It wasn't long until the helicopter was due back and I couldn't stay still. Every time I managed to find some calm, a new force of anxiety and anticipation would hit me. Both Jayden and Alexander had been shot! The Maldivo's would also be with them and I didn't even know what to say to them. Then there was Austin... he'd be arriving too.

There were medics on standby, some to take Jayden straight to surgery to remove the bullet, and others to tend to the those who may have been shot or injured, including Alex.

Leandra, Henrietta, Charlotte and the King all seemed equally as anxious for their arrival, with the King frequently getting up to pace up and down, and checking that the two choppers were on schedule.

The door in the wall on the far side of the hanger finally opened up, just wide enough for one chopper at a time to enter, and as soon as they were in, it shut.

I shot up out of my seat and waited as the medics rushed past to one of the helicopters. Jayden's unconscious body was carried out on a stretcher, with Leyton tailing behind, insisting that he got to watch the surgery to make sure his brother was okay. Next, a few soldiers being led by some medics, and then finally, Alexander.

His face and arms were covered in blood and bruises, it looked painful as he appeared to struggle walking. His left eye remained bruised shut. A hand was on his hip, I assumed to try and reduce the pain from his wound.

He limped over, eyes scanning the room for something, then they landed on me, and he started limping over a little faster, shrugging off the medics, that were trying to help, off him. The second we were in each other's reach, we pulled the other in for an embrace. There was only a brief second of eye contact up close, but I was sure I saw tears in the one eye he had open.

"I was so concerned. Everything happened so fast I-I couldn't even see."

"I told you, we don't do things like you guys," I could tell he was trying to stifle his cry, but also that he was smiling a little, maybe glad for my concern, or that everything was over.

The second my arms tightened around him, he tensed and hissed slightly, and then I remembered about his wound. I tried to pull away to apologise, but his grip remained the same on me, so I made due and moved my arms up a little.

Another body was wheeled away in a rush, red staining their white shirt and equally pale skin. Austin was completely unconscious, his arms were folded over his chest and tied to the sides of the stretcher, his legs were the same. The lower half of his face covered by a breathing mask.

I shut my eyes tight and completely locked my focus on Alexander, and only when he loosened up his grip, so did I. He seemed overwhelmed by everything, and I didn't blame him. The moment we pulled away from each other, Henrietta and the King rushed in for their share of hugging.

"You've done well, son," I heard the King say as he went in for the hug.

Charlotte and Leandra then got their chance for hugs too.

Another stretcher was wheeled in, halting beside Alexander. With the assistance of his father, he laid on it, a huge gasp escaping him, his face scrunching up in pain. I grabbed on to his hand, uneasy, until he smiled up at me.

"The Maldivo's are still back there. They'll want to see you. It's just a flesh wound, I'll be fine."

The amount of pain he was in seemed to be growing, but he was right. I didn't want to waste any more of his time, so I agreed and waited for the Maldivo's. Alex gave my hand a quick squeeze and then he was carted away with The King, Henrietta, Charlotte and Leandra following.

I stood waiting at the spot I was left at, waiting for the Maldivo's to exit. What was taking so long?

Just as I was about to just walk up to the helicopter, two of the soldiers came out the back, and then the Maldivo's. Their heads were held low, and their hands clutched together at the front. The nearer they got, the sooner I understood that they weren't just holding their hands at the front, they were handcuffed.

"What's going on here?" I questioned one of the soldiers, hurrying over to them.

At the moment of recognising my voice, both of the Maldivo's head's shot up, and I was met by two completely gaunt faces. The couple looked like they'd been through hell, but there was a brief glimmer of relief when their almost lifeless eyes landed on me.

"They're under arrest for espionage, princess."

"Wait- then what's going to happen to them? Are they going to stay down here forever?"

"Highly likely, now they know about this base, and because of the secrets they know and tried to give to the enemy."

I saw tears well up in Mrs Maldivo's eyes as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder. They looked equally as defeated as the other, completely worn out by everything that's happened over the last couple of years.

They really had gotten themselves into deep trouble. The Monaghan family didn't even have authority in the base, so I probably couldn't even do anything to just... I don't know- make it easier for them. I didn't want them to live out the rest of their days in this place, especially as prisoners!

"I understand." I cast a glance of remorse at the Maldivo's, "I promise when I get the chance, I'll do my best to at least get you out of here."

"It's okay Arianne, we understand the severity of our actions. I hope we get a chance to properly talk again," responded Mr Maldivo.

The soldiers that led them out of the helicopter signalled for them to follow. I did feel awful.

Another soldier approached me and told me she'd take me to the Med-bay where Alexander and Jayden would be.

The door opened as I was about to reach for the handle, a nurse from inside the room had gotten to it before I did. He smiled and nodded, holding the door open for me to enter.

Alexander was at the far side of the room, his family surrounding him. There wasn't a lot of talking going on. He still looked really run down and pale, but when he saw me enter, his expression brightened a little. A smile was thrown my way and his hand was held out to me as he scooted over on his bed to make room for me.

"Is your eye okay?" I asked.

"What a weird question," he chuckled. "Doctors won't be sure until the swelling and bruising go down."

I nodded.

"Are you?"

