Sophie sighed, leaning back to stare at the ceiling. She hadn’t noticed the skylights scattered around the room, or how their thick blue glass made it feel like she was peering up at the sky from somewhere deep underwater—which wasn’t a helpful observation. It made the tightness in her chest feel even more like she was drowning. “I guess… it’s just hitting me that we’re really doing this. We’re really trying to find my biological parents.”
“That’s what you want, isn’t it?” Keefe asked.
She nodded.
Then shook her head.
“No. I need to know who they are. But… if I didn’t… I’d be good with just pretending they don’t exist. And the thought of maybe having to face them someday makes me sick.”
“Yeah, I got that when you almost blacked out on me. And I think my stomach’s going to need a week to recover from all of this. But don’t apologize,” he added when she was about to do just that. “You’re allowed to freak out—this is a huge thing.”
“It is,” Sophie mumbled, relieved he understood. “We’re trying to find the people who volunteered to give up their DNA so their child could be turned into some freak—”
“You’re not a freak,” Keefe interrupted. “You’re special. There’s a huge difference.”
She shrugged, not sure if she should agree to that.
But she really wished she could.
“Either way, they didn’t know how I’d turn out when they signed me up for this,” she argued. “For all they knew, I could’ve ended up with two heads or three arms or something.”
“Ohhhhhh, that would’ve been amazing!” Ro jumped in. “The Black Swan should totally make that happen someday!”
“I’m pretty sure everyone involved with Project Moonlark trusted that Forkle knew what he was doing,” Keefe said, ignoring his bodyguard. “He’s supersmart when he’s not being all curmudgeon-y.”
“Maybe. But it still seems like my parents can’t be very awesome people if they were willing to gamble like that with their kid. Especially since they also knew how dangerous this would be.”
Keefe hesitated a second before he reached for her gloved hand. “I definitely know how it feels to have a not-so-awesome family. But like you’re always telling me, that doesn’t change anything about you. And… I have a feeling your biological parents signed up for this because they knew Project Moonlark was going to create something amazing, and they wanted to be a part of it, even if they had to do it secretly and trust the Black Swan to keep their daughter safe.”
“I hope you’re right,” she whispered, and silence settled between them—until Keefe started to pull his hand away. She tightened her hold, needing that extra bit of support to ask, “Do you think I already know them?”
Keefe chewed his lip. “I kinda feel like Forkle might’ve tried to avoid that. Most people can’t pull off hiding something so huge.”
“I guess that’s true.” She sucked in a steadying breath before she could admit, “I think… I’m going to hate them. Especially if I have met them and they’ve pretended like I’m nobody. That’s the part I’m dreading. If it’s someone I thought I liked…”
“I get that,” Keefe told her. “But… you found a way to make it work with Forkle, right? After you found out he wasn’t just the nosy old human guy who lived next door like you thought, you figured out how to deal with him as your ‘creator.’ And Calla was part of Project Moonlark, and you two were super close. So… I’m not saying it won’t be weird at first, but with a little time it might get easier.”
“Maybe. But this feels bigger than all of that, you know? I mean, they’re my biological parents. They were supposed to love me. And I know how awful I sound right now, since I’ve gotten to live with two super-awesome families and you’ve been stuck with your mom and dad. I realize how lucky I am. And I shouldn’t need anything else. I just… it’s hard to explain.”
“I get what you mean, though,” Keefe told her, twining their fingers together. “And I wish I was better at the whole ‘saying smart stuff’ thing. But… whether you know your biological parents, or don’t know them, like them, hate them—whatever—I know you’ll find a way to get through this. It’s one of the things I’m always jealous of about you. You just… handle stuff. No running away or making a bunch of huge mistakes. Somehow you keep your head clear and just dig in and deal. It’s pretty amazing.”
A smile peeked out of the corners of Sophie’s lips. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “And if you need any help, I’m here.”
