
Grady closed his eyes, and his lips formed a few different words before he asked, “You trust me, don’t you?” “Was?” Sophie prompted when he didn’t finish. And for what it’s worth, I actually did try to talk Keefe out of leaving. Grady stepped closer, tucking a strand of Sophie’s hair behind her ear. Or if she’d at least been able to learn more about Keefe’s “legacy,” so they had some idea of what they were dealing with. Or if she’d fought a little harder in Loamnore and stopped his mom before she triggered Keefe’s unnerving new abilities. Or if she’d checked on Keefe more often after he woke up from his trance-coma thing, instead of letting him push her away. Forkle’s questions about her unexpected inferno. Then she wouldn’t have to wonder if she could’ve talked Keefe into staying if she’d been home when he came by, instead of spending so long at Solreef answering Mr. “Um, last time I checked, you’re still a Mesmer,” Sophie felt the need to point out, even though she wouldn’t have wanted Grady to use his ability that way. “Hey, we both know there’s no stopping Keefe Sencen once he makes up his mind.” “And that didn’t seem like a sign that maybe you should stop him?” Sophie cut in. But he wasn’t his usual overconfident self today. “He has a gift for getting in trouble-and you do that more than enough on your own. Sometimes your friendship with Keefe… makes me a little nervous,” Grady admitted, dragging the toe of his boot through the flowers woven into her carpet. His smile was probably supposed to soften her mood. You call him ‘That Boy’ and glare at him all the time.” I know Keefe’s never been your favorite, but-”

“You really did know what he was up to, and you still let him go. She’d hoped Grady’s mouth would fall open when he heard Keefe’s destination. “Oh really? So you think he’ll be able to survive on his own in the Forbidden Cities?” I think he actually has a solid plan this time.” “At least an hour ago, so it’s too late to stop him-but it’ll be okay. He glanced out her windows, where the clouds were slowly turning pink with the sunset. “How long ago did he leave?” she asked in a tone that hopefully made it clear she wouldn’t let Grady shrug away the question again. All he’d said was that it was too dangerous for him to be in the Lost Cities and he was planning to hide among humans-which was why Sophie had to find him. Keefe’s letter had also implied that he’d manifested other scarier abilities-but he didn’t tell her what they were. “That’s why he’s running away,” she murmured. Or how empty and hopeless she’d felt when the command turned everyone numb. Something sour coated Sophie’s tongue, and she tried not to think about the fear she’d seen in Keefe’s eyes after he’d accidentally given his first command. He was obviously still afraid to use his voice.” “But to answer your question… yes, I did talk to him-and he didn’t say much. “Not without violating the rules of telepathy,” Grady reminded her. “You know I can find out what you’re hiding.” “You talked to him while he was here, didn’t you?” Sophie guessed, tapping her temples when he stayed quiet. Silence followed, and Grady wouldn’t meet her eyes. “If you knew what he’s planning, you wouldn’t be saying that.” “Keefe will be fine,” Grady promised, carefully steering her away from her doorway. “I doubt that.” Even she wasn’t sure if she wanted to clobber Keefe, lock him up somewhere, or wrap him in a huge strangle-hug and tell him everything was going to be okay-though the last option seemed the least likely. “Is Sandor still outside?” she asked, hoping he’d gotten a report about Keefe from one of the other guards.

Sandor was in the process of frantically amping up Havenfield’s security because she’d burned down one of the Neverseen’s storehouses a few hours earlier, and everyone seemed to think that meant she’d officially started the war they’d been teetering on the brink of for years-but she couldn’t worry about that at the moment.

“I didn’t see him-but I was out in the pastures, waiting for the new patrols to arrive.” “How long ago did Keefe leave?” she asked, glancing between Grady and the tiny gnome standing near her canopied bed.įlori shook her head, making her plaited hair rustle like windblown leaves. All she could do was stare at the crumpled note she’d found waiting for her in her bedroom, hoping she’d somehow misread it.Ī sound bubbled up her throat, something between a laugh, a cry, and a groan. Grady had asked the question three times, and Sophie still didn’t have an answer.