I raised my brow, confused by his question. His tone lacked any sort of expression, and I couldn't read his face as he was too preoccupied with fiddling with my hand.

"Am I what?"

"Okay."

"Yes."

I was... sort of lying, sort of not. I was sort of okay, sort of not. I had a lot of... complex feelings and I needed time to arrange them in a way where they made sense. Everything that had happened in the last 24 hours was enough for most people to cave in.

Alex's one good eye squinted at me briefly. He nodded and then returned to playing with my hand- he was actually playing with the rings.

"How are the Maldivo's by the way?" The King's voice pierced through the silence.

"They were arrested."

He sighed, "I thought this might happen. It's a real shame."

"Espionage is espionage," Alexander said, his tone indifferent, but there was a hint of... anger behind his words.

"Is there something we can do?" I asked the King, "I don't want them staying down here forever."

"I'll ask the General for a meeting tomorrow. We need to discuss everything that's happened so far. We also need to inform the public about the incarceration of Prince Austin."

"Myself and Leandra can do that on your behalf. You should stay here with Alexander." Charlotte stood up followed by Leandra and then they left the room.

It was about another half an hour before a doctor entered the room, informing us that Jayden was next door, awake and well from his surgery.

Alexander nudged me weakly, "go see him. I'm knackered, and the only reason I'm awake is because I keep looking at you."

I failed at fighting off the smile at Alexander's corniness.

"So it's me acting cheesy that finally makes your crack, huh?" He laughed slightly. "I'm sure he wants to see something else than his brother."

I nodded and planted a kiss on his forehead, which was extremely cold.

Henrietta was already asleep and the King appeared to be nodding off. I guessed everyone was just as run down as another.

I took one last glance at Alexander as I was leaving and he was already out cold. It was a well-deserved rest.

It was only a few yards to Jayden's room which, coincidentally, was right next door to Alex's. Inside, Leyton was sat cross-legged at the foot of Jayden's bed and they were talking lowly.

"Oh hey, you came to visit," Jayden sat up in his bed, Leyton beside him.

I was beside the bed, hugging the twins before either of them could say anything else. "Thank God you're both okay!"

"Of course! You think I'm going to let the world lose these looks because I was shot in the leg?"

Usually, I'd be mildly irritated by his cockiness, but he went all the way to Drecott with Alexander and ended up with a gunshot wound in the thigh. I could let him off just for now, so I grinned and bore it- just once.

"But how? I saw Alexander shoot Austin and then Jayden's blood pressure dropped and he collapsed. What happened?"

"Austin's shot that grazed Alex missed and hit Jayden instead. He got shot with a silver bullet which just missed his femoral artery. A couple centre meters to the left and he could've died," Leyton explained slowly. He blinked hard as he focused on the ceiling, it looked like he was trying to conceal his anger.

"He was probably aiming for Alex's stomach. A silver bullet there would've definitely killed him," Jayden added bluntly.

My jaw dropped open. I don't know why I still felt a sense of shock that Austin really wanted Alexander dead. Maybe it was also the fact that he just missed Alexander's stomach by mere inches. He could've killed Alexander or Jayden and just... got away with it.

Jayden clicked and suddenly threw the white bed sheets off his lower half, revealing his hospital dress, and it wouldn't have been the base if the dress wasn't grey like most other things. He then started to slowly pull up his dress, humming some kind of seductive song. My concern began to grow as he showed no sign of slowing down even once he'd passed his knee.

With one final tug, he pulled the dress up just past mid-thigh to reveal his bandages. I couldn't even hold in the sigh of relief.

"Doesn't my leg look sexy with this bandage on it? Wow, am I gonna have a story for the next girl who happens to be down there- she's going to have two things to love!" He exclaimed proudly, with a wiggle of his brows.

"You are the worst person ever."

"You love me. You were glad I was okay. That's love."

"Shut up."

"Did you cry for me?" He rested his chin on his hand and fluttered his lashes at me while pouting. Wow, he thought he was real cute.

"I was already crying for Alexander who I thought had been shot!" I folded my arms.

"And I had!" Jayden gestured to his thigh once again with both hands.

Leyton raised his brows and shrugged, agreeing with his brother, who I had to admit... was right.

"Fine, I cried for both of you. Did it hurt?"

Jayden looked at me as if I was stupid, and in those few seconds I damn sure felt like it.

"It hurt like a bitch. It was a silver bullet... that went in my thigh! Of course, not as much as it could've hurt Alexander since he's 100% vampire and then some."

I raised my brows and repeated the last bit of what he said. What was that supposed to mean? How could he be 'vampire and then some'?

"Yeah, he has some ancient blood or whatever in him. That's why he's so strong." Leyton jabbed him to shut up but Jayden continued, "what? Everyone makes a big deal about it, she doesn't even know! It makes no difference, just makes him emotional, whiny and unnaturally strong. Jeez."

"Does it run in the family? Then... don't you guys have that in you too?"

"No, it can skip generations, and we're not related to them, remember?"

"So how do you know he has it?"

"Look behind his left shoulder, there'll be an egg-shaped birthmark- purple, the colour of his eyes."

I nodded and made a mental note to not forget to check... or maybe ask about the birthmark. It was strange that no one ever really mentioned it to me.