Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7) QUOTES

181 " Fine. Then how about you use that fancy telekinesis of yours to dangle him upside down by his ankles. Maybe threaten him with a few of those weapons you’re cleaning until he cracks. Or—” “Goodbye, Keefe. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

182 " Super fun. It’s like, ‘Wow—I knew my daddy loved me, but I never realized he was such a big old ball of mush until I got to spend the day soaking up all his fuzzy feelings.’ "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

183 " Fitz sighed. “No, it’s fine. I’m going.” Ro muttered something that sounded a little like “about time,” but they all ignored her. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

184 " I’ll get the Bo-Ro story.” “WOO—now you’re talking! Make sure you push for the really juicy details, too—especially if kissing’s involved. Actually, scratch that—I’ll need to claw out my brain if I have to picture Ro in a slobbery lip-lock.” “Yeah, let’s not go there,” Sophie agreed. “But find out everything else. I’m counting on you, Foster. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

185 " IS IT STRANGE COMING here and not being the one on trial?” Keefe asked, checking his expertly styled blond hair in a shiny facet on one of the jeweled walls before he followed Sophie into Tribunal Hall. “Because I’d be happy to help you break a few laws if you’re feeling left out.” “Me too!” Ro—Keefe’s bodyguard—jumped in. Her pierced nose crinkled as she surveyed the empty auditorium, which was built entirely out of emeralds. “Ugh, you guys have really out-sparkled yourselves with this place. It’s basically begging me to smash something.” “No one will be smashing anything,” Sandor—Sophie’s bodyguard—warned. “Or causing any other problems! "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

186 " Never mind. Elwin said I’m not supposed to tease you.” “We’ll see how long that lasts,” Ro said, shoving her way into the Healing Center. Her eyes scanned Fitz up and down. “So . . . you’re awake.” Fitz nodded. “I am.” “And you’re okay now?” Keefe asked. “Mostly,” Fitz admitted. “Good. Because you were out for a pretty long time, and some people were starting to worry—I mean, not me. I figured you were just playing it up for sympathy, but . . .” He cleared his throat. “Ugh, this is really hard if I can’t make fun of you.” Fitz laughed. “That almost makes it worth it.” “Oh, I’ll find a way,” Keefe promised. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

187 " Exactly,” Sophie agreed. “I mean, we broke into Exile. How hard could it be?” The flames over Marella’s hands cooled back to blue, and her lips pulled into a smile. “You guys should see the looks on your bodyguards’ faces right now. It’s like a contest to see who can give the evilest glare—though your guard doesn’t really look surprised, Biana.” “I’m sure he isn’t,” Biana said, smiling over her shoulder at poor Woltzer. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

188 " Looks like things are about to get interesting here in sparkle town,” Ro said as Fitz held the vial to Sophie’s lips. “Why’s that?” Fitz wondered, blocking Sophie from snatching the vial away. “Because now you can help me write The Ballad of Bo and Ro!” Keefe jumped in. “Did Foster tell you how much they loooooooooooooooooove each other? Step aside, Sandor and Grizel—Bo and Ro are vying for cutest bodyguard couple. And their names rhyme!” “Keep it up,” Ro said, sharpening one of her claws. “I’m going to make you pay for every single joke. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

189 " Come on, kiddo,” Grady said, shaking bits of dried fruit out of his hair and hooking his arm around her. “Let’s get you inside—oh, and let’s not mention how long you’ve been home, okay? If Edaline finds out I didn’t bring you straight in to see her, she’s going to conjure up a pile of mastodon droppings and plop them on my head.” He was teasing, of course. But Edaline actually had threatened a manure attack once—and she was definitely a talented enough Conjurer to make it happen. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

190 " plotting revenge "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

191 " His smile faded. “Yeah. He said Fitz was going to need a friend today.” “He said a lot more than that,” Ro muttered. “Relax, Foster,” Keefe said, shooting Ro a glare before he pointed to the crease that had formed between Sophie’s eyebrows. “No need to get all crinkly on me. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

192 " His words trailed off as Fitz poured the elixir into Sophie’s mouth, and she shook her head, wondering if the sour flavor could make the glands near her ears explode. “Here,” Keefe said, pulling a fresh box of Prattles from his cape pocket. “Wash it down with this.” “We’re good,” Fitz told him, giving Sophie another piece of the snickerdoodle candy. “Wow,” Ro said, elbowing Keefe. “Nothing you want to say about that, Hunkyhair?” “Nope!” But his smile faded when he noticed Sophie’s chain-mail-covered hand. “Don’t worry, Krakie’s safe with me,” Sophie promised. “So are all his friends.” She scooped up the tiny metal animals she’d piled in her lap. “Be glad you weren’t around when Elwin cut through the fabric.” “I’m pretty sure I’m going to have nightmares about the ooze,” Fitz added. Keefe reeled toward Elwin. “You did something oozy without me?” “And me?” Ro added. Elwin laughed. “Don’t worry, there’ll be lots more ooze tomorrow.” “There will?” Sophie whined as Ro stalked forward, poking Elwin in the chest. “You’d better wait until I’m here,” she told him. “Yeah, what time should we arrive to catch the Great Fitzphie Ooze Fest?” Keefe asked. “We’re not calling it that,” Sophie told him. “Oh, I think we are. And don’t worry, Foster,” Keefe added, patting her on the head. “I’ll still love you when you’re oozy. Maybe I should get you a tunic that says Oozemaster.” “Please don’t,” she begged. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

