My sister. Meghan Chase, the Iron Queen.
I watched her for a second, my newly woken mind trying to make sense of it all. Meghan stirred, shifting to another position, a queen trying to get comfortable. A blanket had been draped over her, and a book lay on the ground beneath the armrest. My throat felt suddenly tight. Had she been watching me, keeping vigil at my bedside? How long had I been here, anyway? And what the hell had happened, during the time I was out?
I tried sitting up to call to her. But the movement sent the room into a sickening tailspin, and my voice came out as a choked rasp. Grimacing, I sank back, feeling frail and horribly weak, like Id been sick for a long time. Still, Meghan mustve been barely asleep, for her eyes shot open, piercing blue in the gloom, and immediately fell to me.
Ethan. Her voice was a breathless whisper, and in an instant, she was at my side. One slender hand gripped mine as she knelt beside me, the other reached out and brushed my face, soft fingers sliding over my cheek. Her eyes were suspiciously bright as they met my gaze. Youre awake, she said, her voice faint with relief. How do you feel?
I swallowed. My throat was like sandpaper; talking felt like tiny razor blades being dragged through my windpipe, but I managed a hoarse Okay, I guess. And then my throat exploded in a coughing fit that brought tears to my eyes.
Hang on, Meghan said, and left my side. A minute later she was back with a cup, handing it to me with a stern Drink it slowly.
I took a tiny, cautious sip, wondering if it was spiked with faery glamour. It turned out to be waternormal, non-magical water, as far as I could tell. Suddenly parched, I had to force myself to swallow slowly, knowing it would probably come right back up if I gulped too fast. Meghan waited patiently until I was done, then dragged the chair to the side of the bed.
Better?
I nodded. Yeah, I breathed, testing out my voice. It still sounded raspy, but at least I could talk without coughing. Where am I?
The Iron Realm, Meghan replied softly. Youre in Mag Tuiredh.
The Iron Realms capital. Meghans court, right in the center of the Nevernever. Id ended up in Faeryland yet again.
I shifted against the pillow, and the room tilted a bit, making me clench my teeth. Meghans expression grew concerned, but I set my jaw, hoping she wouldnt leave to fetch the doctor or healer or whatever faery creature took care of such things. I was awake and alert, and I still had no idea what was going on. I needed answers.
How long have I been out? I asked, gazing at my sister. She didnt respond immediately, watching me with concerned blue eyes, and something on her face made my stomach twist. Meghan? I prodded. How long have I been here, in the Nevernever?
A little over a month, Meghan finally answered. As far as we could tell, youve been in a coma, until today. No one was certain you would wake up. We found you...at the faery ring in Ireland and brought you here.
A month? I choked out. A month in the Nevernever meant an indefinite amount of time had passed in the real world. A year couldve flown by while I lay here, oblivious. Why here? I asked faintly. Why didnt you bring me back to the human world?
Again, Meghan didnt answer, gazing down solemnly, her eyes bleak.
What about Mom and Dad? I demanded. Right before I left, Id promised I wouldnt disappear into Faery for God knew how long. Another promise broken, another lie Id told the people I loved. Mom was likely freaking out. Do they know where Ive been? I asked. Has anyone told them? Do they know Im okay?
Ethan, Meghan whispered, and her voice trembled. And, looking into my sisters face, my insides went cold with fear. Her expression was haggard, and she stared at me as if I were a ghost. Flickers of raw anguish glimmered behind that composed mask she wore, the guise of the Iron Queen. My memory was fuzzy, but I knew, in the back of my mind, that something terrible had happened.
Closing her eyes, Meghan took a deep breath before facing me again.
When we found you, she went on, her voice growing a little stronger, you were close to death. Your blood was everywhere, and you had already stopped breathing. We did everything we could to save your life, but... She swallowed, and I could see she was barely keeping herself from bursting into tears. But, in the end, we lost you.
My heart seemed to stop. I stared at her, incredulous, my mind refusing to accept the concept. What...what do you mean?
Ethan...you died. For a few minutes, you were dead.
Reeling, I slumped back against the pillow. Bits of that night came back to me, untangling from the mess of dreams and nightmares. Some of it had been real. But Im still here, I reasoned out, glancing at Meghan. Im still alive. How?
I dont know, Meghan said. But the healers found this on your body.
She leaned close and handed me something that clinked in my palm. Cold metal pressed against my skin as I stared at the two pieces of copper in my hand. They fit together perfectly, forming a round, flat disk with a triangle etched into the very center.