“I may take you up on that,” she told him, clinging to him a little tighter before she forced herself to let go of his hand. She sat up straighter. “I guess we should get back to plan A, huh?”
Keefe grabbed the blue notebook and pen, tapping his fingers against the blank lists he’d created.
Tap tap tap tap.
“You know, Foster,” he said quietly, “you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… I can feel how much you’re dreading it—and I don’t blame you for that. So… if you want to keep one unsolved mystery about your past, I just want to make sure you know that no one will judge you.”
She frowned. “Pretty sure they will.”
Keefe sighed. “If you’re worrying about all the matchmaking crud—don’t. No one’s going to care that you’re unmatchable. At least not anyone who matters.”
“Yes, they will,” she argued. “You know they will. Especially…”
She couldn’t bring herself to use the name.
Keefe looked away, tapping the notebook harder—tap tap tap tap tap—before he blurted out, “Fitz’ll get over it.”
Ro sighed super loudly, but Keefe shook his head and turned back to Sophie. “I’m his best friend. I know these things. I mean, he’s Fitz, so yeah, odds are he’ll need a little time to get used to everything—and I’ll be right there to make sure he doesn’t say something he regrets while he’s adjusting. But he’s liked you for a really long time—longer than he even realizes. So trust the Empath—a piece of paper with or without your name on it isn’t going to change that. Fitz has also had to deal with being related to Alvar, so he’ll understand why you might not feel ready to go exploring the sketchier parts of your biological family tree.”
Sophie wanted to scoop up the words and hug each and every one of them—and then hug Keefe for being sweet enough to say them.
But that didn’t mean she believed him.
“Come on, Keefe. We both know I’m already the weird human girl with the wrong color eyes who keeps getting caught up in a ton of drama. The whole time I’ve lived here, people have blamed me for the bad stuff that’s been happening and threatened to banish or exile me. So if I’m also unmatchable—and someone dates me anyway? It’ll be like… the scandal of the century.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. “But that won’t matter to anyone who cares about you. It won’t,” he insisted, before she could argue. “And honestly… don’t you think that’s how it should be?”
Yes.
She really did.
But she’d also been through enough to know that life didn’t always work out the way it should.
“The thing is,” she said quietly, scraping together a truth she rarely even admitted to herself, “I’m not sure if I can handle the drama of being unmatchable either. I know you think I’m a pro at dealing with stuff, but… I’m tired of always being the exception to everything. All I’ve ever wanted to do is belong. And having my name on match lists feels like the best proof I’ll ever have that I really am supposed to be here, you know? It’s not just about crushes and dating.”
Keefe studied her for a long second, like he was testing her resolve. Then he held up the blue journal. “Okay. On with plan A, then! But I agree with Gigantor. You need to rest. No offense, but… you look super wiped—and by the way, I’m going to need more info on the whole Bangs-Boy-stirring-up-your-echoes thing so I know how hard
I need to smack Tammy the next time I see him. But we’ll get to that later. Right now, you’re going home, and I’ll stop by tomorrow with the lists so we can start working on a strategy.”
Sophie shook her head. “Uh, to quote you, ‘There’s no way you’re investigating my past without me.’ ”
He smirked. “Yeah, that argument’s going to work about as well for you as it did for me. And come on, Foster, do you really think you’re up for spending hours brainstorming bio-mommy-and-daddy names? You almost passed out after two minutes—and I’d probably do the same thing. This is rough stuff. And you’re already beat. So let me help. All I’m doing is making lists.”
Her stubborn side wanted to keep arguing, but annoyingly he was right. “Fine. But you better not show those lists to anybody, or talk to anyone on them without me.”
“Don’t worry, Blondie. I won’t let him screw this up,” Ro promised.
“Does that mean we’re leaving?” Sandor asked, holding out his hand.
Sophie stood and fished out her home crystal. “Yeah, I guess it does.”
