"No, just a figure and the bow." She yawned.

"You could have gotten yourself killed." He kissed the top of her head.

"I saved you Seto, that was all that mattered to me," she snuggled into him.

He felt her breathing become heavy; she was sleeping. He held her for quite awhile before he reluctantly slipped from the bed. He nodded to the two guards posted outside her door and asked if men were positioned under the window. He then left to find Raine. Now that they knew of an assassin, they had to figure out who sent them, and why.

Kaiba entered the library to find Raine talking to a familiar face.

"How is she?" Ryan asked, all the apprehension in the world was showing in his eyes. "Can I see her?"

"She's asleep," Kaiba growled, not really wanting to share Iolite with her former fiancé at any time. "She needs it."

"I'll wait," Ryan offered, plopping onto the couch and crossing his arms. He may have let Kaiba have the girl, but she still meant the world to him. He thought his heart would break when he left Iolite that night, the night she and Kaiba finally became husband and wife. The night she decked him, and he left her there, with Seto Kaiba. Valkaria wasn't the same without her, it was just a place now. He wanted to come and see her, but waited for an invitation. To hell with invitations, she needed him now…and here he would stay—until he saw her.

"Not here you won't," Kaiba growled. Ryan may have helped him save Iolite from her brothers back in Japan, but he felt no need to lower his defenses around Ryan. They still had a history, and here in Valkaria it was all around them. How could he fight Ryan and Iolite's past? Seto's own history with her was meager at best, and their start had been so damn rocky.

"I left Japan to give you a chance. I have no intention of ruining your marriage, I know how she feels about you Kaiba." Ryan shook his head. "She is your wife, and though I may not respect you—I respect her and will do no damage what so ever."

"Where did Raine go?" Kaiba seethed, not really wanting to cause a huge scene and kick the insolent man out.

"He said something about the kitchen," Ryan answered simply.

Kaiba stormed out of the room and went to find Raine.

"I know I'm missing something in this equation," Kaiba paced as he ran a hand through his hair. "Who would do this? Why would they do it?"

"Simple," Raine shrugged. "She'd be worth far more to the monarchy as a widow. She would be available for the taking, with her fortune—and yours at her fingertips. A very serious combination, don't you think?"

Kaiba's eyes glazed over, he never even thought about what would happen to her if something happened to him. He decided he didn't like the thoughts. "I have no intention of dying on her."

"Then don't—let's return home to Japan and get the hell out of here. They won't stop at a first attempt. If someone has their sights on you, they will keep coming." Raine's voice was quite harsh.

"I don't run. Besides, I want to learn more about this 'monarchy.' I need to know what sets Iolite apart from them. If you haven't noticed, my wife is anything but the 'typical' princess." Kaiba quirked his eyebrow at Raine. He had his suspicions, but the man was being stubborn.

"She was 'guarded' and allowed to be herself. She might have been given too much freedom, but I like to think that she has too much of her mother in her to fall into the 'blue-blood' trap." Raine smirked at Kaiba.

"Perhaps she has some of her father in her as well?" Kaiba suggested.

"There is nothing of Edward in her…" Raine spat out, as if completely angered by the thought. "I mean, where the hell is the man? His daughter was shot, taken to the hospital and where is Edward? Absent as usual!" Raine seemed incensed.

"It was a good thing for Iolite that her father was there." Kaiba commented, as he slid into the chair across from Raine.

Raine looked a bit confused, but completely aware.

"She doesn't know, does she?" Kaiba asked.

Raine looked down, "Know what?"

"Shall I say it again?" Kaiba asked as he tempeled his fingers, and stared at the bodyguard.

"No one knows…" Raine looked a bit panicked. "They would eat her alive."

"No one will find out from me," Kaiba assured Raine. "Does she know?"

"Never—she thinks that jackass is her father." Raine sounded angry.

"So, is he dead?" The voice asked, plain and simple. A job was requested and paid for. Now, it was just necessary to find out if it was done.

"Sorry, she got in the way." The hired assassin replied.

"She?"

"Iolite placed herself between Seto Kaiba and the arrow. I would have had a clean shot at his heart, instead she took it in her right shoulder." The assassin waited for the verbal abuse to begin.

"Is she dead?" The voice asked in a cold tone.

"No, she's actually back here…now…alive and well." The assassin's voice was emotionless.

"You're lucky she is still alive, punishment for screwing up that badly would have been death. Don't be so sloppy next time. Seto Kaiba needs to die, the sooner the better." The voice remained calm and controlled.

"It may get dangerous around here for the next few days. I mean—the attempt was just made. Everyone's guard is up…"

"Not my problem. Figure it out. You know what it will cost you if you don't get the job done." The line simply went dead as the assassin placed the phone in its cradle.