An amulet. It had been a gift to me from...my mentor, Guro Javier, for protection against the dangers of the Nevernever. But I hadnt always had it... My brain spun, trying to remember. I had worn it when Id gone with Keirran to meet the Lady of the Forgotten in Ireland. And standing in the faery ring, surrounded by dozens of Forgotten, the Lady had told Keirran that the way to tear open the Veilthe magic barrier that kept normal humans from seeing the feywas a sacrifice. A sacrifice of one whose blood tied him to all three courts, who had family in Summer, Winter and Iron. For the exiled fey to live, for the Forgotten to be remembered by humans once more, I had to die.
And then, Keirran had stabbed me. And I had died.
My healers tell me there was powerful magic surrounding that amulet, Meghan continued, her tone unnaturally calm. And when you...died, it shattered. I thought Id lost you. Her voice shook, but she composed herself again. But just as we stopped trying to revive you, your heart started beating. Very, very slowly, and we couldnt wake you up, but you were alive. She looked at the broken amulet in my palm, wonder and relief laced through her voice. Whatever this was, it probably saved your life.
I stared at the glittering pieces, not knowing what to feel. My emotions were so jumbled up, it was hard to focus on just one. Its not every day your older sister informs you that you were dead, even if it was for just a few minutes. And that you had been killed, stabbed in the back, by your own family member.
Keirran.
I forced my thoughts away from my traitor nephew. Mom and Dad? I asked hoarsely, glancing at Meghan. Do they know?
A pained look crossed her face. Theyve been told where you are, she replied. They know youre with me, in the Nevernever. I told them something happened to you, and that you have to stay here for a while, for your own protection. She took a shaky breath. I couldnt tell them the truth, not yet. It wouldve killed Mom. I was hoping you would wake up before I had to explain what really happened. Why I couldnt send you home.
And then, in that dark bedroom, with the shards of the amulet that saved my life glittering between us, Meghan broke down. The mask of the Iron Queen disappeared, and she covered her face with one hand. Her shoulders trembled, and short, quiet sobs escaped her hunched frame, as my heart and stomach twisted themselves into a painful knot. Meghan had always been the strong one; before shed disappeared into Faery, I could always look to her for everything. True, I was just a little kid back then and worshiped the ground my older sister walked on, but whenever I was tormented by nightmares or terrors or monsters only I could see, Meghan was the one I went to. She was the one who could make me feel safe. Even now, years later, I still couldnt stand the sight of her unhappy. After she left, Id spent the greater part of my life resenting her, angry that shed chosen Them over family and hating the world that had taken her away. But even through all that, Id still missed my sister like crazy and wished she could come home.
And then, in that dark bedroom, with the shards of the amulet that saved my life glittering between us, Meghan broke down. The mask of the Iron Queen disappeared, and she covered her face with one hand. Her shoulders trembled, and short, quiet sobs escaped her hunched frame, as my heart and stomach twisted themselves into a painful knot. Meghan had always been the strong one; before shed disappeared into Faery, I could always look to her for everything. True, I was just a little kid back then and worshiped the ground my older sister walked on, but whenever I was tormented by nightmares or terrors or monsters only I could see, Meghan was the one I went to. She was the one who could make me feel safe. Even now, years later, I still couldnt stand the sight of her unhappy. After she left, Id spent the greater part of my life resenting her, angry that shed chosen Them over family and hating the world that had taken her away. But even through all that, Id still missed my sister like crazy and wished she could come home.
Hey. Not knowing what else to do, I leaned over, ignoring the brief moment of vertigo, and took her hand. Her fingers wrapped around mine and squeezed tight, as if to convince her that I was still there. Still alive. Im all right, I told her. Meghan, its okay. Im still here. Im not going to die anytime soon.
No, she whispered back. Its not okay. It hasnt been for a while now. She took a breath, trying to compose herself, though tears continued to stream through her fingers. Im sorry, Ethan, she went on. Im so sorry. I wanted to protect you from all of this. I tried so hard to stop it, distancing myself, never visiting, keeping you and K-Keirran apart... Her voice broke on Keirrans name, and I felt a rush of grief, anger, guilt and despair surge between us, so strong it made my skin prickle. Ive kept so many secrets, hurt so many people, to keep this from happening. Now Keirran is out there, and you almost died... She shook her head, her grip tightening almost painfully around my fingers. Im sorry, she whispered again. This is my fault. I knew this was coming. I should have kept a better eye on you both, but I never thought Keirran would... That he was capable of...
