Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(8)

“Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine,” Sophie mumbled. “Give me the money. I’ll be right back.”

“We’re coming with you,” Dex said.

“Uh-uh. I’m going to have to be visible to buy something. And together we’d be way too conspicuous.”

“But we’re in costume!” Biana argued.

“Yeah, but you guys will still stand out. I mean . . . look at you. You look like models.”

“Wait, is Foster saying she thinks we’re hot?” Keefe asked.

“I think she is.” And the huge grin dimpling Dex’s cheeks was practically beaming.

Sophie wanted to deny it, but the truth was, elves were way prettier than humans. Even Dex with his messy strawberry blond hair was ten times cuter than any human boy his age.

“I’m just saying you guys will draw a lot of attention,” Sophie said. “Especially since you don’t speak Italian.”

She pointed to two portrait artists sitting in the shade of the Duomo, waving their hands as they talked. As a Polyglot, Sophie could tell they were discussing their favorite soccer teams. But the rest of her friends only spoke the elves’ Enlightened Language. Fitz knew a little English from his time searching for her, but that wouldn’t get him far in Italy.

“Sophie’s right. The less we’re all seen, the better. But I’m going with her.” Fitz handed Keefe the obscurer and snatched some money from Dex. “No one wanders off alone.”

“Fine.” Sophie was still mad at him, but they also needed to talk.

“I can’t believe we’re wasting time on this,” she said as Fitz followed her through the crowds of tourists. It was so strange to see gray hair and wrinkles and glasses and canes after so much time around the ageless elves.

“I get that we’re in danger,” Fitz said. “But that’s why I thought this was a good idea.” He scooted closer, lowering his voice as they passed a group of girls ogling him. “I mean . . . aren’t you worried about how everyone’s holding up? Biana seems really nervous, doesn’t she? And Keefe is barely keeping it together. I’m sure Dex has to be freaking out too. So if gelato makes them happy, don’t you think that’s worth it?”

“I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” she admitted. “But still, we’d have more time for things like gelato if you’d told me what the Black Swan’s instructions were before we left and let me work on solving the riddle.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to drive you crazy. I was worried you’d sneak away without us if I told you.”

The thought had crossed her mind—several times . . .

“I just want to keep everyone safe,” she mumbled.

“I know. So do I. And yet we’re both making it worse. So why don’t we stop trying to do it all on our own and start acting like a team?”

He held out his hand, and Sophie reluctantly shook it, feeling slightly gleeful when the ogling girls gasped.

Her smile faded as she remembered the other subject they needed to cover. “So, um . . . if we’re really going to be a team, don’t you think you should tell me what you saw in my mind?”

“I didn’t see as much as you’re probably thinking,” Fitz said carefully, “and I couldn’t understand it, anyway.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s hard to explain. I ended up in this crazy place Mr. Forkle called your emotional center. Now I get why Keefe’s always talking about how intense your emotions are. It was super overwhelming.”

“And that was where you were when Mr. Forkle said, ‘Remember this place. You may need it’?”

Fitz nodded. “He didn’t say why, though.”

“Of course not.” That wasn’t how Mr. Forkle worked. He was the only member of the Black Swan she’d met in person, but she still knew nothing about him. Even his name was a fake human identity he’d created to disguise himself as her next-door neighbor.

She wanted to ask Fitz more, but she’d spotted a small gelateria at the end of the alley.

“Think we should ask the shopkeeper if she knows about the Path of the Privileged?” Fitz asked as they peeked through the windows.

“I doubt she knows,” Sophie said. “But it’s worth a try.”

Her mouth watered as they made their way inside and studied the shiny bins heaped with sculpted mounds of colorful gelato. Every flavor looked amazing, so Sophie took the shopkeeper’s advice and ordered five cups of the melone.

“Okay, I don’t know what’s in this,” Fitz said as he took a heaping spoonful, “but it might be better than mallowmelt.”

Sophie wasn’t sure anything could beat the gooey cookie-cake thing elves made—but the gelato did come pretty close.

“Can you think of anywhere that could be called the Path of the Privileged?” Fitz asked the shopkeeper, his accent even crisper with the English words.

When the Shopkeeper didn’t answer, Sophie repeated the question in Italian, adding, “It’s for a school assignment. Our teachers have us doing a scavenger hunt, and that’s one of the clues they gave us.”

“I bet your teacher wants you to learn on your own, not let adults do your work for you,” the shopkeeper said, wagging her finger. “But since you at least spoke to me in my language, I will tell you that your teacher probably means the Vasari Corridor.”