Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(107)

“Marty.” Sophie was surprised at the way her voice caught. He used to sleep on her pillow every night, even though his big fluffy body stole most of the space for her head.

“Tam and Linh aren’t a cat,” Sophie said. “And I don’t want to keep them. I just thought . . . we have these huge houses, and plenty of food, and they’re really talented, and—”

“And it’s a phenomenally bad idea,” Mr. Forkle finished. “They know nothing of our organization, or the sacrifice it requires. We need members who are committed and understand the heavy responsibility, not who are looking for a good meal and warm bed.”

“But—”

He held up his hand, silencing her next argument and making her realize how very quiet her friends were being.

None of them had said a single word in Tam and Linh’s defense. In fact, they all seemed to be avoiding her eyes.

“I’m not saying we won’t help them,” Mr. Forkle added. “I’ll make arrangements to ensure they have food and safe shelter. But it won’t have anything to do with the Black Swan. Nor should you tell them anything about us.”

Awkward silence followed, and haunted Sophie the rest of the night. Even after she went to bed, the quiet of her room made her twitchy.

So she nearly jumped out of her skin when Silveny transmitted, FRIEND?

Is everything okay? Sophie asked. This was the first time Silveny had been the one to reach out to her.

OKAY! Silveny promised. SOPHIE OKAY?

Sophie tried to convince her she was fine, but Silveny could feel her mood, and after some coaxing, Sophie found herself telling Silveny everything. She knew it was silly—she doubted the alicorn could translate half the words she was saying. And yet, Silveny understood enough to transmit, SOPHIE. GOOD. FRIEND.

Maybe, Sophie thought. Though she wasn’t so sure. She kept thinking about how ready she’d been to endanger Tam and Linh’s lives by bringing them into the Black Swan. She’d already separated her friends from their families and gotten them banished. When would she stop putting people at risk? Even Silveny had endured major changes as a result of their friendship. Before they met, the alicorn had been free to explore the world. Now she was stuck in the Sanctuary, unable to teleport through the mountain walls.

NO, Silveny insisted. HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY!

She filled Sophie’s mind with memories of Sophie petting her. Caring for her. Protecting her. Flying with her.

AND KEEFE! Silveny added. AND GREYFELL!

More memories flooded Sophie’s head of Silveny’s life at the Sanctuary—everything clean and comfortable and cared for.

Plenty of food.

Plenty to do.

Flying with Greyfell. Chasing Greyfell. Playing with Greyfell.

Wait—that wasn’t playing. . . .

“Gah!” Sophie said, shoving the last images out of her mind. TMI, Silveny. Too. Much. Information!

She knew it was supposed to be a natural, beautiful thing. But ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

TRUST, Silveny told her. FRIEND. SHARE.

That’s okay—you don’t have to share anymore, I’m good!

But Silveny had something she needed to tell Sophie. A new word she’d learned, even though Sophie had never taught it to her.

BABY.





FIFTY-TWO


SILVENY’S PREGNANT,” SOPHIE told her friends when she joined them for breakfast.

Fitz dropped his fork. “Are you sure?”

“Oh yeah,” Sophie mumbled, sinking into the chair next to him. “She showed me. . . .”

“GAH!” everyone said.

Keefe pushed his plate away. “I’m done with food forever.”

“Me too,” Dex agreed.

“Me three,” Biana said.

“Seriously, that is one batch of memories you do not have to share with me,” Fitz told Sophie. “I don’t care if it’s part of our Cognate training.”

“But it’s still huge,” Biana added. “Do you know how far along she is?”

“I’m guessing it’s new, since the last few times I transmitted to her she didn’t mention anything about—”

“STOP!” Keefe held up his hands. “Ground rules for this conversation: All talk of alicorn baby-making is off the table—got it? Otherwise I’ll have to rip my ears off. And for the record, I do not want to be there when Baby Glitterbutt arrives.”

“Me either,” Fitz said. “My dad made me go to the Hekses’ unicorn preserve for a delivery one time.” He shuddered. “Who knew they came out so slimy?”

“Ew, dude,” Keefe said. “I did not need to know that. Can we talk about something else? Anything else?”

“Does anyone know how long alicorns stay pregnant for?” Sophie asked.

Biana shook her head. “We’ve never had a baby alicorn before. But I’m pretty sure unicorns are pregnant for eleven months. So maybe it’s the same?”

“Do you think Silveny knows?” Fitz asked. “If her instincts are telling her she’s pregnant, maybe they’ll also tell her how it’s going to work.”

“I guess I can ask. It was hard to get information out of her. All she wanted to tell me about was—”

“STOP!” Keefe said.