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. 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.

Stellarlune by shannon messenger