Sunshine nodded. “Right.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Kat opened her eyes. The first thing that came into view was a paneled ceiling. She blinked, trying to make sense of why it was there instead of the popcorn one of her bedroom. Memory surfaced fast. She turned her head and stared at a monitor to her right. Her heart rate was normal according to the number.

She’d jumped through a window with Missy and then there’d been pain and a loud noise. The gas must have ignited. She looked down her arm­—an IV in her arm and an oxygen sensor on her index finger. Fearful, she moved her legs, shifting her feet on the hospital bed. They were there and intact. Her other arm ached and she turned to see a loose white gauze bandage wrapped around her upper arm.

I’m alive. Missy? Oh god! Panic set in and she tried to sit up. It was easier than she thought it would be and less painful. This isn’t a hospital. She recognized the layout. It’s their Medical center. I’m at Homeland? She was alone in the room with the door partially open to a silent hallway.

Something dark moved at the bottom of her bed. It was just a flash of what looked like black hair and then she gasped, almost falling over when a boy popped his head up. Dark eyes with unusually long, thick eyelashes peered at her. He lifted up a little, his fingers gripping the foot railing. She took in the shape of his nose. He blinked, his expression curious.

He looks like Darkness, except for the shape of his eyes. It might just be the coloring and skin tone but she saw a resemblance. He lifted up more, revealing his mouth. It was closed but that downward slant was a frown. He didn’t talk, just continued to watch her.

Kat cleared her throat. “What’s your name?” She smiled, hoping he wouldn’t leave.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Kat.”

“You don’t look like one.”

He had a gruff voice for a child so young but it was clear he was New Species. She pegged him to be about five years old, from what she could see of him. “It’s just a name. I’m not a real cat.”

He ducked and disappeared. She held still, knowing he hadn’t left the room. She’d have seen him go with her clear view of the door. Something bumped her bed on the left and he straightened. He looked at her from a few feet away, glanced at the monitor then at her face.

“You’re hurt?”

She assessed her body. A blanket covered most of her and she wore a gown. “I think I’m mostly okay. I feel good.”

“You’re in Medical.” He reached out and touched the plastic clip on her finger. “Does that hurt? It is pinching you.”

Kat held still. “No. It’s not on tight.”

He pulled it off and the machine beeped. He growled, dropped the clip on the floor, but then looked back at her. His eyes were big, almost fearful.

“It’s okay.” She resisted laughing. “Monitors make weird noises. You didn’t hurt it and it can’t hurt you. You didn’t tell me your name.”

“Salvation.”

“That’s a nice name.” She glanced at the door, wondering where everyone was and why the boy was in her room. She couldn’t see New Species allowing children to roam free in Medical. It wouldn’t be safe with all the drugs and supplies he could get into. “Where’s your mommy and daddy?”

“I sneaked away.” He lowered his voice. “Sunshine fell asleep. She was watching me. My parents are in the waiting room. I crawled behind the counter so they couldn’t see me. They were talking.”

Kat was tempted to push the assist button on the hospital bed. She would bet his parents wouldn’t be happy to find he’d slipped away from his babysitter. She didn’t want to get him in trouble though. “You should go back to her. She’ll wake up and be worried if you aren’t there.”

“She snores.”

Kat laughed. “Really?”

He smiled, his expression adorable. “Loud. It woke me up.”

The door suddenly moved and Darkness filled the space. “Salvation.”

The boy jumped, spinning to face the snarling voice. Kat shot Darkness a warning look. “Don’t scare him.”

“He should be frightened. He knows better than to run away from someone watching him.” Darkness entered the room, focused on the boy. He pointed toward the hallway. “Run to your father. He’s to the left.”

Salvation took off, moving fast for a small boy. He was out the door in a flash. Kat gawked at Darkness. “That was mean. You shouldn’t have used that tone.”

“He shouldn’t have been in here. We were looking for him. Sunshine woke to find him gone. Everyone scrambled to search the building.”

“He’s just a little kid. He can’t be more than five years old. What child doesn’t explore his surroundings?”

“He’s three and he’s Species. It’s a safety issue.”

“Three?” She was stunned. “He’s just a baby then.” A big one. “You scared the crap out of him.”

Darkness walked to the end of her bed. “Our children aren’t clumsy, helpless individuals for the first years of their lives. He crawled at three months, began running by the time he was six months old, and spoke complete sentences before his first birthday. He was reading and doing what most of your children learn in school by his second birthday. You may see him as a baby but he’s not human. He knows there’s no excuse for him leaving the care of Sunshine and understands why he must follow rules. They are there for his protection.”