Shannon Messenger - Everblaze (Book 3)

For Faith,

Because I would be lost without my Book Babe

PREFACE

T HE MIRROR SLIPPED FROM SOPHIES hands, landing on the petal-covered carpet with the softest thud.

Both sides of the glass survived the crash without cracking. But inside, Sophie shattered.

She kept a smile plastered across her lips as she listened to the rest of the story, searching for the tiniest detail or clue that would rule out the terrifying possibility.

But by the end she knew.

All this time.

All these wasted, hopeless days.

Her kidnapper had been right in front of her.

Watching.

Waiting.

Hiding in plain sight.

All the signs had been there. Shed just been too blind to see them.

And now, it was too late.

ONE

W HAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Keefe shouted over the howling wind and the roaring sea. Dont tell me the great Sophie Foster is afraid.

Im just trying to concentrate! Sophie shouted back, wishing her voice didnt sound so shaky.

Not that she could fool him.

As an Empath, Keefe could feel the terror coursing through her veins like a herd of stampeding mastodons. All she could do was tug out an itchy eyelashher nervous habitand try not to think about how very far down the ocean was.

You should be afraid, Sandor told her in his strange, squeaky voice. He placed a gray gobliny hand on Sophies shoulder and pulled her back from the edge of the cliff. There has to be a safer way to teleport.

There isnt.

Most of the time Sophie was grateful to have the constant protection of a burly bodyguardespecially since her kidnappers had proven they could find her anytime, anywhere.

But sometimes she had to take risks.

She shrugged off Sandors handwhich took quite a lot of effort, considering he was seven feet tall with biceps like giant bouldersand inched forward, reminding herself that she liked teleporting better than light leaping. Despite the nexuses she had clamped on each wrist, or the force fields they created to hold her body together during a leap, shed faded too many times to truly feel safe.

Still, she wished free-falling wasnt an essential part of teleporting.

Want me to push you? Keefe offered, laughing as Sophie jerked away from him. Come on, itll be funfor me, at least.

Dex snorted behind them. And he gets to go with you today.

Uh, more like she gets to go with me , Keefe corrected, flashing his trademark smirk. Go on, tell Dex who the Council contacted first.

Only because your dads in charge of arranging visits to the Sanctuary now, Sophie reminded him.

Eh, firsties is still firsties. Just admit it, Foster. You need me.

Sophie wished she could argue, but unfortunately the Council did want Keefe to go with her. Apparently Silveny was having some sort of trouble at her new home in the elves special animal preserve, and since Sophie and Keefe each had a connection with the precious alicorn, the Council had asked both of them to head to the Sanctuary immediately.

The Councillors had to be pretty concerned if they were willing to rely on Keefe....

Im sorry, Dex, Sophie said, trying not to worry. You know Id bring you if I could.

Dex smiledbut not enough to show his dimplesas he went back to playing with the lock shed asked him to open.

Sophie hadnt wanted to tell him she was going with Keefe, afraid it would make Dex feel left out again. But with Grady off on a classified assignment, and Edaline helping rescue a verminiona rottweiler-size, purple, hamsteresque creaturebefore humans found it, Sophie needed a Technopath to get past the Cliffside gate.

If it makes you feel better, Sandors not allowed to come either, she added, regretting the words as Sandor reeled on them.

Yes, and its completely absurd! Im supposed to be protecting younot banned from entering because of arbitrary new rules!

Hey, even my dads not allowed to go with us. But dont worryKeefe draped an arm across Sophies shouldersIll take care of her for you.

Sophie wasnt sure who groaned louder, her or Dex.

Sandor grabbed Keefes shoulders, lifting him off the ground. If I find even one scratch on her

Whoa, easy there, Gigantor, Keefe said, kicking the air, trying to squirm free. Im not going to let anything happen to her. But lets not forget that this is Sophie were talking about. Odds are, were going to need an Elwin visit.

Even Dex had to laugh at that one.

Sophie glared at all of them.

It wasnt her fault shed set a record number of visits to the Healing Center at school, plus a ton of additional house calls from Elwin. She didnt choose to have a deadly allergy, or genetically enhanced abilities she couldnt always control. And she definitely didnt ask to have a group of rebels trying to kill herwhich was probably why she should listen to Sandor and not leave his sight.

Well be fine, she promised, tucking her blond hair behind her ears and trying to sound more confident than she felt. I can teleport us directly inside the Sanctuary, and securitys been tripled since Silveny moved in.

And you will come straight home afterward, Sandor added, waiting for Keefe to nod before setting him down. I want you back here in an hour.

Aw, come on, Keefe whined as he adjusted his dark blue cape. We havent seen Silveny in two weeks.

Sophie smiled.

She never wouldve guessed that Keefe could get so attached to a sparkly, winged horse. But he seemed to miss Silveny as much as she did. Maybe more, since he didnt get stuck with a head full of exuberant alicorn transmissions every time he saw her.

Silveny was the only creature that Sophies unique telepathy couldnt block, probably because the Black Swan had modeled Sophies genetics off an alicorns DNA when they created hera fact she was less than thrilled about. Her friends had assured her they didnt think it was weird, but she still felt like the horse girl.

You know how panicky Silveny can be, she reminded Sandor, trying to stay focused on the bigger problem. Its going to take a few hours to calm her down.

Sandor grumbled under his breath. Fine. You have until sunsetbut if youre late, Im holding you responsible, Mr. Sencen. And trust me when I say you do not want that to happen.

Fear the wrath of Gigantorgot it. Keefe dragged Sophie back to the edge. Lets do this!

I guess Ill see you at school on Monday, Dex mumbled, staring at the ground as he dug out his home crystal. I reset the mechanism to make the lock open with your DNA, so you probably wont need me anymore.

Ill always need you, Dex, Sophie told him, blushing as she quickly added, youre my best friend.

And dude, Im telling you, Keefe jumped in. When youre finally ready to go public with your abilitywhich you seriously need to get cracking on, by the waywe have to team up. We could break into Dame Alinas office and fill it with dinosaur poop. Or sparkly alicorn poop! Or we could

And this is who youre entrusting your safety to? Sandor interrupted, looking like he wanted to strangle Keefe again.

I can take care of myself, Sophie reminded him, tapping her forehead. Inflictor, remember?

She might have mixed feelings about her rare ability to inflict pain on people, but it did come in handy if the rebels attacked.

So we ready? Keefe asked, swooping his arm to mime them diving off the edge.

Sophies mouth went dry.

You got this, Foster. Stop doubting yourself.

She nodded, trying not to look down as she asked, Do you remember how teleporting works?