The Wood Queen Read Online Free Page B

through with this?”
    Genuine surprise slackened her aunt’s face. “Of course. What did you expect? That I could just wave a magic wand and make it all go away?”
    “Honestly? I was hoping that maybe you could show a little trust in me. Can’t you do that, just this once?”
    Aunt Paige’s eyes became guarded. “How can I trust you? After everything you did …” Her voice trailed off, but not before Donna heard the thread of uncertainty running through it.
    “What I did, I did to save Navin. And Maker . Why can’t you understand that?”
    “I do understand, Donna.” She took a hesitant step forward. “That’s just it. It’s not that I don’t understand; the problem is that I think you were wrong.”
    It was as if her aunt had slapped her. Shocked, Donna tried to rally herself. “How can you say that? They would have died!”
    “Then so be it. If that’s what was meant to be.”
    Donna’s whole body stiffened. “Even Maker?”
    “Even him.” There was no doubt in Aunt Paige’s voice now; her faith in the greater good—of whatever freaky higher consciousness the alchemists believed in—was absolute. And absolutely unshakable.
    Barely able to catch her breath, Donna slowly shook her head. “Then I feel sorry for you,” she whispered, feeling like she might cry.
    Before Aunt Paige could reply, the shrill tones of a ringing phone cut through the frigid air between them. At the same moment, Simon emerged and stood on the steps of the main entrance, looking like he was about to implode. Paige held up a hand to him and pulled out her cell phone.
    “Underwood.”
    Donna gritted her teeth. Her aunt was all business now, no doubt expecting a call from the Mayor’s office.
    Aunt Paige suddenly looked at her, her face drained of color. Now what?
    “I understand. Thank you.” She tucked the phone back into her pocket and took a deep breath.
    “Well?” Donna asked, feeling sick. Fear clawed at her throat and she wanted to grab her aunt’s arms and shake her. “What is it?”
    Somehow, even before Paige spoke, Donna knew exactly what she was going to say. She didn’t fully understand how she knew, but she suspected it had a lot to do with the crazy dreams that had been haunting her.
    “I’m sorry, Donna,” Paige said, all signs of anger deflated. “That was the Institute—I’m afraid it’s your mother.”

Three
    Donna was running by the time she reached the glass doors of Ironbridge General’s privately funded Special Care Unit. Her mother had been rushed there from the Institute just this morning, as soon as her condition had turned “critical.”
    “Wait,” Aunt Paige called, struggling to keep up in her high heels. “Slow down!”
    Ignoring her, with all thoughts of the trial scattered behind her somewhere back in the parking lot, Donna scanned the waiting area and fixed her attention on a groupof nurses who didn’t seem to have much to do. Everything looked calm and quiet; surely Mom couldn’t be so sick in a place as tranquil as this?
    She marched toward them, only vaguely aware of her aunt’s footsteps clattering just behind. “I need to see Rachel Underwood.”
    One of the nurses—Nurse Valderrama, according to her nametag—raised dark eyebrows. “And you would be …?”
    “I’m her daughter.” Donna tried to look composed and in control, but her heart was hammering almost painfully and she knew she must look young and scared.
    The nurses exchanged a look that she couldn’t quite interpret, but it certainly didn’t indicate anything good. Aunt Paige appeared at her side, acting all official, and showed them some identification. Things moved along more smoothly after that, especially given how the SCU came by their funds—Quentin was a significant benefactor, which granted the alchemists privileged access to the facilities. It never ceased to amaze Donna how the four Orders had fingers in so many different pies throughout the world. Wherever they operated, you could