But when she looked over at Keefe and thought about the roller coaster of complicated conversations they’d just been through, she couldn’t leave quite yet. Not without doing one more thing.
And she didn’t care if it was awkward. Or what anyone might think.
She leaned over, pulling Keefe into the tightest hug possible, and whispered, “Thank you.”
It took him a second to hug her back, and his arms felt a little stiff. But his breath was warm in her ear as he told her, “Anytime, Foster. I’m always here.”
* * *
“Everything okay?” Edaline asked, running over to where Sophie and Sandor had arrived in the Havenfield pastures, and Sophie briefly wondered why her mom was covered in verminion fur—but forgot about it when Edaline added, “Flori told me what’s going on—or everything she knew, anyway.”
“I’ll tell you the rest,” Sandor said, steering Sophie toward the front door.
Sophie locked her knees. “No, you won’t!”
“You and I both know you don’t have the energy to go through the whole conversation again,” Sandor argued. And when Sophie still didn’t relent, he leaned down and whispered, “Don’t fight me on this, and I’ll keep your matchmaking secrets—though you’re going to need to fill her in soon, now that you’ve involved Keefe and the princess.”
“I know,” she whispered back, needing a quick eyelash tug to settle her nerves. “And fine. But I have one question first—then I’ll go to bed.”
Sandor’s sigh-growl made her ears ring.
But he let her turn back to Edaline and ask, “Is Grady still with the Council?”
Edaline nodded. “But only because he went back to warn them after I shared what Flori told me about Gethen probing Tam’s memories. And she was able to get ahold of the Black Swan as well, in case you’re wondering. Mr. Forkle said he’ll let you know how they’re going to manage the situation once he’s gotten a few things in motion. I’m sure the Council will have lots of questions about what Tam knows when you meet with them tomorrow too.”
Sophie’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m meeting with the Council tomorrow?”
“You are. They’ve asked you to come to Eternalia at midday.”
Sophie waited for her to add more, but Edaline had busied herself with brushing the shaggy purple fur off the front of her tunic in slow, methodical strokes. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course! I just feel like I should wait for Grady to be home before I say anything else.” She stole a quick glance at Sophie. “But you’re not going to let it go now that I’ve said something, are you?”
“You know me well,” Sophie agreed.
“Fine,” Edaline decided. “But I’ll only tell you after you’ve showered, gotten into bed, and let me bring you something to eat—and I’ve had a chance to get some updates from Sandor. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”
It was Sophie’s turn to sigh-growl.
But she knew a losing battle when she saw one. So she hurried inside and took what might’ve been the fastest shower she’d ever taken in her entire life. Her pajamas were bunched all weird as she stumbled into bed, because she’d tugged them on over her still-damp skin, and her hair was probably sticking out in a hundred directions. But she didn’t care, because meeting with the Council was rarely a good thing.
And meeting with them in Eternalia had her brain screaming, DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!
“So what does the Council want?” she asked as Edaline snapped her fingers, making a tray appear in her lap filled with colorful, mushy foods that would taste way better than they looked.
“Take a few bites first,” Edaline told her, which wasn’t technically part of their deal. But it was easier to snarf down a few spoonfuls of pinkish-greenish goo than to argue—and bonus, it tasted like the most amazing macaroni and cheese.
Edaline sighed and sat beside her, tucking a soggy strand of Sophie’s hair behind her ear.
“The Council has agreed to share the classified details of Grady’s dwarven assignments with you. But only if you agree to work with them in a more official capacity, so that they can demand you take proper responsibility.”
Sophie paused with the spoon halfway to her mouth. “Do I want to know what a ‘more official capacity’ means?”
“You do. It’s good news—though it’s definitely also a little strange and might take some adjusting.” Edaline’s smile was somehow equal parts proud and wary as she added, “It means they want to appoint you as a Regent in the nobility.”
SIX
REGENT,” SOPHIE REPEATED.
“You have no idea what that means, do you?” Edaline guessed, smoothing another strand of Sophie’s wild post-shower hair.
