But I couldnt. Id already promised her I wouldnt disappear, and honestly, I didnt want to. Kenzie had the Sight now, same as me, which meant the fey would be drawn to her. And there was no way I was going to let her face them alone. Besides, she would never let me get away with that.
I crossed the parking lot and entered the hospital, finding a waiting room full of bored, solemn and worried-looking people. Ignoring them, I approached the reception desk, where a frizzy-haired nurse was sitting behind the counter, talking to a policeman.
My heart jumped a little, and I backed up, watching the officer from an inconspicuous corner. There was no need to be twitchy, I told myself as the nurse laughed at something the cop said. I wasnt in trouble. Id done nothing wrong. But Id also had my fill of talking to cops for the day, and I wasnt winning any Upright Citizen awards with my appearance. If the officer thought I looked suspicious, all hed have to do was pull up my file to see a list of crimes staring back at him. It wasnt worth the risk or the hassle.
I hung back in the corner until the policeman finally left, then approached the desk.
Excuse me, I said as the receptionist lifted her gaze and raked me up and down from behind her glasses. Im here to see a friend of mine. Can you tell me which room Kenzie St. James is in?
The nurse gave me a doubtful look. I could see her stamping the hooligan label on my forehead even before she informed me, in a voice of strained politeness, Visiting hours are almost over. Are you a friend of the family, young man?
No, I replied. Kenzie is a classmate of mine. We go to the same school.
Mmm-hmm. She gave me another skeptical look, as if questioning that I even went to school, and I bristled.
Look, I just want to see her for a few minutes. I wont stay long. I just want to make sure shes okay. The nurse wavered, and I forced out a near-desperate Please.
She pursed her lips. For a second, I thought she would refuse, tell me to get out before she called the policeman back. But then she gave a short nod toward the hall. Very well. Ms. St. James is in room 301, on your left. Just keep it short.
Relieved, I thanked her and hurried down the hall, checking the number beside each door frame, passing identical rooms full of beds and sick people. As I wove around a janitors cart, a woman and a young girl, maybe around nine or ten, came out of one of the rooms ahead of me. I stepped aside to let them pass, feeling a jolt of recognition as they walked by without glancing at me. I didnt know the tall blonde woman, but the little girl Id seen before. She had been in a key-chain photograph with Kenzie, both of them smiling at the camera.
Mackenzies stepsister. Alec or Alex or something like that. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she wore a blue-and-white school uniform as she trailed beside her mom, heading back toward the waiting room. I watched until they turned a corner and disappeared, wondering if Kenzies sister really knew what was happening to her stepsibling. When I was her age, I didnt understand why I never saw my older sister; I only knew she wasnt home, wasnt part of the family, and I missed her. I hoped Kenzies sibling never had to go through thatthe pain of knowing you had a sister, and then you suddenly didnt anymore.
The doorway theyd exited shone with a faint blueish glow. Peeking into room 301, I swallowed hard. Against the far wall, Kenzie lay in a white hospital bed surrounded by softly beeping machines. Her black hair was spread across her pillow, and her eyes were closed. A round table overflowing with flowers and get-well-soon balloons hovered next to her.
Guilt stabbed at me, raw and painful, but it was nearly smothered by the worried ache that spread through my chest when I saw her. The Kenzie I knew was never stillshe was always bouncing from place to place, smiling and cheerful. To see her like this, pale, fragile and motionless, filled me with dread. Ducking into the room, I crossed the floor to her bedside, gripping the rails to stop myself from touching her. If she was asleep, I didnt want to wake her, but as I approached the bed, she stirred. Dark brown eyes cracked open blearily, confused as they focused on my face.
Ethan?
I forced a smile, even as I cringed at the sound of her voice, so faint and breathy. Hey, you, I said, sounding a little faint myself. Sorry I couldnt be here sooner. I didnt know you were in the hospital.
Her pale brow furrowed. Oh, crap. Mfault. Phone was dead when I got back. Her words slurred together, either from exhaustion or whatever drugs they were giving her. Was gonna call you when it charged, but I got sick.
Dont worry about it. I dragged a chair from the corner and sat down next to her, reaching through the railing to take her hand. Are you okay? Is it...?
