Page 60 of Take My Crown

“Here,” he says, grabbing my shaky hands. “Press down on the wound. We have to stop the bleeding.”

“Has anyone called an ambulance yet?” I ask, as I do what I was told. Archer looks so damn pale and his whole body shakes as he lifts a hand, placing it on my cheek. Tears mix with the blood he leaves on my cheek and I see the reflection of myself in his eyes.

Oh god.

“No… hospital…” croaks Archer.

“Save your energy,” says Declan. “We can talk later. I won’t let you fucking die. We need to change shit in the future so this doesn’t keep happening. So stay fucking alive!”

Romy comes hurrying over. “I tried to get the license plate of the shooter’s car, but they covered it in mud. It can have been anyone,” he says.

“Worry about that later,” I say. “We have to get Archer to the hospital before he bleeds out.”

“I said. No. Hospital.” Each word clearly pains him, but he insists on speaking. “This is a set up.”

“He’s right,” nods Romy. “Whoever did this is a pro. They waited for Archer to arrive, then they whacked him before he came inside.”

“Which means that if we take him to the hospital, whoever organised this is likely to be waiting there to finish the job,” Declan finishes.

“So we take him to a different hospital,” I desperately say. “You told me the place you are in is just for the House families. There’ll be other hospitals for everyone else.”

“No can do.” Romy shook his head. “It’s a gunshot wound. They’ll contact the Houses as well as the police and it’ll be game over. Archer’s right. We can’t take him to a hospital.”

“We can’t leave him here. He’ll die!” I can’t believe what I am hearing. “If we don’t get him help, we’re doing the assassin’s job for him.”

We all sink into depressed silence.

“I’ve got it!” I snap my fingers. “We can go back to mine. My dad has a private doctor who comes to give him regular check-ups for his heart. I’ll get him to come round. He won’t tell anyone and Archer can stay at our house while he gets better. I know there’s been a fallout between our Houses, but my dad keeps saying he’ll do anything for me. He’ll get Archer the help he needs and since no one else will know he’s at my place, he’ll be safe from the assassin.”

Romy and Declan look at each other and nod.

“I don’t see that we have much choice, to be honest,” Romy grimly states. “What do you think, Archer?”

Archer nods weakly, lifting up his thumb to show his approval.

“I’ll get a car then.” Declan scrambles to his feet and hurries away, leaving a dying Archer in my arms.

“Hold on, Archer,” I whisper, taking his hand in mine and hating how cold he feels. “We’re going to get you the help you need.”

The doctor is already waiting for us, my father standing next to him as we pull up outside my house.

Declan and Romy open the door and help Archer out. He can still walk, but it is a struggle. At least the bleeding seemed to have stopped and I hope that means good things.

“Bring him in here.” My father motions to the boys to go into a room to the back of the house. I try to follow them, but my father steps in front of me. “Not you, Ivy. I need to speak to you.”

“But I want to be with Archer!” I protest. “I need to know he’ll be okay.”

“He’ll be fine,” Dad reassures me. “You can see him later. What I’ve got to tell you is important.”

Reluctantly, I leave the boys with the doctor and follow my father into his study, trying not to be worried about the fact that two armed guards are taking up positions outside the room the boys are in.

“I owe you a huge thank you, Ivy,” my father begins once we are sitting in his study. “My plans have been years in the making, but if it wasn’t for you, I would never have been able to get the three heirs together in the same place. It seems their fondness for you has worked in my favour in ways I could never have anticipated.”

“What do you mean?”

“Who do you think sent the shooter?”

My father laughs at the look of shock on my face. “Oh, my dear child. It seems there’s still so much for you to learn. Still, don’t worry. There’s plenty of time for you to come into your own as a true Archaic. One day you’ll thank me for all of this.”

---