Heart of Mine

by Lindsay Bergman

  For a brief second, I wondered where Paul was, but didn’t dare to ask. If he hadn’t untied me by now, I doubted that my pleas for help had swayed him. There was only one last hope for my survival now. With bated breath, I listened for the sounds of movement, catching the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. They were moving closer, although at a painstakingly slow pace. I was impatient for them to reach us. I believed that Marie would kill me if given the chance, but I was holding on to the last vestiges of hope that I might be saved by whoever was out there.

  Through the darkness, I could tell that Marie was crouched down in front of me, her hunting knife still pressed against my throat. She seemed as impatient as I was, but with a frenetic energy that practically hummed through her body and pulsed out in waves. My nerves had a firm grip on me. I was shaking, my heart pounding so ferociously inside my chest that I thought I might pass out.

  Then several things happened simultaneously.

  There was the sound of a gun being cocked as light blazed to life from the trees behind Marie. A voice spoke into the cold night, startling us both, and causing Marie to spin around.

  “Get away from my daughter before I shoot you through the heart.”

  I nearly sobbed in relief at the sound of my dad’s voice. Marie snarled viciously and swung toward me, the knife in her hand stabbing into my gut. At first, there was no pain. Then my surprise gave way to a sharp throbbing that ripped through me. At the same moment there was a gunshot. I screamed as Marie fell against me, the weight of her body heavy against my shoulder.

  Hazel eyes stared into mine, shock spreading across her face before she crumpled to the ground near the base of the tree, yanking out the hunting knife as she fell with a wet, sickening sound. The pain in my gut was acute. I could feel the blood soaking my shirt. Everything had happened in a matter of seconds and my brain was still struggling to catch up.

  “Maddy!” I heard my name shouted from the trees nearby.

  I jerked at the familiarity. That voice—it couldn’t possibly belong to my prince. He was safe in Coradova, thousands of miles away. I briefly caught a glimpse of multiple shadows emerging from the trees to my left as Dad moved toward me with his rifle aimed at Marie’s prone body. The light from his head lamp made him a perfect target. A shiver of fear ran through me.

  Where was Paul? I tried to shout a warning, but it was too late. There was a gunshot. I saw my dad jerk before he turned to face the tall figure that burst forth from the trees behind him. I screamed as they collided and the shadows to my left rushed forward to intervene. In the chaos that ensued, one of the shadows bolted toward me.

  “Maddy!” Alexander said urgently, dropping to his knees in front of me.

  “Alex,” I breathed, staring into his face in shock. He was really here.

  “Are you hurt?” Alexander didn’t waste any time as he began cutting through the ropes with a hunting knife. His eyes roved quickly over my body, searching for injuries. His shoulders tensed when he saw the blood.

  I could hear grunting and the scuffling sounds of a fight behind him.

  “Hold him down!” A man ordered, then added in a panicked voice, “Where is the prince?”

  It happened so quickly. There was barely any time to react.

  Alexander was focused on cutting me loose from the tree and the guards behind him were busy getting Paul under control. No one was paying attention to the woman lying at my feet. I felt Marie’s body twitch against my right leg only seconds before I heard her snarl.

  I called out a sudden warning, “Alex!”

  Startled, he glanced up, the restraints around me loosening as he cut through the final rope. But there wasn’t enough time. The guards were too far away. My dad’s headlamp was thrown down onto the ground, surrounding us in darkness and silhouettes. Even if they were aware of the danger, his guards didn’t have a clear shot. They couldn’t save him. But I could.

  My reaction was instantaneous, the desire to protect him born of instinct. In the blink of an eye I threw myself forward, my right arm coming up protectively as a shield. The swish of a blade sliced through the air as I crashed into Alexander, propelling him backward and out of the way. I felt a piercing burn rip upward through my arm, and the hard jarring in my bones as I collided with Alexander’s solid chest. Light suddenly blazed around us. There was the sound of multiple gunshots overhead, shouting, and thundering footsteps.

  Dazed, I struggled to focus past the black spots dancing before my eyes and the growing pain in my arm and abdomen. Under me, I felt Alexander sit up abruptly, turning me until I was cradled in his arms, his grip like iron.

