Free Kindred (The Watcher Chronicles #2) by S.J. West Page A

frantic before."
    "Really?" I ask.  I know this statement coming from Isaiah is saying a lot considering how long he's known Mason.
    "He called in every Watcher in the world when you disappeared.  It didn't matter what we were doing.  He ordered us to his house immediately to search all the branching phase trails for you.  I'm just glad your father got to you in time."
    "Me too," I admit.  "I didn't think I would make it."
    "You almost didn't from what your father told us.  If he had been a minute later, you would be dead.  Mason thought he had lost you."
    "Well, I'm fine now, but Mason seems bound and determined to keep me in this bed until he thinks I'm completely well."
    "Give him some time, Jess.  You gave him a good scare.  He needs time to recover just as much as you do."
    I hadn't thought about it like that.
    "Ok, Isaiah.  I won't push him to let me go back to work."
    "Thank you."
    Fifteen minutes later, I hear the rattling of dishes in my kitchen and know Mason is back.  He walks into my bedroom with one of my fold out trays in his hands laden with the requested bowl of tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwich and glass of milk.
    "That was quick," I comment as I sit up straighter while Mason sets the tray across my lap.
    "Knew of a good bistro that would have what you wanted," he tells me.  Once I'm settled he turns to Isaiah.  "Why don't you bring Chandler and JoJo over in about 30 minutes?"
    "Thank God," Isaiah says, lifting his eyes to the heavens.  "They've been driving me insane about coming here to see Jess."
    "Yes, they've been rather insistent," Mason admits with a wry grin.  "Thirty minutes."
    Isaiah phases and I begin to eat.
    "Can I ask you something?" I say between spoonfuls of soup.
    "You can ask me anything," Mason replies.
    "You and Isaiah are the most punctual people I know.  Like I know when you told him thirty minutes, he'll be back here in exactly thirty minutes to the second.  How do you guys do that?"
    "All Watchers have an internal clock of sorts.  That's why we're never late or early.  It's almost a compulsory need to always be on time."
    "I wish Faison had something like that inside her," I say.  "She's almost always late for things.  It drives me nuts."
    Mason smiles.  "Our need to be exactly on time can be a little annoying to tell you the truth.  I wish I could force myself to be late or even early to something, but I can't seem to."
    "Hmm, a challenge," I say, considering the various delightfully inappropriate ways I can make Mason late to something.  I smile.  "Maybe I can find a way to make you late the next time you have to be somewhere."
    Mason looks intrigued.  "And how would you accomplish such a feat?"
    I shake my head.  "Can't tell you that.  Then you would be expecting it.  You'll just have to wait and see."
    Mason smiles.  "Then I look forward to your attempts.  I'll make sure to let you know the next time I have to be somewhere."
    "Please do," I say.  “Can I ask you something else?”
    “Yes?”
    “Are you going to let me out of this bed anytime soon?  I’m already getting bored just laying here and sleeping.”
    “Hmm, let me think about it.  I would rather you rested but I can see how you would get bored.  I’ll see what I can do.”
    Mason is cleaning up my dirty dishes when Isaiah appears in my bedroom with Chandler and JoJo on either side of him.  They immediately envelop me in a group hug much like Mama Lynn and Faison did.
    JoJo begins to spout so much French at me I can't decipher a word of it.  I look to Chandler for help.
    "She's just glad to see you," Chandler says, finding our bouncy little French counterpart amusing.
    JoJo huffs and says, "I was so worried about you, mon amie.  You had us sick to death with worry.  We thought we had lost you."
    "I'm fine now," I tell them.  "Please don't worry anymore."
    "Your guard dogs have been a bit irritating," Chandler grumbles.  "They wouldn't let us come when you first woke up.  I