It drained him completely, but Tristan told his father everything, from the day he climbed through Helena’s window to the moment she fell. His dad stayed silent for most of it, his eyes bulging over the part where the dragon lady turned books into missiles. Thankfully he kept his judgments to himself, sipping at his Coke and scratching his whiskers to try and hide his concern.

Tristan appreciated the effort.

“I never expected them to fight, and I never thought she’d try to sneak out the tower window.” Tristan lurched back and grabbed two fistfuls of hair. “What was she thinking?”

“She probably wasn’t. Intense emotion like that can make us do crazy things. You were the idiot who climbed a tower to get to her.”

“Yeah, but, I…I could do it.”

“You could have fallen just as easily.” His father’s face bunched with his broken whisper. “I can’t even think about…” He sighed, running a shaky hand through his graying hair.

“I love her, Dad.”

Leon’s brown gaze was gentle when he looked at Tristan, a small half smile pushing at his lips. “It’s about the only thing that can make us fly and plummet. Love is dangerous, but it’s also magic.”

“Was it my fault?” Tristan’s breath caught, slicing into his question. His throat began to swell again, making it impossible to swallow.

“No.” His father’s hand landed on his knee and gave it a firm squeeze. “This is not your fault. She chose to climb through that window. You didn’t make her.”

“But I—”

“No.” His father’s thick index finger pointed at him, his emphatic gaze impossible to turn away from. “You are not allowed to do that to yourself. The only thing you did was make her love you enough to want to be with you. That’s not something to be ashamed of.”

Tristan pressed his lips together, finally managing to swallow.

“I wish I could have kept your mother. If I could turn back time, I would…” He sighed. “I would have done it all differently. You have to cherish this girl. She needs to know that you’re there for her.”

Tristan scoffed, clenching his jaw while tears tried to burn him. “I can’t. I can’t even reach her now. If she’s paralyzed…” Tristan let out a sick groan, leaning forward and holding his head in his hands.

“Then she’ll deal with it and she’ll learn to live a new kind of life.”

Tristan’s jaw locked, tears quaking his words. “But her mother…she’ll never let her out of the house again. There’ll be no chance of her seeking help or getting out in the world. She’ll lock them both away.”

“We don’t know that yet.” His father’s large hand landed on his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “Come on, let’s go to the hospital. We’ll find out what we can.”

Tristan gazed up at his father. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” He jumped out of his seat, racing out of the room to get changed and grab his keys.

Tristan pulled on his boots, struggling to tie the laces as he waited for his father. The urge to get to the hospital was battling with the urge to bury himself inside a hole. He didn’t know what state Helena would be in when he got there. Would she want to see him? What could he possibly say to make it better?

* * *

The drive to the hospital was pure torture. Tristan’s leg bobbed the whole time, the toe of his boot pressing into the dash. His father knew better than to say anything, so he kept his eyes on the road and his lips sealed. They found a spot easily and bustled into the emergency room.

Tristan raced for the counter, slamming into it and startling the nurse on duty.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I’m here to see a friend.”

“Name?” She gave him a droll look.

“Uh, Helena…Thompson. She came in about an hour ago.”

“Mmhmm.” The woman clicked at her keyboard, adjusting her reading glasses to stare at the screen. “And how are you related to the patient?”

“A friend.”

“Son.” She removed her glasses, folding her arms across her ample chest and shaking her head. “I can’t let you through.”

“But I need to see her.” He tipped his head.

“She’s his girlfriend,” Dad piped up over Tristan’s shoulder.

The woman’s face bunched with a look of sympathy and she rose from her chair with a sigh. “I can ask, but don’t hold your breath.”

“Thank you.” Tristan leaned against the counter as she walked away, gripping the shiny edge in an attempt to stay standing.

His father hovered behind him, a towering pillar of strength. It was kind of ironic really, the whole change of situation. He’d never expected his dad to step up, but he had. It made him want to cry with relief.

Ten minutes ticked by with a slow painfulness that made Tristan’s head pound. Patients shuffled in and out of the ER, phones rang, wheels squeaked on shiny floors, and static voices blurted from the intercom. Finally the woman reappeared, her sympathetic friendliness replaced with a stern look of reprimand.

“You are not welcome to visit Miss Thompson, and my suggestion to you is that you leave right now.”

“But—” Tristan lifted his hand, an argument at the ready.

“I’ve spoken to her mother, so don’t try any tricks with me.” She pointed an accusing finger at Tristan.

“This is bull—”

“Sir, I will call security if I need to.” She snatched the phone from the cradle, her big eyes rounding with assertion.

“You don’t.” His father’s voice matched the firm hand on Tristan’s shoulder. With a little squeeze, he pulled his son away from the desk and led him back outside.

The glass door shut behind them and Tristan kicked the concrete ramp leading out of the hospital entrance. “This is horse shit!”

Ripping off his beanie, he squeezed it in his hands, trying to fight the overwhelming urge to punch something.

“I know.” His father sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets and leaning against the metal railing.

“I just want to know if she’s okay. I need to see her.”

“I know you do.” His dad’s brows dipped together and he looked over his shoulder, scanning their surroundings with narrowed eyes.

“What are you thinking?” Tristan twisted the beanie in his hands.

“I’m thinking we’re not leaving here until you see your girl…and I’m thinking this is a pretty big hospital and there’s probably more than one way in and out.”

Tristan’s lips twitched with a surprised smile. Was his father seriously saying that stuff to him?

His dad’s half grin grew as he stood forward and lightly punched Tristan’s arm. “Come on, let’s try around this way.”