193 " The first verse was a celebration of night--a ballad of dancing shadows and creeping mist and all the tiny, soothing shifts that let the world slip into restful slumber.
But as the lyrics carried on, they curved to an ode to darkness itself. A reminder that there was purpose and power, even in the blackest places. Even to the shadows within herself.
The anger.
And doubts.
And sadness.
The memories that were too painful to replay.
All rang with vulnerability and strength.
And with each new beat--each new pulse--the monster changed shape. Until it wasn't a monster at all. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

194 " You can have Fitzy feed you the rest of these when I’m gone—otherwise I’m going to puke. Right now, we need to find Krakie a new home.” He grabbed a roll of wide gauze from one of the shelves and wrapped it carefully around her left wrist to form a loose-fitting cuff. Then carefully attached each of the pins. “Is that a K ?” Fitz asked, tilting his head to study the new arrangement. Keefe nodded. “Best letter in the whole alphabet! But don’t worry, Foster, this isn’t like when Dizznee gave you those bracelets.” “What bracelets?” Fitz asked. Keefe had the wisdom to look sheepish. “They were . . . a prototype,” Sophie told Fitz. “Dex has been trying to design a gadget to help me control my enhancing, and he needed something to camouflage what they were, so he used some bracelets he’d bought.” Fitz’s eyebrows shot up. “Cloth bracelets?” She was pretty sure he already knew the answer. But even if he did, she’d promised Dex she wouldn’t tell anyone what had happened between them. “It doesn’t matter,” she said quietly. “They . . . didn’t work.” “In more ways than one,” Keefe said under his breath—but Fitz still must’ve heard him. His eyes narrowed. “How do you know so much about it?” Keefe shrugged. “I’m the reigning president of the Foster Fan Club. It’s my job to know these things. But don’t worry, Fitzy, you’re still the runner-up.” If he’d been standing any closer, Sophie would’ve smacked him. But he was just out of her reach. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be teasing Fitz,” Sophie reminded him instead. “I’m not, but . . . he makes it so easy.” Fitz rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I can’t remember why we’re friends.” “Pretty sure everyone wonders that at some point,” Ro pointed out. Keefe flashed the smuggest of smiles. “It’s because I make everything better. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

195 " We should call this one Sophitz, since—let’s face it—Foster’s the real talent when it comes to this kind of thing.” Fitz didn’t argue, but Sophie sighed. “Keefe—” “Hear that, Ro?” he interrupted. “She’s giving me her serious voice.” “And that pout she does, with the big eyes and the little crease between her eyebrows,” Ro noted. “She’s definitely figured out how to use her cuteness against you. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

196 " Keefe grinned. “You’re so adorable when you worry. I’ve told you that, right?” Sophie gave him her best glare, and his smile only widened. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

197 " Part of me still wants to tell her, I’M ONLY FIFTEEN—CAN YOU PLEASE DUMP THIS HUGE RESPONSIBILITY ON SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY’RE DOING? "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

198 " I’ll let that go,” Ro told him, “if you tell me what it was like in my father’s head.” Fitz let out a relieved breath. “Fluffy.” “Like sinking into a giant marshmallow covered in feathers,” Sophie agreed. Ro choked on her laugh. “Okay, I need to figure out how to blackmail him with that.” “Maybe you can get him to reassign Bo,” Sophie suggested. “Yeah, that’s never going to happen. Once my father gets an idea in his head, he can’t let it go.” “What kind of idea?” Keefe asked. “The kind that involves smooching and weddings and little baby prince and princess BoRos?” “Dude, she is seriously going to stab you,” Fitz warned. “No, I’m thinking I’ll tunnel us deep underground and leave him in a dark little hole for a few days,” Ro corrected. “Just him and some of my favorite bacteria.” “Sounds like the perfect place to add more verses to The Ballad of Bo and Ro,” Keefe noted. “He really doesn’t know when to quit, does he?” Ro asked Sophie. “I’m pretty sure it’s a disease,” Fitz told her. “Coping mechanism,” Keefe argued. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

199 " He pointed to a blanket a few feet away, piled with pillows and overstuffed baskets. “Aw, you brought snacks!” Keefe said. Actually, that was Edaline. "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)

200 " So how do you want to do this? Should I sit between you guys, so it’s like a Sophitz sandwich? Or will that make it too hard for all the staring into each other’s eyes? "

― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)