by Julie Kagawa
“Come on,” I told them. “They’ll be waiting for us, back at the city. Let’s go home.”
Ash
He watched her from the fading dark, unseen and invisible, just another shadow in the trees. He wondered if he had been right to come here, to see her one last time, though he knew resisting her was futile. He couldn’t leave without seeing her again, hearing her voice and seeing her smile, even though it wasn’t for him. He had no illusions about his addiction to her. She had her fingers sunk firmly into his heart, and could do with it what she wished.
He watched her walk away with the Iron faery and the dog, watched them leave to return to her own realm, back to a place he couldn’t follow.
For now.
“So.” Robin Goodfellow appeared beside him, arms crossed over his chest, also watching the girl and her companions depart. “She’s gone.”
“Yes.”
Goodfellow shot him a sideways glance, wary and expectant. “What now?”
He sighed, raked a hand through his hair. “I have something to do,” he murmured. “A promise to keep. I might not be back for a long time.”
“Huh.” Goodfellow scratched his head, and grinned. “Sounds like fun. Where are we going?”
Now it was his turn to eye the other fey. “I don’t recall inviting you.”
“Too bad, ice-boy.” Infuriating as always, Goodfellow leaned back and smirked at him. “I’ve had enough of war and killing for a while. Tormenting you is so much more fun. Besides…” Goodfellow sighed and looked back to the now-empty steps. “I want her to be happy, and she’s most happy with you. Maybe this will make up for…past mistakes.” He shook his head and returned to his normal idiocy. “So, either you say, ‘sure, I’d love to have you along,’ or you have a big bird dropping things on your head the whole trip.”
He sighed, defeated. Perhaps it was best for Goodfellow to trail along. He was a competent fighter after all. And they had been…friends…once. Though this journey would change nothing. “Fine,” he muttered. “Just stay out of my way.”
The Summer faery grinned, rubbing his hands together, looking gleeful. He felt a brief moment of trepidation, inviting Puck along. Most likely, they would try to kill each other before the trip was through. “So, where are we going?” Goodfellow asked. “I assume you have some sort of plan for this adventure.”
An adventure. He didn’t think of it that way, but it didn’t matter. I don’t care what it’s called. I just want to be with her at the end. I’m not giving up. Meghan, I’ll be with you soon. Please, wait for me.
“Hey, ice-boy. Did you hear me? Where are we going? What are we doing?”
“I heard you,” he murmured, and turned away, beginning to walk into the trees. “And yes, I have a plan.”
“Really. Do enlighten me.”
“First, we’re going to find a certain cat.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It occurred to me, as I sat down to write this page, that I have come to the end of book three. Book three, and a few years back, I didn’t even know if I would publish a single novel. Of course, I couldn’t get here without the help of many awesome, wonderful people. Without them, I never could’ve written The End on the final page of the final chapter. I have so many people to be grateful for.
Thanks to my parents, who put up with a daughter who daydreamed her way through school, hid novels behind her math textbooks during class, wrote stories when she was supposed to be taking notes, and generally drove her poor teachers insane. Though you lamented my complete and utter disinterest in math and social studies, you still encouraged me to dream.
Thanks to the people on the inside: my awesome agent, Laurie McLean, who knows the business far better than I, for which I am very grateful. To my wonderful editor, Natashya Wilson, who is probably the strongest and most dedicated person I know. To the entire Harlequin Teen staff, for awesome support, beautiful covers, and making this whole experience completely and utterly amazing.
A huge shout-out to the awesome YA book bloggers of the blogosphere, for taking the time to read, post your thoughts online, and spread the word. You are truly a dedicated, passionate group. To the awesome Tenners, whom I’m pleased to be a part of: thanks for being there to share triumphs and frustrations, to talk about things only other authors can sympathize with. It was nice to be able to vent without people edging away from the “crazy writer lady.”
Thanks to all my readers, for Team Ash and Team Puck, for those crazy fights on Twitter that amuse me far more than they should. Thank you for making it fun.
And, as always, my deepest gratitude goes to my husband, Nick, who continues to be my best support and inspiration. Still couldn’t have done it without him.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8447-4
THE IRON QUEEN
Copyright © 2011 by Julie Kagawa
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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