Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead

a small twinkle in her eyes thatreminded me of how things used to be between us. “I’m
your
mom.”
    I followed her sullenly as we waited for the prescription, and she forced me to get a basketful of gauze, bandages, and other first aid supplies. I already owned a lot of them, but she wouldn’t rest easy until she actually saw them in my hands.
    “I really appreciate you coming,” I admitted as we waited. “It … it’s good to see you.”
    Her expression softened. “It’s good to see you too, baby. I’ve missed you.”
    “I don’t suppose Roland’s forgiven me?”
    “It’s more complicated than that,” she told me. “He still loves you. Really. But he’s worried. And he doesn’t like you being over …
there.
Neither do I.”
    I averted my eyes again. I knew she didn’t—and she had good reason. My conception was the result of her captivity and rape in the Otherworld. She’d spent years keeping that knowledge from me, hoping to protect me from both my heritage and the agony she believed that place caused.
    “Well, that’s complicated too. I have to be there, Mom. I know you guys don’t approve, but there are people counting on me. They’re not all like you think. I can’t let them down. They’re … they’re dying because of me.”
    “Is there a man involved?”
    I considered a flippant remark, then chose honesty. “Yes.”
    “The obvious problem aside … would I like him?”
    I tried to picture my mom meeting Dorian and couldn’t stop a small smile. “Probably not.”
    “Do you ever talk to Kiyo anymore?”
    I looked up sharply, my smile fading. “It’s over with us. He let me down. You know that. This other guy … he won’t.”
    I was saved from further conversation when my name was finally called. I added the prescription to my portable hospital bag and felt grateful that my mom didn’t pursue the topic of my love life anymore. I was equally grateful when she drove me back to Regan’s house. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she’d left me carless in Tim’s care.
    Leaving my mom stirred conflicting feelings in me. After missing her so much, part of me just wanted to stay and gaze at her, to drink in those features I loved so much. I wanted her to hold me, to be my mom and take care of everything. And yet … always, always, the Otherworld was pressing on me. I didn’t have the luxury of being a little girl right now. I didn’t have the luxury of being her daughter.
    “Thank you,” I said, giving her as careful a hug as we could manage. “Thank you for … I don’t know. Everything.”
    She held me for a few moments and then pressed a kiss to my forehead. “There’s nothing to thank me for. Just be careful.” She broke from the embrace. “Do what the doctor says. And for God’s sake, don’t end up there again. I don’t want another call.”
    “I’ll try,” I said. This made us both smile, largely because we knew my trying to stay out of harm’s way was pretty futile. “And tell Roland …” I couldn’t finish, but she nodded.
    “I know.”
    I left her then, loading my loot into my own car and driving home. Regan didn’t live too far from me, only about ten minutes. The time flew by. I had so many things to think about that when I arrived at my house, I hardly knew how I’d gotten there. Tim’s car was parked out front—as was Lara’s. I dragged myself out of my own self-pitying miasma, uneasily wondering what I’d find inside. Seeing the two of them naked on my kitchen table would
not
be cool.
    Instead, they were cuddled up on the living room couch, watching a movie. All seemed innocent, but some vibe made me suspect they hadn’t been actually
watching
too much of it. I shook my head in exasperation.
    “How is this my life?” I muttered, setting my bag on the counter.
    “Did you say something?” called Tim. The living room and kitchen were mostly open to each other. He muted the film.
    “Nothing important.”
    “We figured you’d be out for the