“Not really,” Sophie admitted.
She knew Vika Heks was a Regent, and that Regents were technically less “important” than Emissaries. But she honestly didn’t know what being an Emissary meant either—despite Grady having the title.
All nobility-related stuff fell into the category of Weird Elf-y Things She Didn’t Understand. She’d been forced to accept the fact that she was probably always going to be playing catch-up when it came to knowledge about the Lost Cities.
But she did remember one important detail. “I thought someone had to complete the elite levels at Foxfire before they could be part of the nobility.”
“Normally that’s true,” Edaline agreed. “To be offered the title at your age is unprecedented.”
“Oh good.” So she’d get to have everyone grumbling about how she wasn’t qualified for that kind of fancy status—and she couldn’t even blame them for being upset.
The Talentless weren’t allowed to join the nobility, in part because they couldn’t take part in the elite levels without manifesting a special ability. So why should the weird girl raised by humans get to skip ahead?
Yes, she did have a special ability—five of them, actually. But once people found out that she was unmatchable…
“I promise, this is good news,” Edaline said as Sophie scooted her tray to the foot of the bed so she could curl her knees into her chest and become a Sophie-ball. “I know it sounds intimidating. But it really might be the best way to protect the dwarves—and Tam—from whatever the Neverseen are planning.”
Maybe it was.
But Sophie doubted that would matter once she was caught up in some huge gossipy scandal.
“Will you please tell me what’s wrong?” Edaline asked, leaning down to make Sophie look at her. “I know this isn’t just about becoming a Regent.”
Lying was tempting.
As was ignoring.
But Sandor was right. Now that Keefe and Ro knew her secret, it was only a matter of time before the truth was “out there”—and her parents needed to know, in case she was right about all the ways being unmatchable would ruin her life.
So she reached for Ella, needing something to hide her face behind as she force
d herself to explain what had really happened in Atlantis.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Edaline whispered, pulling Sophie into her lap and hugging her as tight as she could. “Please don’t cry—it’s going to be okay.”
“Sorry,” Sophie mumbled, hating herself for getting all sniffly. She’d held it together pretty well with Keefe and Mr. Forkle. But for some reason, saying it to her mom made her a puddle of snot and tears.
“Don’t be sorry,” Edaline told her, wiping Sophie’s cheeks. “I’m sorry that life always has to be so complicated for you. I was really hoping it wouldn’t come to this.”
Sophie pulled back to study her. “Wait. You knew I’d be unmatchable too?”
She was officially starting to hate everybody. And herself. And the world. And—
“I didn’t,” Edaline assured her, reaching out to brush away more of Sophie’s tears. “But… I guess Grady’s been worried for a while. He never mentioned it to me until you started avoiding your friends after we got back from Atlantis.”
“I’d been holding out hope that the Black Swan had provided your genetic information to the matchmakers,” Grady said from the doorway, making both Sophie and Edaline jump, “since their records are far more secure than the registry.”
“They are?” Sophie asked, swiping at her runny nose and wishing she had a tissue.
Edaline snapped her fingers, conjuring up a silky handkerchief for her. “Controlling who people marry is fraught with challenges—as you well know. And the Council needs people to trust the system without question. So only the matchmakers themselves are allowed to know anything about their process, or the reasons behind their specific decisions. No one can access their own file, or the file of anyone else.”
“That’s why I kept hoping their record for you might be complete,” Grady added as he made his way over to the bed, “but I should’ve known the Black Swan wouldn’t take any risks. I don’t understand why they’re keeping your genetic parents secret, but I’m sure they have their reasons. Hopefully someday they’ll share them. In the meantime”—he pulled Sophie and Edaline into a family group hug—“I need you to know that as far as your mom and I are concerned, this changes nothing. You’re amazing. We love you. And we will support whatever decisions you make. Okay?”
Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities Book 8) Page 10