Please review! I am in a Maxon slump (Pretty much consumed by Warner atm, thanks to my fanfiction friend, you know who you are) and your reviews help motivate me to keep publishing! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed my previous chapters/stories and let me know what you think of this one!
ASPEN'S POV
As I reached the other side, I saw a guard reaching down to Maxon. I pulled out my gun, pointing it at the man. Recognizing Avery, I let myself collapse to the floor.
"Where have you been?" I mumbled.
Avery reached towards Maxon, who was out cold. "Playing hero again?"
"Just tell me he is still breathing," I groaned.
Avery leaned close to Maxon, pulling him up. "Lucky you," he said. "If he makes it, you are going to get a huge promotion."
I laughed, "Let's just say I doubt that is true."
Avery shot me a puzzled look as he reached out his free hand to pull me up.
I sighed, supposing I didn't have to keep the secret from my best friend anymore. "A few hours ago, he may or may not have found out I've been… seeing… America." His mouth dropped open and I hobbled over to hold onto Maxon's other shoulder. "Long story. Let's focus on getting him to the hospital wing so we don't kill the crowned prince."
"King," Avery stated. I shot him a startled look. "I saw it myself," he stated dryly. Both of us had enough experience with the king to not mourn his death, but I felt the weight of Maxon's limp body double along with learning his new importance to Illea.
Overwhelmed at the magnitude of the disaster and with fear for Lucy and the other staff members, I stumbled, grunting as I hit the ground. My leg screamed in pain and I noticed Avery managed to keep hold of Maxon.
"I'm glad I have been working out, I never expected to be dragging the two of you to the hospital wing," he chuckled, pulling me up again.
It took more time than I thought possible to pull Maxon down the empty hallway. We made it halfway to the hospital wing before a shot rang out. "I found the prince!" I heard a voice yell as the three of us tumbled to the floor. My gun was out of my holster and shooting in an instant. Two rebels dropped and then the hallway was empty.
"Did you see that?" I turned to Avery. But Avery was facedown and blood was everywhere. "No," I gasped. It was too late, the bullet had gone straight through his heart. I crawled over his body to where Maxon lay. I put my head on his chest and listened. Nothing. The thought of looking into America's eyes and telling her I had failed, that I had let him die, was unbearable. That was the strength I needed. I hoisted Maxon over my shoulder and hobbled down the hallway. Every step was torment and I fell to my knees more than once. Finally, I reached the hospital wing, where medical staff and the injured were swarming. I dropped to my knees at the end of the hallway. "Help," my voice was raspy from the strain. My took a breath, "HELP!" I caught a nurse's attention.
"Oh my God," the nurse screamed. "The prince!" In a whirlwind, a gurney was brought over to us. I carefully placed Maxon on it.
The doctor examined him briefly before jumping on top of him to begin CPR. "He needs blood! Someone find some quick!"
I stretched my arm out across Maxon's body. "Take mine," I wheezed, "Universal donor." I never loved the guy, but the terrified look on America's face as I shoved her into the safe room was fresh in my memory, and I couldn't let her down.
The doctor looked me up and down, his eyes catching on my bleeding leg. "You've lost too much blood yourself, we will have to find someone else."
I grabbed his arm fiercely. "I can't let him die and neither can you." Dizzy from pain and exhaustion, I outstretched my arm as he nodded. This went beyond my duty to the king. I had never been a fan of Maxon, but the look in America's eye as I dragged her away from him, screaming, had been with me since that moment. My feelings for America were complicated. Falling for another woman hadn't diminished my need to be around America, to protect her. A part of my heart would always be hers. Yet I knew her feelings for me had changed, that she had chosen someone else and she would never again be mine. So as hard as it was, I had to put her happiness in front of mine.
As they linked Maxon and I with a mess of tubes, I thought of how literally I would always be tied to both of them. A beeping monitor told me Maxon's heart was still beating and I whispered angrily, "You'd better hang on. I didn't give her up for you to die on me."
The nurse took me away as they wheeled the prince into surgery. They didn't tell me much, but I could tell it wasn't looking good. After they fixed up my leg, the painkillers started kicking in, and I drifted into a fitful sleep.
A/N: Sorry it was a shorter one, switching back to Maxon's POV soon! If I get some good reviews, maybe I can publish the next chapter before The Crown comes out ;) Otherwise I will be updating shortly after I consume Kiera Cass' last book! Let's hope for some good Maxon/America scenes.