  “Dolcezza,” Alexander gasped, clutching me to him.

  I blinked, trying to clear my fuzzy head. I could see the towering shadows of the guards surrounding us, but they were blurred and unfocused. The beams from their flashlights flickered overhead, casting a dim lighting over the campsite. I looked away, searching until my gaze finally focused on Alexander. His mouth was set in a grim line and his eyes were drawn tight with fear.

  “Are you okay?” My words sounded slurred.

  “I’m fine,” Alexander said briskly, brushing aside my concern. His eyes flashed with anger. “What were you thinking by putting yourself in danger like that? You could have been killed!” I heard his ragged intake of breath. “You’re covered in blood ...” His voice trailed off as he looked urgently at someone over my head.

  My eyes closed wearily. I felt weak and drained. After days of hiking through the woods with little food, water and sleep, the exhaustion was starting to take its toll. Not to mention, I had been stabbed and flayed open like a fish. I could feel the warmth of my blood spreading down my right arm, an endless throbbing in my lower abdomen, and an odd sense of detachment, like I wasn’t connected to my own body.

  Gentle hands touched my arm and stomach, prodding carefully, followed by a deep sigh. “The cut on her arm is long but shallow, and she’s been stabbed in the lower abdomen, but I don’t think any organs were hit. We need to stop the bleeding and get her back right away.” I recognized my dad’s voice. My hand fluttered at my side, reaching for him. When I felt his hand grab mine, I blinked open my eyes and looked up into the dark brown eyes of my father.

  “You were shot,” I managed to say.

  “The bullet just grazed my arm. Don’t worry. I’m fine and I’m right here, baby girl. You’re safe now.” Dad kissed my forehead and glanced up at Alexander’s question.

  “Is she going to be all right?”

  My dad hesitated. “If we can get her back in time.”

  Alexander’s grip tightened around me, his heart hammering unsteadily beneath my cheek. Dad squeezed my hand, then turned to dig through a nearby backpack. As he bandaged my wounds, my gaze returned to Alexander.

  Concerned blue eyes met mine. I watched him try to smile in encouragement. Behind his attempt at a brave face, his body was tense, and I knew that he was afraid. Not for himself, but of losing me.

  “I love you.” My words were barely discernible, but I wanted him to know, just in case I never got another chance to tell him.

  “Don’t say your last goodbyes,” Alexander commanded hoarsely. “You’re going to be fine.” His eyes blazed fiercely. I knew he was trying to convince himself as much as me. He gave me a little shake. “Do you hear me, dolcezza? I won’t let you die.” He kissed me ardently, my split lip burning in protest, then Alexander pressed his cheek to mine and held me close against his chest. He was so fierce and strong—and for a moment it felt like his love alone would be enough to keep me here.

  Alexander, heart of mine.

  I never imagined that I would fall in love with a prince. A real life, handsome and dashing prince who was more than just words in a storybook. With raven-black hair, eyes so blue they matched the sea, and a smile that could make me go weak in the knees. After a while, Alexander eased back to look at me, his eyes overflowing with love and fear. My own eyes lovingly explored his face in return, memorizing ever
y perfect detail. Memories of our time together in Coradova flitted through my head, lingering on the day that Alexander had proposed. I never expected him to give up everything for me, or to love him so much that I would willingly risk my life to be with him.

  The intense burning in my arm began to fade as numbness spread to my shoulder. The edges of my vision were beginning to dim, blackness flickering across my eyes. Unconsciousness beckoned, my body growing weaker, too tired to fight anymore. My eyes closed. I could hear the sound of my heart in my ears, thumping laboriously, and wondered how much time I had left. Though in this very moment, held close in the arms of the man that I loved, it didn’t really matter. Alexander was safe. I’d risked my own life to protect him, so that he could live and be happy ... and if I died for love, it was all worth it.

  “I’m done with the bandages,” Dad said nearby, his voice urgent. “I’ve stopped the bleeding, but we need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible. Here, let me take her.”

