Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) - Shannon Messenger Page 0,109

during those terrible moments.

But she had to stay focused on the most important information.

“That’s the big choice, isn’t it?” she asked. “You want to reset my brain so my inflicting will work differently.”

“So it will work properly,” Mr. Forkle corrected, which wasn’t any less terrifying. “Your ability was designed to target whoever or whatever you were feeling threatened by, rather than taking out everyone in the vicinity the way you do now. That would make the power much more effective, don’t you think?”

“I suppose,” Sophie said slowly. “But what happened to the whole ‘no one will be asking anyone to put their life in serious danger’ promise you made earlier?”

“I was about to remind him of the same thing,” Sandor growled.

“I said serious danger,” Mr. Forkle argued. “This time the procedure will be much more minor. We don’t have to reset Miss Foster’s entire brain, like Livvy did to her that day—or like I did the day I healed her abilities. We only need to reset her inflicting, which will require a significantly smaller dose of limbium.”

“Okay, but… I’m still deathly allergic to it, even in a small dose,” Sophie pointed out, surprised she even had to say it. “The elixir Dex gave me only had a drop in it, and it still made Bullhorn lie down beside me, and Elwin was barely able to bring me back.”

“I’m not saying there won’t be risks,” Mr. Forkle said carefully. “But the risks will still be less dangerous this time than your previous experiences, both because of the much more limited problem we’re addressing and because of our increased knowledge and practice. Livvy and I have been researching allergies for months, wanting to be prepared in case this day was ever upon us. And I feel very strongly that we’ve now perfected our remedy.”

“Does that mean you won’t have to use any needles?” Sophie asked.

“I wish.” He reached for her hand, peeling back the fabric of her glove until he’d exposed the star-shaped scar he’d accidentally given her when he’d healed her abilities. “This time I know to administer the injection into your leg, so I shouldn’t leave another mark like this. But… it still needs to be an injection. That’s the fastest delivery method, and with allergies, every second counts.”

Sophie wished she could argue.

But she’d felt how close it came the other times when they’d triggered her allergy.

There was zero margin for error.

“I’ll have Elwin and Livvy with me for any emergencies,” Mr. Forkle promised, pulling her glove back into place and releasing her hand. “And I think it might be wise to have Mr. Sencen and Mr. Vacker there as well, since they both have ways of keeping your mind and emotions steady and focused. And if there’s someone else you’d like to have there—like perhaps your parents?—that can be arranged. But know this: No matter what, I will keep you safe. That’s my job.”

“No, that’s my job,” Sandor corrected. “And if you think I’m going to let you—”

“It’s Miss Foster’s decision,” Mr. Forkle interrupted.

Sophie snorted. “Right. Just like it was my decision the day you reset my abilities. I could either stay malfunctioning, or risk my life to fix everything—and bonus: It was the only way I’d be able to heal Prentice and Alden. That’s not much of a choice, is it?”

“It is,” Mr. Forkle insisted. “And this time it’s even more so. You’ve managed just fine with the way your inflicting currently operates.”

“Have I?” Sophie asked, thinking of all the times her vision had cleared to reveal her friends writhing in pain or unconscious around her.

The Neverseen had even started counting on it when they planned their ambushes, letting her take out her bodyguards for them—although that raised another question.

“Is the ability even worth it?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper. “The Neverseen always wear those caps to block me.”

“Actually, that would be one of the biggest advantages to resetting your ability,” Mr. Forkle corrected. “The red beam is designed to target the heart, not the head. The Neverseen would have no way to shield themselves from that kind of attack, and the blow would be infinitely stronger because the emotions are so much rawer and more vulnerable there.”

Sophie sighed.

That would be a significant improvement from what she could currently do.

“I’m sorry,” Mr. Forkle said, clearing his throat. “I realize this is probably the last thing you feel like enduring. I haven’t forgotten how much you’ve already been through. It’s also my fault. What Livvy and I