Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) - Shannon Messenger Page 0,245

make them real. “I’m getting Keefe to the Healing Center.”

THUMP!

“Ah yes,” Nubiti said, “I should let them in before you go—let them know this area’s been secured.”

“Them?” Sophie asked, struggling to heft Keefe back into her arms and shift his weight to maximize running speed.

And she assumed Nubiti was going to tell her about a loyal band of dwarves she’d been fighting with.

But when Nubiti cranked open the door, it was one of those movie moments, where all of the heroes find their way back to each other and they can’t decide if they want to laugh or cry or make the biggest group hug ever.

Because there, standing in the doorway, looking like they’d definitely been fighting some epic battles—but winning them—were Councillor Bronte, and Councillor Darek, and Councillor Zarina, and Woltzer, and Lovise, and Grizel.

And Dex.

And Biana.

And Stina.

And Fitz.

Fitz.

His eyes only held hers for a second—but it was enough for Sophie to see that he was alive, so she’d happily take it.

And she tried to figure out the right thing to say to all of her friends—some sort of celebration and apology for forgetting to check in on them.

But then she realized…

None of them were smiling.

None of them were really even looking at her—their focus instead on the pale, unconscious, blank-stared boy in her arms.

And the devastation in their expressions was both a gut punch and a jolt of energy. Because it reminded Sophie of where she needed to be focusing.

She’d save the hugs and stories for later.

Right now…

“Sorry, I have to go,” she mumbled. “Things… haven’t gone very well—though there has been one really good thing. But I’ll let Tam tell you about it.”

“Tam?” Biana asked, her eyes scanning the room—and getting caught on all the unconscious forms spread across the floor.

“Tam will explain that, too,” Sophie promised. “And tell you who Glimmer is. I have to go. I’m sorry.”

She avoided all of their stares as Nubiti crouched to dig a hole in the sandy floor.

But right before Nubiti dragged her in, Fitz’s accented voice filled Sophie’s head.

You don’t have to be sorry, he transmitted. You’re doing the right thing. Take care of him, and we’ll take care of whatever else we have to deal with here.

Thank you, Sophie transmitted back as the sand swallowed her whole, scraping and scratching and scuffing her skin raw while her lungs burned and burned, desperate for a fresh breath.

But she barely noticed the discomfort, because Fitz sent her one more transmission.

I’m glad you’re okay. And… I’ve really missed you. All of this is so much harder without you.

I feel the same way, Sophie agreed.

She wanted to say more, but the sand spat her back out, and she gulped down the fresh air, coughing bits of sand out of her lungs.

“Honestly, I think I’d rather sink though mud,” she told Nubiti, shaking her feet, trying to get the sand off her boots—and then she lowered her voice to a whisper as she studied the long, empty hall stretching in either direction. “Is this the path?”

Nubiti nodded, pointing to the left. “That will take you to the surface. I’ll go the other way and see if I can draw the guards to me.”

“Okay, then,” Sophie said, not wanting to waste any time or strength on lingering or worrying.

It was time to just… begin.

She took one second to stare into Keefe’s unblinking eyes and transmitted, Stay with me. I’m getting you to Elwin.

“Run fast, Sophie,” Nubiti whispered as Sophie hefted Keefe over her shoulder and took off down the hall, starting with a jog, giving her legs a moment to find their stride before she pushed them to go faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

She didn’t think about what might be behind her, or how much farther she had ahead. She just centered her mind on one foot in front of the other.

Go.

Go.

Go.

Her muscles throbbed, and her chest heaved, and the hall echoed with scurries and hisses and screams—but she tuned it all out.

Stay with me, Keefe.

Stay with me.

Stay with me.

Almost there.

And they were.

The path curved enough to show her the exit—still forever away. But she could make it.

Go.

Faster.

Stay with me, Keefe.

We’ve got this.

But some of King Enki’s guards had clearly been waiting for her—jumping out of the shadows.

Stomping their furry feet.

And the ground rumbled hard, nearly knocking Sophie over as cracks shredded the path ahead, trying to force her to turn around.

But she’d come too far.

Too far.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

She’d jump the cracks if she had to.

Or levitate.

Or…

She didn’t finish the thought, because her instincts took over.

Focusing on the friction of