Home > Work > Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)
41 " I don’t want another bodyguard. I want you. "
― Shannon Messenger , Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #7)
42 " Relax, Foster,” Keefe said, squeezing her good hand and lacing their fingers together. “You okay there?” he whispered. She nodded, not quite ready to use her voice. Not ready to let go of his hand, either. "
43 " What?” Sophie asked, wiping under her lashes when she noticed Keefe staring. “Did I smudge it?”“No, Foster. You look... perfect. "
44 " She steeled herself for a serious shock of cold- but the reality was a thousand times more miserable. “Aw, those little shrieking sounds you’re making are super adorable,” Keefe told her. “Ready to punch me yet?”“S-splashing y-you s-sounds b-better,” she said through chattering teeth. “I suppose. But we both know I’ll splash you back- and then you’ll retaliate, because you may look all sweet and innocent, but you have a feisty streak. And then it’ll be an ice-water war, and Elwin will ban me from the Healing Center and you’ll be lost without my visits, and Id rather not make you suffer like that. "
45 " I was already planning to have us start with telekinesis, since that’s what got Foster all swoons about my skills in the first place.”“I didn’t get swoons,” Sophie felt the need to point out. “Keep telling yourself that, Foster. Keeeeeeeeeep telling yourself that. "
46 " And you can keep the pin.”“Uh-uh, it’s yours.”“But you want it.”“And I want you to have it! So how about we call him ours? Will name Krakie, and he can live right here.” He pointed to the bandage covering her right hand. “That way Krakie can protect you from the echo – not that you need protection. He’ll just be your backup.” 246His smile softened into something that made Sophie’s cheeks warm. And her heart seem to trip over itself as he leaned close and carefully pinned Krakie to the back of her hand, right in the center. His palm rested over her is when he finished, and she got the sense that there was something he wasn’t saying. But then his eyes skipped past her, landing on Fitz for a beat before he shifted his focus. "
47 " He reached up to wipe a crumb off her lips, and she forgot how to breath for a second— “I’m still glad I was there. If I hadn’t been...”He didn’t finish. But he didn’t need to. And she was glad he’d been there too. "
48 " Embrace the sparkles, Foster,” Keefe told her. “They look good on you.”Any other day she might’ve blushed. "
49 " Keefe grinned. “You’re adorable when you worry. I’ve told you that, right?”Sophie gave him her best glare, but his smile only widened. "
50 " The teasing tone faded from his voice, replaced with something that made Sophie very aware of how close they were standing. "
51 " I believe in the all-powerful Fitzphie! Actually, you know what? We should call this one Sophitz, since-let’s face it-Foster’s the real talent when it comes to this sort of thing. "
52 " So is it strange coming here and not being the one on trial?” Keefe asked, “Because I’d be happy to help you break a few laws if you’re feeling left out. "
53 " Keefe smirked. “If I’m right, you have to call me Lord Hunkyhair from now on.”Sophie shook her head. “You guys are terrible.”“That’s why you love us!” Keefe draped his arm around her shoulders. "
54 " You okay?” Keefe asked, flicking a strand of her blonde hair to get her attention. “And before you answer, remember: You’re talking to an Empath. Plus, you’ve already pulled put two eyelashes since we got here, and I can tell you’re dying to go for a third.”She was. "
55 " She was a girl with strange abilities and a different way of looking at the world. What she decided to do with these things was up to her. "
56 " Sophie stomach growled, and she gave herself three seconds to imagine it-to picture what it would be like to creep through the shimmering halls when they were empty and quiet and dark and see all the hidden places Keefe had discovered. But...“Don’t you go shaking that adorable little head at me, Foster,” Keefe said before she could get a word out. "
57 " We have too many villains,” Sophie said through a sigh. Keefe snorted. “You’re not wrong. "
58 " I know we’ve done stuff, Foster. But it’s not even close to enough. And the scariest thing is how little we know. I mean... I can’t even tell you if I’ve gotten back all the memories my mom erased. Meanwhile they know everything about us: where we live, where we go to school, what our abilities are, who our friends and family are, how to find us- do you need me to keep going? Because we both know I can. "
59 " And you can keep the pin.”“Uh-uh, it’s yours.”“But you want it.”“And I want you to have it! So how about we call him ours? Will name Krakie, and he can live right here.” Keefe pointed to the bandage covering her right hand. “That way Krakie can protect you from the echo – not that you need protection. He’ll just be your backup. "
60 " Now I know why Bianas ready to start stabbing things. "