I trailed off, but Kenzie shook her head. This is nothing. I just picked up some nasty virus or something while tromping around New York. My immune system isnt that great, so... She shrugged, but that didnt stop the guilt that continued to gnaw at me. Kenzie smiled weakly. I should be out of here in a day or two, at least thats what the doctors say.
Relief swept through me. She would be all right. Kenzie would be home soon, and then we could get back to normal, or whatever passed for it with me. I wanted to try for normal, give it my best shot at least, and I wanted to do it with her.
I reached out with my other hand and stroked her cheek, feeling her soft skin under my fingers. She closed her eyes, and I asked, What did your dad say when you came back?
Her brow furrowed, and she opened her eyes again. He actually had the gall to be upset that I didnt call him. He said he had the police looking for me for days, and was angry that I never told him where I was. He never took an interest in my life before. Why bother now?
Maybe he was worried about you, I offered. Maybe he realized he made a mistake.
She sniffed, unappeased. I vanish for a few days and now hes interested in being a dad? After ignoring me for years and not caring about anything I did? She wrinkled her nose, bitterness coloring her voice. Too little too late, Im afraid. I dont need him looking out for me.
I didnt answer. It would take a lot of talking, tears and forgiveness for Kenzie and her dad to settle their differences and start to heal old wounds, and I didnt want to be that mediator. Not with my own screwed-up family. As if reading my mind, Kenzie asked, What did your parents say when you got back? Were they very mad?
No. I shrugged. They...sort of had a visit from the Iron Queen before I got home. She talked to them, told them where I had been, that it wasnt my fault I disappeared.
Have you talked to Keirran since New York? Or your sister?
I shook my head, my mood darkening at the thought of Keirran and Meghan. No. I dont think Ill see either of them for a while.
Im worried about him, Kenzie muttered, sounding as if she was fighting sleep. Him and Annwyl both. Hope theyre all right.
A nurse peeked into the room, saw me and frowned, tapping her wrist. I nodded, and she ducked out.
I stood, wishing I didnt have to leave so soon. I have to go, I told her as she blinked sleepily up at me. Reaching down, I gently brushed the hair from her face. Ill be back tomorrow, okay?
I stood, wishing I didnt have to leave so soon. I have to go, I told her as she blinked sleepily up at me. Reaching down, I gently brushed the hair from her face. Ill be back tomorrow, okay?
Her eyes closed once more and didnt open this time. Ethan?
Yeah?
Bring chocolate? The food here sucks.
I laughed quietly, bent down and kissed her. Just a brief, light touch of her lips to mine, and she sank back into the pillows. Already asleep. I watched her for another heartbeat, then turned and left the room, vowing to come back as soon as I could.
As I stepped into the hall, a shadow pushed itself off the wall and moved toward me, blocking my path. I blinked and stumbled to a halt as a tall, dark-haired man loomed over me, cold black eyes regarding me with suspicion. He wore a business suit that probably cost more than my truck, a large Rolex on one wrist and an air of aggressive superiority. He didnt look distraught. In this corridor of rumpled, haggard-looking people, he was tall and clean shaven with not a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his clothes.
We stared at each other, and I narrowed my eyes. I didnt like the way this guy was looking at me, like I was a stray dog wandering around and he wasnt sure if he should call animal control. I was about to shove past him when his lips twitched into a cold, unamused smile, and he shook his head.
So. The mans voice wasnt loud or even hostile. It was cool and pragmatic. Youre him, arent you? The boy that took my very sick daughter away from her family, and her medicine, and her doctors, to go gallivanting up to New York for the week.
Oh, crap. You had to be kidding me. This was Kenzies father. Kenzies very rich, very powerful lawyer father. The father who, by Kenzies own admission, had had the entire police force searching for his missing daughter all week.
I was in trouble.
I didnt answer, and Kenzies dad continued to regard me without expression. His voice didnt change; it was still perfectly reasonable, though his eyes turned steely as he said, Explain yourself, please. Tell me why I shouldnt press charges against you for kidnapping.
I swallowed the challenge on the tip of my tongue. The unfairness of it all burned my throat. He wasnt making idle threats. Id dealt with my share of lawyers, though they were all public defenders, not the same caliber as Kenzies dad. If he decided to press charges against me, there was little I could do. My word held no weight; if the cops did get involved, who would they believethe rich lawyer or the teenage thug?
