Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(40)

“No it’s not—not after what she’s done.”

“She’s still your mom, no matter how angry you are.”

“I’m more than angry, Sophie. I’m . . . I don’t know what the word is. But I don’t care what happens to her.”

“Then why are you crying?” She reached up to wipe his cheek and showed him the tear on her finger.

“I . . .” The rest of his words twisted into a sob.

Sophie held him tightly, letting him soak the shoulder of her tunic with tears. She wondered if Fitz had felt this helpless when she’d done the same thing to him. He’d seemed so strong and steady that day, when he’d taken her from her human family. She wished she could be the same for Keefe.

“We don’t know anything for sure yet,” she repeated.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t even know what I’m rooting for.”

“You don’t have to root for anything. But as much as you hate her, part of you still loves her. So whatever happens, you’re going to have to grieve.”

“Not if I can help it.” Keefe pulled away. His eyes were red and puffy, but they seemed dry now as he turned back to the river.

“Want me to leave you alone?” Sophie asked.

Keefe nodded. “Actually, no. It’s not good for me to be alone right now. I’ll do something stupid. I need . . . I don’t know what I need. Just don’t go.”

Sophie stayed.

Keefe leaned his head against her shoulder and Sophie counted his breaths, considering what a strange thing grief turned out to be.

Grady and Edaline closed themselves off.

Fitz pushed everyone away.

She couldn’t figure out how Keefe was handling it all yet. But she was glad he wanted her to stay.


Their houses were dark by the time Sophie and Keefe returned from the river, and Keefe clung to her hand until the last possible second. She tried to think of something to tell him, something that might help him sleep. The best she could come up with was, “If you need me, throw something at my window.”

Keefe tried to smile, but it looked too painful. “See you tomorrow, Foster.”

Then he was gone.

The girls’ house was quiet when Sophie crept into the main room. She’d missed dinner and bedtime, but it didn’t matter. Eating and sleeping were definitely out of the question.

“How’s he doing?” Biana’s voice asked as soon as Sophie set foot in her bedroom.

She bit back her scream as Biana appeared in the shadows.

“Sorry,” Biana said. “I couldn’t sleep.”

She followed Sophie over to her bed and they both sat on the edge. Neither of them bothered to turn on the lights.

Sophie knew she should probably tell Biana everything was fine. But she went with the truth. “I think this is going to change him.”

“Me too,” Biana whispered. “So . . . what do we do?”

“I don’t know,” Sophie admitted. “Somehow we’ll have to find out the truth. Keefe is going to need answers—or closure. In the meantime, we’ll have to keep him together.”

Seconds passed before Biana said, “I can’t believe the Neverseen would do that.”

Sophie couldn’t either, which was the scariest part. She’d known their enemies were dangerous, but this was a whole other level of evil.

Lady Gisela was one of their leaders, and they’d tortured her and imprisoned her—maybe murdered her. So what would the ogres and Neverseen do to them, if they were ever captured?

“Is it okay if I sleep in here tonight?” Biana asked, the tremble in her voice hinting that she shared Sophie’s worries.

“Sure,” Sophie whispered.

She got up to change into her pajamas, and by the time she’d brushed her teeth, Biana had already crawled under the covers. The bed was so big she could barely tell anyone else was there. But the soft sound of Biana’s breathing made the room feel warmer.

She’d thought Biana was asleep, until Biana asked, “We’re going to stop them, right?”

Sophie stared at the wall, her mind flashing through all the losses they’d suffered.

Kenric. Jolie. Prentice. The dwarves on Mount Everest. Maybe Lady Gisela.

She had a horrible feeling there would be more casualties before this was over. But she was sure of one thing. “Yes, we’re going to stop them.”





SEVENTEEN


MR. FORKLE SAT ALONE with Della when Biana and Sophie made their way down to breakfast. The tight line of his frown told them he’d already been given a thorough update.

“I’ve asked Sior to help Lur and Mitya,” he said, handing them each a bowl of green porridge.

“That’s one of the gnomes we met the first day, right?” Biana asked.

Mr. Forkle nodded. “This forest will miss him, but Calla feels confident she can cover his absence. And I think it’s important we get answers quickly, don’t you?”

“I do,” Keefe said, striding across the bridge with Dex and Fitz right behind him. “And I have a plan.”

“Do you, now?” Mr. Forkle asked, studying Keefe closer.

The bruiselike dark circles under Keefe’s eyes made it clear he hadn’t slept. But Sophie was much more concerned about the state of his hair.