A shudder racked her frame, and she gave another quiet sob. Abruptly, I remembered that, that night, right after Keirran had stabbed me and I had passed out, Id heard the sound of hoofbeats getting closer. Had that been Meghan and her knights, come to save me? Had she seen Keirran, her only son, run a sword through my body and leave me to die?
And then, I remembered something else.
That was the prophecy, I said, feeling like an idiot for not seeing it, for never guessing it. Of course, how could I? How could I have guessed that Keirran, my nephew, and, in all honesty, one of my only friends, would stab me in the back? The one that had everyone so worried. You, Ash, Puck, even Titania. You all nearly had a heart attack when you saw me and Keirran together. Because of the prophecy.
Meghan nodded wearily. I guess I shouldnt be surprised that you found out, she said, wiping her eyes as she sat up straighter, facing me. Who told you?
The Oracle, I said, remembering the dusty old hag with empty holes for eyes, the stabbing pain as shed touched my head and seemed to sink her talons right into my brain. I remembered the vision flashing through my head: Keirran, covered in blood and with sword in hand, standing over my lifeless body. Right before she died, I added, seeing Meghans eyes widen. She was killed by the Forgotten.
A pained look crossed Meghans face. So, the rumors were true, she said, almost to herself. Im sorry to hear it. We didnt part on the best terms, but Ill always be grateful for the help she gave. She closed her eyes briefly in a moment of silence for the ancient faery, then fixed them on me again. Did she tell you anything else? she asked. What the prophecy meant? How it would come about, and your part in it?
I shook my head. She didnt have time to explain before the Forgotten killed her, I replied. All I saw was me on the ground, and Keirran standing there. I mean, I knew I was dead, that she was showing me my death... I shivered, and I saw Meghans jaw tighten, too. It looked like something had killed me. But, I never thought...that it would be Keirran.
Anger flared once more, dissolving the last of the shock, and I clenched my fist in the blankets. But you knew about it, I told Meghan, and it was hard not to make it sound like an accusation. My sister regarded me sadly as I tried to control my emotions, the feeling of betrayal from all sides. You knew about the prophecy, I said again. Thats why you kept Keirran and me apart. Thats why you never came back. She didnt answer, and I leaned forward, determined to get to the bottom of this, once and for all. How long did you know?
Since before Keirran was born, Meghan replied, her gaze going distant. The Oracle came to me not long after I became the Iron Queen and told me that my firstborn child would bring nothing but grief. That Keirran was destined to either unite the courts or destroy them. She looked down at our hands, still held together. And that the catalyst...was your death, Ethan. If Keirran killed you, that would be the trigger, the start of the destruction.
I stared at her in disbelief. Before Keirran was even born. That was years of knowing, years of that dark cloud hanging over her head. She had carried the knowledge that her son might do something horrible for his entire life.
And now, its happened, Meghan said, her voice flat. The prophecy has come to pass. Keirran has started something he can never undo, and I must respond, as queen of this land.
I felt a cold lump settle in my gut, and I swallowed the dryness in my throat. Whats going on? I asked, my voice coming out faint. I was almost afraid of the answer. Where is Keirran, anyway?
No one has seen him since that night, Meghan replied. But we have reason to believe he is with the Forgotten.
The Forgotten. The fey who were slowly fading from existence because no one remembered them anymore. The blood froze in my veins. If I had died, then the Veilthe thing that had kept Faery hidden and invisible to humanswas gone. Keirran believed that destroying it would save the Forgotten, providing them with the human belief that they desperately needed to survive, as they had no glamour of their own. But I could only imagine the worldwide terror, chaos and madness that would have ensued if all humankind had suddenly discovered the fey were real.
What happened? I asked, looking up at Meghan. She closed her eyes, making dread settle in my stomach. Had Keirran really started a Faery apocalypse? Was the Veil destroyed? I choked out. Can everyone see the fey now?
No, Meghan whispered, making me slump in relief. Its not possible to permanently destroy the Veil, she went on. Even if the ritual had worked the way it was supposed to, the Veil would have eventually re-formed. But... She hesitated, her voice going grave. When you died, the entire Nevernever felt it. There was this surge, this ripple of emotion from the mortal world, the likes of which Faery has never felt before. It went through the courts, the wyldwood, Mag Tuiredh, everywhere. We didnt know what it was at first, then reports started coming in from the human world. For a few minutes after your death, Ethan, the Veil was gone. For a few minutes...