Izzy immediately took his hand and let him take her towards Alex. She had waited for this day, to know that he was alright but at the same time, it scared her. She didn’t know if he held any grudge against her. Maybe he didn’t want to be injured this way. Either way, she didn’t have enough time to think of a conclusion as Zachariah opened the door.
Izzy felt her breath leave her as she saw Alex propped up with his head resting on the wall. Several maids were taking care of him and applying more ointment to his bare chest. As they came in, the maids picked up their equipment quickly and bowed before leaving the three alone in the room.
“Look who came to visit you.” Zachariah smiled as he pushed Izzy towards Alex. As Alex turned, Zachariah felt a tremendous weight lift off his heart. He had been so worried for his friend for the past few days and the thought of never seeing him again was something he couldn’t imagine.
“Zachariah, Isabelle,” Alex sighed as he gestured them to come closer. Izzy came closer, entranced by Alex’s well-being. He looked a lot better and the color in his cheeks were vibrant with life.
“Zander, I-I don’t know what to say. It’s all my fault. Everything was. I should have protected you but I was so stupid and let you get hurt. I need your forgiveness. I’m so sorry, I-”
“Izzy, stop,” Alex laughed but it ended as a harsh cough and a groan. Zachariah was immediately by his friend’s side, helping him. Once Alex was settled in, he began again.
“I do not regret what I did. I was glad that I was able to protect you for once and if I was given the choice again, I would do it within a heartbeat,” Alex said with a longing passion in his eyes. He wanted them to be alone so he could bring Izzy into his arms and kiss her if she would let him.
“Zander, don’t say anything you do not know the meaning to,” Izzy said but even as she said it, it sounded too weak as an argument.
“I mean them so I will say them again if you wish,” Alex said with a grin. Izzy couldn’t help but smile at his stubbornness.
“Just stop,” Izzy sighed as she came closer to him. “I’m just glad you are better and healing.”
“I guess I am invincible, am I not?” Alex laughed. When he noticed Izzy was going to scold him, he took Izzy’s hands and kissed it softly, oblivious to Zachariah who was witnessing his two friends showing affection.
“This was not how I thought it would be when I came home,” a familiar voice called out.
Izzy quickly took her hand back as Timothy came into the room. He looked at his friends and smiled despite how tired he was. He had heard about Alex’s injury but was glad to find out that he was conscious and healing when he returned.
“Nice to see you are alive too, Timothy,” Alex replied without any shyness in his voice. Tension seemed to crowd the room but Timothy looked away and smiled at Izzy.
Izzy immediately ran to him and let him embrace her tightly. She missed Timothy so much and seeing him just showed her just how much she had missed his presence.
“Are you eating, Izzy? You don’t look so well,” Timothy commented as Izzy broke the hug.
“Don’t worry about me,” Izzy replied and gave him a weak smile. Timothy wanted to say more but chose not to. She was obviously having a hard time knowing that she failed and seeing her lover wounded.
“How are you, Zander?” Timothy asked, inching towards his friend’s bed.
“Better now that I am all patched up,” Alex replied, pointing to his gauze that wrapped around his chest.
“Good.” Timothy simply nodded but they all saw that Timothy was holding something back.
“Well spit it out already, Timothy. We know you have news for us,” Zachariah said, slapping his friend’s back. Timothy gave an incredulous look to his friend but cleared his voice before saying anything.
“The Vauldins retreated after the attack at the castle. We were able to hold them back after King Henry’s men came in and helped us. We are planning a final attack tomorrow after hearing rumors of another attack from the Vauldins. The wedding will resume in a week if things go as planned.” Timothy looked sympathetically to Alex as his expression darkened. There was an unspoken unease in the room.
“Well we are glad you are safe and sound,” Izzy interrupted the silence. She didn’t want to dwell on the thoughts about the wedding and knew where she stood even if her heart didn’t agree to it.
“Yes,” Timothy agreed, clearing thinking of another topic. “The battle was hard but I couldn’t have done it without Treyton. Treyton isn’t as bad as I thought he was,” Timothy said honestly. Izzy felt her heart warm and she smiled at Timothy’s acceptance to Treyton. They were both important in her life and she worried about the tension Timothy seemed to give off when he was with Treyton.
“I’m glad you have changed your thoughts about him.”
“He’s an absolutely astounding soldier,” Timothy nodded and Izzy smiled one last time.
The doors suddenly burst open and Izzy flinched slightly as she saw Annie come into the room. Her blue eyes were bright with anger and she looked like she was about to kill something with her bare hands.
“Princess Anastasia,” Timothy said, equally shocked as Izzy. They all knew that she was bound to come back especially with the arrival of King Henry but seeing her seemed to shock them all.
“Timothy,” Annie replied, clearly annoyed at the faces she saw when she looked around the room. Her eyes flickered towards Izzy and she groaned.
“Having so many visitors is bad for Alexander,” Annie said, eyeing Izzy. “I hope none of you three have given him trouble although I know the pathetic bodyguard did not do any good at all.”
Izzy wanted have a reason to get mad at Annie but she knew what Annie had said was true. It was because of her that Alex got hurt and she failed at being a bodyguard.
“There is no need to act up like this, Annie,” Alex said, fighting the urge to speak harshly towards her.
“I know, I was just so worried about you when I heard the news!” Annie said exaggerating as she let tears roll down her cheeks. She ran into Alex’s arms despite his grunt of pain it caused his pain. Zachariah rolled his eyes and Timothy twitched as if he felt Alex’s pain. Izzy stood still.
Annie tried to kiss Alex on the lips and succeeded once but he pulled her away.
“I’m tired,” he reasoned and his eyes drooped down as he was emphasizing his state of mind.
Annie puffed, annoyed by his response but didn’t allow herself to lose hope. She instead kissed his cheeks and sat down next to him on the bed.
“Prince Alexander is tired and does not want the presence of too many people. Go and do your work. Leave us now,” Annie ordered and flicked her hands at them towards the door.
Zachariah sighed loudly which only earned him a dirty glare from Annie but Izzy and Timothy bowed their heads and exited quickly. Izzy met Alex’s stare and saw him with the longing passion in his eyes as he had when she first came in. Izzy quickly looked away and ran after Timothy.
“I must go now to consult the two kings of our attack tomorrow but please get something to eat, Izzy. You look like a living corpse,” Timothy begged, pulling Izzy into a hug.
“I will, I promise,” Izzy mumbled into his shoulder and watched Timothy walk down the corridor. She followed after him, unable to bring herself to look at Alex. He had Annie to take care of him and she knew it wasn’t her place to stay so she left.