"Well…well…well…it's good to see you're finally awake." A warm voice greeted her. She slowly opened her eyes and turned towards the direction of the voice.

"Raine?" She whispered as her eyes fluttered open. "Is something wrong?"

"Aside from you almost being killed, no, nothing I can think of." He smiled as she blinked a few times. "How are you feeling?"

"Aside from being shot by an arrow…fine." She struggled to sit up; Raine quickly assisted her. He helped her pull herself up and fluffed her pillows behind her. He sat next to her and smiled. She was fine. His daughter was fine.

"Have I missed something?" She asked as she watched his eyes grow a bit misty.

"I protected you for years, the one day I was a bit slow on the draw…this happens. You could have died today—Princess." His voice was hardly a whisper.

"I didn't." She smiled at him. "It was my own fault. I placed myself in the line of fire."

"You did it to save Seto Kaiba. I should have thrown myself between you and the arrow." He shook his head, turning away from her.

"You had no idea what I was doing. I was the only one who knew. Actually, it's Seto's fault. I was trying to tackle him to the ground, but he was too damn stubborn to fall." She smirked. She noticed her hair had been pulled into a ponytail, with her good hand she pulled it over her shoulder. Sadly, she noticed the caked blood.

"I can wash it out for you Princess." Raine offered, sadly.

"I'd like that." Her small hand folded over his, squeezing it gently. He felt he had failed her; maybe this would make him feel better. Gently, he assisted her to the bathroom. He washed her hair as she sat by the sink. He also helped clean up her face a bit.

"I think I want to shower," Iolite insisted. "You should call Bessy to assist me."

"It would wet your stitches, so…no. However, you can take a bath." He started running the water as he called Bessy through the intercom.

He longed to tell her who he was to her, but it would place her in a dangerous predicament. Who knew how Edward would react to her being the product of his wife's affair. Even though Alexandra put up with him, there was no love from her to Edward. Her heart had always been Raine's.

Edward, however, considered the obsession he felt for Alexandra love. He didn't realize that the feelings he had were never returned, not even in the slightest.

Alexandra had preformed her duty, given him his sons, but the daughter she bore was a child of love. When Raine learned of the accident that took Alexandra from him, he longed to gather up the child and run. Unfortunately, kidnapping royalty was an impossibility. He had to leave her there, but he slowly managed to gain an in, he smiled; he was able to watch his child grow up. Iolite was the greatest gift he had ever been given.

He heard the bedroom door open as the tub was beginning to fill. He had called for Bessy, it must be her—but she would knock.

"Stay here," he growled, not about to screw up again, he pulled his gun.

"Raine," she whispered harshly, "is that necessary?"

"I'm taking no more chances," he growled.

He slowly opened the door and spied Kaiba. He breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned over and turned off the water.

"Well, I think I'll be on my way. Your help has arrived." Raine winked at her. She looked at him blankly.

Iolite stood there, watching Raine leave. She didn't really need help. She stood up from the chair. Raine had carefully washed her hair in the sink and pulled it into a bun on top of her head. She smiled. The man was so gentle, yet so cold and calculating. You could trust your life to him.

She tried to pull the shirt off her head, her right arm wasn't in the sleeve. The shirt she wore had merely been pulled over her, with only her left arm through the sleeve. Unfortunately, the pain she caused herself made her yelp.

"What are you doing?" The smooth voice of Seto warmed her, instantly.

"Trying to get washed up," she smiled at him, suddenly feeling nervous. "I'm just waiting for Bessy."

"Bessy is too busy for your demands." He moved closer, stroking his fingers down her cheek. It was good to see her out of the bed, and her color was slowly returning. His mind was starting to settle from its earlier panic.

He gently eased her shirt over her head, "but I'm not busy at all Highness…"

"I'm too weak…" She murmured as he started to stroke her skin.

"You won't be doing anything," he grinned wickedly. "All you have to do is lay back and enjoy my total attention."

"But I…" She tried to resist.

"I'm not allowed to assist you?" He caught her lips in his, but then quickly broke the kiss. "You save my life and I can't help you wash up?" He said it so innocently she almost laughed. He undressed her quickly, but without causing her further pain.

"How come I think you won't stop with simply 'washing me up'?" Iolite giggled as he lifted her gently and then lowered her into the tub. He started soaping a washcloth as he knelt beside the tub.

"Because, my wife, I didn't marry a stupid woman." He started soaping up her back and good shoulder, very mindful of her injury.

"I don't think I'm up for…that…" she closed her eyes as she gave into his gentleness.

"This won't be about me Iolite, for the next few hours," he leaned in and whispered against her ear. "It's all about you."

A/N: So, one secret revealed…more to come. Thanks for reading, now review so I know your thoughts…thank you too much…in advance…