you’re probably thinking he’s mad at you or something. And the only way your brain is going to quiet down enough to let you sleep is if you talk to Keefe. So just… try it, okay? You’re going to need the rest. I have a feeling meeting with Glimmer tomorrow is going to be pretty intense.”
He was right, of course.
Sophie knew that.
But that didn’t make the idea any less… scary.
“It’ll be okay,” Fitz promised. “Trust me.”
She met his eyes, remembering all the times she’d done exactly that. Fitz had been her first friend—her first guide—in this scary, shimmering new world she’d had to figure out how to belong to. The person she’d called for help after her kidnapping, who’d shown up just in time to save her. Someone she’d survived fires and battles and banishment with, and who’d faced down cold, cruel monsters with her over and over and over.
“Okay,” she whispered. “But we meet up early tomorrow.”
“Deal,” Fitz agreed. “I’ll head to Havenfield as soon as you’re awake.”
Sophie stalled a little longer before she leaped back to Havenfield—then stalled a whole lot more once she got there, not sure she was ready to find out if Keefe would ignore her.
But outside, under Calla’s Panakes, with Wynn and Luna snuggled against her, she finally found the courage to stretch out her mind.
Keefe?
She was only going to try three times—that was the deal she’d made with herself. Three times, and if he didn’t answer, then… that was that.
KEEFE?
She pushed the call as far as it could go, holding her breath.
Still no answer.
One more time, she told herself. One more time, then count to five.
She rallied her mental strength. KEEFE!
One second passed.
Two.
Three.
And before she got to four, a familiar voice flooded her mind.
Has anyone told you you’re starting to sound like Silveny?
Sophie let out a breath. Hey, Keefe.
- EIGHT - KEEFE
Soooooooooooo, Keefe thought, mentally dragging out the word, I guess this means you’re still talking to me.
Funny, Sophie transmitted, I was about to say the same thing to you.
Keefe winced.
“What’s wrong?” Ro asked. “Need me to get Elwin?”
He shook his head.
Ro leaned closer. “Then why do you look all sweaty and nervous?”
Keefe shrugged.
Ro gritted her teeth. “If you don’t start talking soon, I’m going to tie you up in your blankets and use you for tackling practice.”
He shrugged again, earning a growl that rattled the walls.
Are you still there? Sophie transmitted in a soft, worried tone that made Keefe imagine her tugging on her eyelashes.
Yeah, sorry. Ro was distracting me.
He smirked at his bodyguard as he sat up and tried to fix his hair—then wanted to smack himself since it wasn’t like Sophie could see him. And it was a good thing she couldn’t, because wow—he didn’t realize his hair could bend that many different directions at the same time.
He was also pretty sure the tingling in his cheek was from big, red pillow creases.
He’d tunneled under his blankets after Dex left, and he’d been there ever since, tossing and turning and flailing and thrashing and generally feeling sorry for himself.
Elwin had brought him dinner at some point—something he called Cosmic Explosion, with all kinds of weird, colorful fruits cut into stars and moons and planets and suns. It even had sparkly silver dust sprinkled on top. And it tasted as amazing as it looked, but Keefe had only been able to choke down a few bites before his insides knotted up.
So… how are you doing? Sophie asked.
Oh… you know.
He wanted to tell her he was great—convince her that things were already going back to normal.
But then she might want to visit.
I’ve been better, he said, flopping back onto his pillow. He pulled his blankets over his head before he added the words he didn’t even like admitting to himself. I think this ability is getting stronger. I almost used a command on Dex today. Twice.
Several seconds crawled by before Sophie asked, But you didn’t, right?
Yeah, I fought it off. But it was a STRUGGLE.
What was the command?
I’m not sure. I couldn’t let myself acknowledge the word, because I knew if I did, I’d HAVE to say it.
More painful silence. Then Sophie told him, Well… that sounds like good news.
Keefe snorted a laugh. You’re cute when you try to be optimistic, Foster. But we both know if I were there, I’d be seeing that little crinkle you get between your eyebrows when you’re worried. You’re reaching up to smooth it right now, aren’t you?
Actually, I’m rolling my eyes. You don’t have to