  The prince’s grip tightened in response, as if he were unwilling to let me go. “I’ve got her, Sam.” Alexander’s voice brooked no argument. He shifted under me, then stood and effortlessly lifted me up into the air, his strong arms a comforting cradle around me. I snuggled into his chest with a sigh and felt him kiss my forehead. “Hold on, dolcezza,” Alexander urged. “You’ve always been stubborn. Don’t give up now. Fight for me, cuore mio. I can’t lose you.”

  You’ll never lose me, I wanted to say. I’ll always be in your heart. No matter what happens to me now, I thought faintly, before succumbing to unconsciousness in the rocking of his arms.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Through the pressing blackness of oblivion, I caught flashes and flickers of moments that might have been real, or merely part of my subconscious. I remember being carried through the woods, held tightly in the arms of my prince, listening to the sound of his heartbeat beneath my cheek. I remember the sound of my dad’s voice, singing my favorite childhood lullaby. There were shouts and thundering footsteps, flickers of unfamiliar faces and bright orange vests. The pulsating sound of spinning blades, like a helicopter, broke through the haze long enough for me to notice that I was being strapped into a stretcher. Alexander was holding my hand and his kiss to my forehead felt warm. I remember Mackenzie’s voice, crying out in dismay, and my equally upset mom trying to comfort her. Then nothing but silent, unending darkness as time itself seemed to stop, and for a while, I was lost in the consuming darkness.

  Minutes, hours or days later, a flicker of sound finally broke through. The steady, continuous beeping of the machines intruded into the silence of my unconsciousness, pulling me out of the surrounding darkness. As awareness slowly returned, my fingers twitched at my sides. I felt the gentle squeeze of a warm hand in response. The soft caress on my cheek was as light as the wings of a butterfly.

  “Maddy?” Alexander asked quietly, sounding close by. He squeezed my hand again. “Can you hear me, cuore mio?” My eyelids fluttered open and my gaze focused in on the anxious face of my prince. His blue eyes met mine, brimming with relief. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Welcome back.”

  We were in a hospital room surrounded by white. It was sterile, practical and efficient. After a quick glance around, I noticed that Alexander was the only other person in the room. I studied his face for a moment; he looked weary and exhausted. There were slight circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept well in days, and his stubbled jaw was drawn tight with concern. How long had I been unconscious?

  “Hey, Prince Charming,” I murmured with a raspy voice, watching the dazzling smile that spread across his face. “I thought you were supposed to wake me with a kiss.”

  His smile grew tender. Alexander obligingly leaned down to kiss me, his touch gentle. He eased back slightly and looked deep into my eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” I stared lovingly into eyes as blue as the sea.

  Alexander braced one hand on the hospital bed and leaned in to tenderly hold my cheek, his thumb softly stroking my skin. We were lost in each other. Content simply to look and feel, the use of words unnecessary when our eyes alone spoke volumes.

  “I see that someone is finally awake,” a voice spoke from the doorway. Alexander straightened. I looked over at the doctor; a middle-age man with peppered brown hair and kind eyes. He smiled as he approached, looking amused. “I’m Dr. Smith. How are you feeling, Madison?”

  “A little groggy and sore.” My right arm was beginning to throb and my stomach felt tender, but I couldn’t complain. Despite the odds, I was still alive!

  Dr. Smith nodded, peered down at the medical chart in his hand and asked me a few more questions before explaining that I’d been given a blood transfusion because of severe blood loss. I’d responded well, with no signs of adverse reactions, but they wanted to keep me in the hospital for the next four nights to watch for infection. I’d received multiple stitches in my arm and stomach. The stab wound to my lower abdomen had luckily missed my intestines, and while the cut on my arm was long, extending from elbow to shoulder, it wasn’t too deep. There was some bruising and minor scrapes, as well as various second- degree burns. But all-in-all, I was expected to make a full recovery. Dr. Smith warned me to take it easy, then winked at us before leaving to find a nurse for more pain medicine.

  After he left I noticed the two royal guards stationed outside of my hospital room and looked abruptly at Alexander. “What happened to Gerard? And Papa?” My heart monitor beeped frantically from my sudden alarm.

