“Fine.” Meghan finally relented, though she didn’t look happy about it. “I certainly can’t drag you into the Nevernever if you don’t want to go. But promise me that you’ll contact us if things get too dangerous. We don’t know anything about these creatures, what they are or where they’re coming from. We don’t have any idea what they’re capable of.”
“Actually,” Kenzie interjected, speaking up from the computer chair, “I think I know where they’re coming from.”
Everyone turned to her. “I decided to do a bit more research about our friends from InSite,” she said, swiveling in the chair to face the laptop again. “And look what just popped up on their feed. Most of what they send out nowadays is trolling or ‘news’ specifically designed to generate outrage, but this definitely caught my attention.”
She leaned back a bit, giving us a better view of the screen. I gazed down at the text, feeling a quiet dread bloom in my stomach from two short, simple lines.
Evenfall approaches, it read. Are you prepared?
Meghan straightened. “Who are these people?” she whispered. “If they know about Evenfall, what are they trying to accomplish?”
“Besides pissing people off in large numbers?” Puck shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe they want to bring about the End of the World? I’ve never understood it, but there are people like that, you know. There’s always some cult who somehow thinks blowing up reality is preferable to actually existing in it.” He sighed, scratching the back of his head. “I guess we know where we’re going next.”
Nyx furrowed her brow. “I don’t like it,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “I don’t know anything about technology or whatever you call it, but I do know when something seems too easy. This feels like a trap. Why would they send out that message, if only to draw us to them?”
InSite. I stared at the laptop screen, feeling that cold anger spread through me like frost. Somehow, they knew about Evenfall, what it meant for the rest of the world. “Maybe it is a trap,” I said in a voice of icy calm. “But if they’re the cause of what’s been happening, then we need to pay InSite a visit. I don’t think we can afford not to.” I looked at Kenzie. “You said you’ve been there before. Where are they located?”
“Washington, DC,” she answered. “Right in the heart of downtown. Weird place for an ancient faery summoning site, or whatever it is, but there you go. I have the address in my email somewhere, just gimme a second.” She started to turn back to her computer, but gave me a defiant look over her shoulder. “You do know we’re coming with you, right?”
Leaning against the doorframe, Ethan abruptly straightened. “Kenzie...” he said, and his voice was a warning.
She gave him an irritated look. “I can’t sit here and do nothing, Ethan,” she said. “I can’t stay behind and do normal things while they go marching off to risk their lives and possibly save Faery again. The only worse thing is if you go with them while I stay behind. I hate feeling useless.”
“You’ve never been useless,” Ethan said immediately. “And I’m not leaving you, not with these weird new fey lurking around. But we talked about this, Kenzie. We can’t blindly go throwing ourselves into risky situations anymore, especially now. Please.” He took a step forward, eyes beseeching. “I don’t want anything happening to you.”
I straightened, suddenly knowing exactly what was going on. Watching them, Meghan did, too, for she drew in a slow breath and looked at the girl sitting in the computer chair. “Kenzie,” Meghan began, her voice hesitant and hopeful at the same time. “Are you...?”
Kenzie let out a long sigh. “Probably,” she admitted. “I tested myself a few days ago, and it came up positive. I have a doctor’s appointment next week.” She glanced at Meghan, unable to keep the faint, wry grin from crossing her face. “We were going to tell you when we knew for certain.”
Meghan crossed the room in two strides, bent down and hugged her. “That’s amazing, Kenzie,” she said, a joyful smile on her face as they drew back. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you both.”
“Aw, Aunt Meghan,” Puck added, also grinning broadly. “And Uncle Ice-boy. Doesn’t it just warm your heart? Our little family just keeps growing.”
“Yes,” I added, glancing at Ethan, who looked faintly relieved to have the secret out in the open. I was happy for them, though I doubted Meghan’s brother knew the huge changes that awaited him once he was a father. “But now, there is no way we’re taking you with us to InSite.”
“I’m afraid I have to agree, Kenzie,” Meghan said, making Kenzie sigh in resigned acceptance. “I absolutely do not want to put you in harm’s way if you could be pregnant.” She put a hand on Kenzie’s arm. “Besides, you and Ethan are the only ones I can trust in the mortal realm. These Evenfey are after Keirran, and if something happens to us, I need you and Ethan here if he needs help.”
Kenzie’s shoulders slumped. “Right, I see your point,” she agreed reluctantly, and Ethan let out a breath of relief, making her frown at him. “Fine, we’ll be here if Keirran needs us. And we’ll keep an eye on these new fey that keep popping up.”
She grabbed the computer mouse and clicked a few links, then scribbled several lines on a piece of paper. “This is InSite’s address,” she told Meghan, spinning around to hand her the note. “Call if anything world-ending happens. If the earth is going to crack open and spill an apocalypse’s worth of nightmare faeries into the world, I’d kind of like to know about it.”
“We’re here if you need us,” Ethan added. “Be careful in there.”
Meghan nodded. “Thank you both,” she told Ethan and Kenzie. “You two be careful as well. If you do see Keirran, let him know where we’ve gone. And congratulations again.” She looked at her brother, a genuine smile crossing her face. “I’ll expect daily updates once you know for certain. And call me if there’s any trouble at all.”
“Aw, look at that,” Puck said, grinning broadly. “The kid already has their very own faery godmother.”
Ethan snorted. “With our life, they’ll need one for sure.”
Meghan shook her head. “Let’s hope not. Grim...?” She looked around for the cait sith. “Are you here?”
The cat appeared on an empty seat in the corner with a loud sigh. “Yes, Iron Queen,” he stated in a weary voice, as if he found our celebrations tiring but knew not to comment on them. “And, yes, I know a route that will take us there. But I do want to mention that this gallivanting about will cost you something. I am not a tour guide, after all.”