Lodestar Page 104

“Has he said anything yet?” Biana asked, blinking in and out of sight as she wandered Everglen’s upstairs guest bedroom.

Sophie had stayed in the cozy-yet-elegant room several times since she’d moved to the Lost Cities, and it always seemed to happen when things got hard.

“What do we do if he doesn’t respond?” Dex asked.

“Wait until morning and try again,” Sophie mumbled, knowing it would mean a long, sleepless night—though sleep was a lost cause anyway. She hadn’t realized how many hopes she’d rested on the slim excuses Mr. Forkle had given for why Lady Gisela might not be Cyrah’s murderer, until they’d been ripped away.

Is this going to be another one of those nights where you spend the whole time yelling at me to come home? Keefe asked, making her sit up straighter as his thoughts filled her head. Because as much as I love it when you get all feisty on me, now’s really not a good time.

Why? Are you with other people? Sophie asked.

Nope. But I’m working on something that’s kinda time-pressed. And no, I can’t tell you what it is. I don’t want to get your hopes up until I know for sure if this is going to work. So let’s save the lecture for tomorrow.

It’s not a lecture, she transmitted. It’s . . .

Her hands shook, and Biana and Dex scooted closer, offering support.

Hmm, Keefe said. This sounds serious.

It is. I’m really scared it’s going to be too much. But I don’t think you’d want me to keep it secret, so I don’t know what to do.

I take it this means you know about my mom, Keefe thought quietly.

Sophie’s and Fitz’s eyebrows shot up. You know? she asked.

His thoughts felt a little fidgety as he told her, Yeah. Fintan told me a couple of days ago. I didn’t mention it because you’ve been so mad at me. Plus, I was still trying to figure out how I feel about it.

How do you feel about it? Sophie asked.

I still don’t really know. I smashed a few things—and that felt good. And I did a little sulking. But the thing is, it doesn’t actually change anything. I was already done with her long before this.

I guess . . . , Sophie thought, studying Fitz’s expression.

He looked as wary as she felt.

Could Keefe truly be this calm? Or was he a ticking time bomb?

So, she said, scooting away from Dex and Biana, who were elbowing her and Fitz, wanting updates on what was happening. Are you okay with me telling Wylie about this? I promised I’d keep him updated, but I’ll wait if you aren’t ready to have him know.

Why did Wylie ask for updates about my mom?

He didn’t. He asked for updates about his mom.

So what does my mom have to do with his mom?

Sophie frowned. Isn’t that what we’ve been talking about?

I . . . don’t know anymore.

Sourness pooled in her stomach. What exactly did Fintan tell you about your mom?

Why don’t you tell me what you were going to say first?

Fitz squeezed her hand for support as Sophie told Keefe everything they knew about the starstone Marella gave them, and where her mother had found it, and how it had leaped straight into his parents’ bedroom. She even told him about his dad sleeping with Mrs. Stinkbottom at night. And each new fact rumbled around his brain like a thunderstorm.

So she killed her, Keefe said. His mental voice was flat. His mind gray, like the storm was taking over.

It looks that way, Sophie admitted. But technically we still don’t—

Forget it, Foster. You don’t have to make pretend excuses. We both know there’s no way it’s a coincidence that someone found a super-rare starstone leaping straight to my parents’ bedroom at the place where someone died—especially since Gethen knew something about it. And it’s fine. I’m fine. It’s . . . whatever. I’m over it.

No you’re not, she pressed.

No. But I can’t deal with it right now. I’d rather focus on destroying everything she’s built, piece by piece.

An understandable goal. Also a super-reckless one. And proof that the only way they’d ever get Keefe to come home would be to drag him there, kicking and screaming.

So, was that it? he asked. Because I really do need to concentrate.

Sophie was about to let him go when she realized he’d yet to clear up the misunderstanding. What did you think I was going to tell you about your mom?

His mind thundered again, darkening the space between them. I thought you were going to tell me that no one knows where she is anymore. Dimitar went to check on her at the prison, and she’d escaped.

SIXTY-SIX


I’M ASSUMING NO one knows how she escaped, or if someone helped her,” Mr. Forkle said, watching a stringy-looking creature floating in the dimly lit aquarium. Alden had been kind enough to loan them his office again to talk privately.

Mr. Forkle had been at the Redeks’ house when Sophie hailed him with the latest news—resting after giving Marella a second burst of mental energy, since she still hadn’t manifested.

“Who would help her?” Sophie asked.

The Neverseen were the ones who’d locked Lady Gisela away, and there weren’t exactly a lot of other people in the Lost Cities who knew how to pull off an ogre-prison break.

“Has anyone been keeping an eye on Keefe’s dad these last few weeks?” Fitz asked.

“You think Lord Cassius pulled this off?” Biana countered.

“I don’t know. He’s not really a get-his-hands-dirty kind of guy,” Fitz said, which was a tremendous understatement, “but he did suggest a prison break when we talked to him. Plus . . . she’s his wife. Is it so hard to believe he might try to save her?”

“Trying isn’t the same as succeeding,” Biana argued. “Am I really the only one who thinks it sounds impossible?”

“The implausibility of a theory rarely negates its possibility,” Mr. Forkle told her. “Especially since Lord Cassius is quite capable of securing allies. I’ll have our Technopath dig into his registry records and see if he can shake out anything interesting.”

“I can help,” Dex offered.

“Only if it becomes necessary. I don’t want any of us giving this too much of our energy. It’s an unexpected turn of events—even an intriguing one. But not particularly urgent, either.”

“Are you sure?” Sophie asked. “Now we’re not just fighting the Neverseen and the ogres, we’re fighting Lady Gisela and her mysterious supporters too.”

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