  “They’re both fine, dolcezza.” Alexander squeezed my hand in reassurance. “Your grandfather made it out of the house in time, and he was the one who pulled Gerard to safety with the help of your neighbors. Gerard suffered some second-degree burns, a broken clavicle, a mild concussion, and minor scrapes and bruises. They’re both downstairs in the cafeteria with your parents right now.” Alexander sat in the chair next to my bed, keeping hold of my right hand. Then he smiled wryly. “I swear, Gerard’s as stubborn as you. He refused to leave the hospital until you woke up, even though I insisted that he go back to the cabin to rest. He’s become very fond of you.”

  My eyes welled up with tears. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized, nearly choked by guilt. “If I hadn’t tried to save the horses he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

  Alexander sighed, his expression turning stern. “You shouldn’t have disobeyed him when you knew that it was his job to protect you. You put both of your lives in danger because of your recklessness. That said, he probably would have gotten hurt or possibly even killed trying to protect you from Marie and Paul.” His shoulders tensed briefly and anger stole across his face.

  “What—,” I began, stopping when Mackenzie entered the room. Her brown eyes widened when she saw that I was awake.

  She quickly set down the cup of coffee and muffin she was holding and threw her arms around me in a tight hug. “Oh, Maddy, we thought we’d lost you! First, in the fire, and then out in the woods. When they brought you back by helicopter, covered in blood and unconscious ...” Her words trailed off and she squeezed me tighter, making my bandaged stomach ache in protest.

  “Shhh,” I murmured, softly stroking her curly brown hair with my uninjured arm. “It’s over and I’m fine now, Kenzie. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Mackenzie pulled back after another moment and wiped her eyes with the back of a hand, smiling down at me through her tears. “I’d better go tell everyone you’re awake. We’ve been waiting for almost forty-eight hours. They’ll all be so relieved.”

  “Everyone?” Wasn’t it just my family and Gerard down in the cafeteria? I looked from Mackenzie to Alexander. They both smiled, sharing a look.

  It was Alexander who answered. “The entire Royal Family of Coradova are here in the hospital, as well as Ethan, your parents and grandfather, and Gerard. You are very loved, dolcezza.” He kissed my hand, his smile tender.

  “I brought you some coffee and a muffin,” Mackenzie said to Alex
ander, indicating the food she’d set aside on the table. “Maybe you’ll be able to eat now that Maddy’s awake—and actually get out of this hospital so you can sleep in a real bed. You look exhausted.” She looked at him pointedly before explaining to me, “After he spent four days hiking through the forest with barely any sleep, he came straight to the hospital with you and hasn’t left your room in two days. He’s very stubborn, just like you.”

  She handed him the muffin and coffee, then leaned down to hug him affectionately. “Love you, Alex. Thank you for taking care of my sister.”

  “Love you too, piccolo riccio.” He playfully ruffled her curly brown hair.

  “I’ll be back soon,” Mackenzie promised, leaving the room right before a blond-haired nurse in pink scrubs entered.

  She smiled fondly at Alexander before turning her attention to me. “I brought you some more pain medicine, sweetie,” she explained, switching out the IV bags hanging next to me. “It’s nice to finally see you awake, Madison. There’ve been a lot of gloomy faces in here for the last two days.” She checked my charts and monitors, then told us to call if we needed anything else.

  “Thank you, Jennifer,” Alexander said, smiling gratefully at the nurse. Jennifer blushed and attempted a curtsy before leaving the room.

  “The hospital must be overwhelmed with excitement because the entire Coradovan Royal Family is here in our little town. Especially a handsome prince like you,” I teased Alexander with a wink. “Nurse Jennifer sure seemed smitten with you.”

  He rolled his eyes and changed the subject. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine. Just a little sore.” I was still feeling a little weak and slightly out of it. The events of the past several days seemed surreal, like a dream. I saw the concern that flashed across Alexander’s face and gently squeezed his hand. “I’m sure the pain meds will kick in soon. I’m fine, I promise.”