Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) - Shannon Messenger Page 0,52

around,” Dex whispered to Biana and Wylie. “Looks like our fearless Lady Fos-Boss is a natural leader.”

This time even Wylie had to muffle his laughter.

“You guys are worse than Keefe,” Sophie grumbled, wondering if she could smother them with her frilly gown.

“I can’t believe I’m going to officially be linked to you weirdos,” Stina growled under her breath.

“You can still back out,” Dex reminded her.

“Or you could try acting like you appreciate what the Council’s doing for us today!” Stina whisper-hissed. “We’re inside the Seat of Eminence, about to be sworn in as the youngest Regents ever. Could you maybe try behaving with a little dignity?”

Dex scratched his chin. “Nah. Annoying you is way more fun.”

Stina gritted her teeth hard enough to make a cracking sound, and Sophie bit back a smile, wishing she could tangle the feeling around herself until it choked out the worries bubbling up her throat. Sure, the commitment she was about to make was huge and complicated and terrifying—especially given her past challenges with the Council. But… at least she was making it with friends.

Or mostly with friends—and they could handle Stina together.

“So… we have Lady Fos-Boss’s title settled,” Dex said, grinning when Sophie shook her head. “Any thoughts on a better team name?”

“No discussing team names until you’re somewhere far beyond my range of hearing!” Councillor Emery shouted from up ahead.

“You’re the one who came up with ‘Team Prodigious,’ aren’t you?” Dex called back, clearly not the least bit ashamed to know that the Council had been eavesdropping on their ridiculous conversation. “That’s why you’re so sensitive about it, huh?”

A whole lot of muttering followed.

Then there was silence—until Wylie called out the question that Sophie had been wondering as well: “How much longer is this going to take?”

“Why?” Emery asked. “Do you have somewhere else to be?”

“No,” Wylie admitted. “But… there’s someone I need to talk to.”

“Well, I’m sure they’ll understand why this was your priority,” Emery assured him. “Once we announce your appointments, that is.”

“And when will that be?” Stina asked.

“Soon,” Emery told her. “We want the public to be aware of your elevated status as much as you do.”

Actually, Sophie would’ve been fine if her new title remained a classified secret. But she had a feeling she was the only one who wanted to avoid that particular attention.

“You’ll wait until we have our much-cooler new team name, though, right?” Dex clarified. “So you won’t have everyone making fun of Team Prodigious?”

Councillor Emery’s sigh echoed down the hall. “Yes, I suppose that would make sense. You five need to figure that out as quickly as possible.”

Which foolishly opened the door to a whole lot of team-name brainstorming between Dex and Biana. Sophie tuned them out somewhere between Team Hotness and Team Awesomesauce.

She shuffled closer to Wylie. “Is everything okay?” she whispered. “Nothing’s going on with your dad—”

“No, he’s fine,” Wylie interrupted. “Well… as fine as he ever is.”

Prentice was still recovering from all the years he’d spent trapped in the madness of his broken consciousness—and he’d probably never fully get back to his old self. His mind had been so shattered by the memory break that his memories had all but dissolved—including the information that Sophie had hoped to learn after she’d healed him, like what had made him call “swan song” before he was arrested.

“Did you mean you needed to talk to Linh, then?” she whispered. “To tell her about Tam?”

“No. She’s probably going to feel a little left out because the Council didn’t include her today. So dropping the Tam bomb on top of that seems pretty harsh. But I don’t want her to think I kept it from her either, so…” He blew out a breath.

“That’s super tricky,” Sophie admitted. “If there’s any way I can help, let me know.”

“Actually… there is—but not with Linh.” He chewed his lip for a couple of seconds before he leaned in, his voice barely louder than a breath as he told her, “I need a favor.”

“Of course.” Sophie would forever be trying to make amends for all the devastating things that Wylie had endured because of her. “What do you need?”

He glanced at the Council. Then at Stina. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Sure.” She said nothing else out loud. But as he stepped away, she transmitted, Or we can talk telepathically, if you give me permission to open my mind to your thoughts.

Wylie was subtle with his nod, clearly not wanting the others to know they were still talking. And when Sophie stretched out