I took a deep breath to cool my anger so when I spoke I wouldnt sound like the delinquent brute he thought I was. Kenzie wanted to see New York, I began in the most reasonable voice I could manage. She asked me to take her. It was a split-second decision and probably not the smartest thing we could have done, but... I shrugged helplessly. We should have talked to you about it first, and Im sorry for that. But its done now. And you can try to keep me away, have me arrested, whatever. But Im not abandoning Kenzie.
He raised a skeptical eyebrow, and I wanted to kick myself. Nice, Ethan. Keep antagonizing Mr. Big Shot lawyer; thats a great way to stay out of jail. But he was still waiting calmly for me to go on, and the next words out of my mouth were the absolute truth. I swear, I would never do anything to hurt her. I wouldnt have taken her anywhere if Id known shed end up here.
He regarded me with a practiced blank expression, giving no hint of what he was thinking. Mackenzie speaks very highly of you, he said. She told me that while you were in Central Park, you fought off a gang of thugs who tried to hurt her. She has never lied to me before, so I have no reason to doubt her words. But I think, in this case, I must ask you to stay away from my daughter.
I blinked, taken aback by his quiet bluntness, unsure of what Id just heard. What?
You are not to see Mackenzie anywhere outside of school, Mr. St. James continued, still in that cool, unruffled voice. You are forbidden from calling her. You are not to speak to her if you can help it. If you come around our house, I will call the police. Do you understand, Mr. Chase?
You cant be serious. I was torn between laughing and wanting to slug this guy in the jaw. You cant forbid me from seeing anyone. And good luck getting Kenzie to agree to anything like that.
Yes, Kenzies father agreed. I know my daughter. And I know I cannot control what she does. But I can make your life very unplesant, Mr. Chase. Which is why I am asking you, politely, to stay away from Mackenzie. I think we both know that youre no good for her. I think we both know that she ended up here he gestured back to Kenzies doorway because of you.
That hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at him, unable to find the words to defend myself or disagree. Kenzies dad regarded me a second longer, then moved aside. You should go now, he said, a hint of warning below the smooth tone. I glared at him, then shoved past. I was tempted to tell him to go screw himself, just to prove he couldnt order me around, but tempting fate right now seemed like a bad idea. There was nothing to be gained from it tonight.
Think on what I said, Ethan Chase, St. James added as I stalked down the hallway, silently fuming. I will protect my daughter at all costs. Do not think you can fight me on this. You will lose, and you will lose badly.
I continued to the parking lot without looking back. I saw the cop standing in the waiting room again, and he mightve given me the evil eye as I ducked out. Maybe Kenzies dad had said something to him before confronting me...I didnt know. I did know one thingthere was no way that A-hole would keep me from seeing Kenzie.
As I climbed into my truck and yanked the door shut behind me, my phone buzzed. Digging it out of my pocket, I checked the number and winced. Mom. Damn, I hadnt called to let her know where I was. Guiltily, I hit the answer button and braced myself for the explosion. Hey, Mom.
Where are you? her frantic voice screeched in my ear. I told you to call me if you were going to be late!
Um, yeah, sorry. Im...uh, Im at the hospital.
What?
Visiting a friend, I added, mentally kicking myself. Im just visiting a friend.
A long, shaky sigh, the kind that hinted she was holding back tears. Come home, Ethan. Right now.
On my way, I answered softly, and she hung up.
I expected a lecture when I got home. Something along the lines of Its only been three days since you vanished into Faeryland for a week, do you know how worried we were, youre supposed to call if youre going to be late.
You know, the normal issues.
However, when I walked through the front door, bracing myself for scolding or yelling or general parental displeasure, it wasnt Mom who rose from the living room couch to greet me.
It was Meghan.
CHAPTER THREE
THE IRON QUEENS WARNING
My stomach flip-flopped. My half sister, the queen of the Iron fey, was standing in my living room, looking as normal as any average, non-faery-related teenager. Almost. She wore her standard jeans and T-shirt, and her long, straight blond hair was pulled up behind her head. Only the slender, pointed ears gave her away; though the glamour concealed her true appearance, making her look perfectly human to mortals, my Sight always let me see through the disguise.