“And I will ensure that you come home immediately after,” Sandor said from the doorway.

“I’m also still going to let you have this”—Grady handed her a wrapped parcel—“so that you’ll have a way to stay connected to your friends and the Black Swan.”

Sophie peeled back the thick paper and found a new Imparter along with the black case Mr. Forkle had put Keefe’s Imparter in.

“It’s still in there,” Grady explained. “The Black Swan’s Technopath couldn’t trace the signal either.”

Her shoulders slumped.

“Yeah, I know. I was hoping we’d learn something from it too. But try to remember that a dead end is better than any of the awful things that could’ve happened if that listening device had still been active. The Black Swan locked the case so you can’t open it. You’re welcome to throw it away, or smash the whole thing into itty-bitty pieces—”

“I’d be happy to crush it for you,” Sandor offered. “But Mr. Forkle suspected you’d want to hang on to it.”

She did—even though she knew it was silly. Somehow knowing the Imparter still existed made it feel like she might someday discover a secret from it.

“I’m not going to put any restrictions on who you’re allowed to contact,” Grady added. “And I’m willing to let you have your friends visit to work on projects. Despite what you may be thinking, I’m not grounding you because I’m angry. I’m just trying to protect you—even if it means being annoying. I know you’re the moonlark. I’d like to think I’ve been pretty supportive. Didn’t I let you fly off with Silveny to get your abilities fixed? And didn’t I let you run away to join the Black Swan? If you think any of that was easy for me, you overestimate my inner calm. Most days, I want to grab you and Edaline and find somewhere safe to hide until all of this is over. But I know that’s not what you want—and I’m proud of you for being so ready to accept your responsibilities. I just need you to remember that you’re also my daughter, and I’d like to keep you alive.”

“Okay, but . . .”

“But what?” Grady asked, when she didn’t finish.

Sophie stared at the crystal stars that dangled over her bed. “If I hadn’t gone to meet with Keefe, would you have gotten so angry?”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at, kiddo.”

“I mean, if I’d snuck out with Dex or Biana to do something for the Black Swan—or if Fitz and I had left to do some Cognate training—would you have grounded me like this?”

“Of course,” Sandor said.

Grady didn’t look as sure. “That’s not a fair question. None of them are actively involved with our enemies. And none of them have ever sent you home in a panicked, sobbing heap after betraying you.”

“Uh, Biana and I had that huge fight at Foxfire a few months back, remember? I ran home crying and went to the cave to be alone and ended up getting kidnapped—not that Biana had anything to do with that. And Fitz blamed me for what happened to Alden and said all kinds of mean things that made me cry. And that ability restrictor Dex made for the Council was one of the most painful, humiliating things I’ve ever been through.”

“So you want me to be mad at all of your friends?” Grady asked.

“No—I want to know why you’re so much harder on Keefe. Now that you know what he’s been through . . . why won’t you cut him some slack?”

Grady let out a sigh that seemed to drain all the air from his body. “Okay, if you want to have this conversation, I guess we can.”

“What conversation?” Sophie asked.

Grady raised an eyebrow. “About boys.”

FORTY-FIVE

BOYS?” SOPHIE REPEATED, trying to come up with any other meaning for the word besides the one Grady’s raised eyebrow implied.

“Yeah, it’s always awkward to talk about this stuff with your parents,” he told her. “But remember, I went through this with Jolie. I know it’s not easy dealing with . . . feelings.”

“He means crushes,” Sandor clarified, just to add the final nail to her coffin of misery.

“Ugggggggggggghhhhhhh—seriously, why are we talking about this?” Sophie asked, wondering if she could slip past Sandor if she sprinted for the door.

Sandor and Grady shared a look.

“We’re talking about it because you asked why I’m harder on That B—on Keefe,” Grady said.

“He seems to be special to you,” Sandor added. “And he also happens to be a very good-looking boy—for an elf.”

“THIS IS THE WORST EVER!” Sophie shouted, flopping back on her bed and pulling her hair over her face to hide.

“I’m right there with you, kiddo. If I had my way, you wouldn’t get your match lists until you’re at least a hundred. But even if I got my wish on that, I also know that feelings . . . happen.”

“Well, they’re not happening here. He’s. My. Friend.”

“That’s often how it starts,” Sandor said. “And then the friendship turns to teasing and the teasing turns to flirting and—”

“Yeah, but this is Keefe,” Sophie interrupted. “In case you haven’t noticed, he teases everyone. It doesn’t mean anything. Especially with me.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?” Grady asked, glancing at Sandor when she nodded.

“If you guys look at each other like that again I’m going to punch you,” Sophie warned. “And I’m still wearing my Sucker Punch!”

“Look at each other like what?” Sandor asked.

“Like . . . Isn’t she cute?”

“You are cute.” Grady took both of her hands and pulled her back to a sitting position. “And you’re sure there’s nothing you want to tell me? I promise I won’t freak out.”

“Kinda sounds like you would. Not that it matters, but aren’t you basically telling me that you don’t approve of Keefe? Isn’t that why I’m grounded?”

“You’re grounded because you nearly gave me a panic meltdown,” Grady told her. “And it’s not about approval. This is your life. You’ll get to choose who you share it with. But I will say this: Anyone who wants to be special to you should have to prove that they deserve you. Not just Keefe—though he’ll definitely have more of an uphill battle. I’d be saying the same thing if we were talking about someone else. Like . . . oh . . . I don’t know. Dex? Or Fitz?”