Shannon Messenger - Flashback (Book 7)

For Mara Anastas, for believing from the beginning.

For Jon Anderson, for throwing down the gauntlet.

And for the rest of my incredible team at

Simon & Schuster, for rising to the challenge.

T HIS TIME WE WIN .

It was Sophies only thought, even as the world around her fell into shadow and chaos.

Even as the Neverseen revealed their next movetheir next twist in this deadly game.

A game Sophie had lost over and over again.

But this time she was ready.

This time shed trainedand so had her friends.

This time, they knew how to fight back.

So Sophies hand didnt shake as she reached for one of the throwing stars shed learned to carry.

And she knew exactly where to aim.

No hesitation.

No fear.

But... things werent always as they appeared.

And as everything flickered and faded, as her friends shouted and struggled to understand...

Sophie knew.

Illusion was her enemys new secret weapon.

S O 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 Id be happy to help you break a few laws if youre feeling left out.

Me too! RoKeefes bodyguardjumped 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. Its basically begging me to smash something.

No one will be smashing anything, SandorSophies bodyguardwarned. Or causing any other problems!

The threat didnt sound all that terrifying, thanks to Sandors squeaky voice. But he backed it up by being a seven-foot-tall goblin warriorand by folding his gray arms across his bare chest and flexing some seriously impressive muscles.

Ro flashed a pointy-toothed smile and patted the rows of daggersa recent addition to her ogre arsenalstrapped to her toned thighs. Id like to see you try to stop us.

Believe me, Id enjoy every second, Sandor growled, gripping the hilt of his giant black sword. I still cant believe the Council is allowing you into these proceedings.

Neither could Sophie.

Then again, she hadnt expected to be invited either.

The Tribunal was supposed to be restricted to members of the Vacker family, since it was only a sentencing hearingand mostly a formality. Alvar was already being held in the secret prison the Black Swan had designed specifically for him. The Council was simply deciding how many years hed have to stay there.

But Alden had stopped by Havenfield that morning and explained that hed gotten permission for Sophie to attend. And when shed light leaped to Eternalia, shed found Keefe and Ro already waiting.

Keefe looked dressier than usual, in a starched white shirt with a fitted black jerkin and an embroidered gray capeand Sophie was relieved to see it, since shed decided to show her support with a dusty-rose gown that was much more Bianas fancy style than hers. Shed also used the gold-flecked eyeliner Biana had been telling her would bring out the glints in her brown eyeseven though she hated drawing more attention to their unique-for-an-elf color.

What? Sophie asked, wiping under her lashes when she noticed Keefe staring. Did I smudge it?

No, Foster. You look... perfect.

She blushed at the slight catch in his voiceand then wished she hadnt when he flashed his trademark smirk.

Did Alden tell you he wanted you to be here for moral support too? she asked, stopping in the center of the hall as she realized she didnt know which of the hundreds of seats were theirs.

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 Sophies eyebrows. No need to get all crinkly on me. Nothings going on. Aldens just... worried about how Fitz is going to handle this.

So am I, Sophie admitted.

Anger was often Fitzs crutch in emotionally fraught situationsand nothing brought out his fury more than his traitorous older brother.

Yeah, well, now Im stuck listening to a bunch of stuffy, know-it-all elves arguing with each other, Ro groused as she twisted one of her choppy pigtails, which shed recently dyed the same vivid pink shed painted her claws. It almost makes me wish I were still bedridden. Seriously, who thought having twelve Councillors was a good idea?

Sophie was tempted to point out that the system was much more balanced than having a single power-hungry king. But since Ro was the daughter of the ogres fear-inspiring leaderand the elves alliance with King Dimitar had become rather shaky after the Neverseen almost killed Ro during their attack on Atlantisshe decided it was smart to avoid that particular conversation. Especially since the elvin Council was far from perfect.

She turned toward the twelve jeweled thrones that filled a large platform at the front of the glinting green room. Each had been ornamented to reflect the style and taste of the Councillor whose name was displayed along the top: Clarette, Velia, Alina, Terik, Liora, Emery, Oralie, Ramira, Darek, Noland, Zarina, and Bronte.

Sophie knew some of them better than others, and there were a couple shed even grown to trust. But she would never stop wishing that there was still a simple, sturdy throne for Councillor Kenric.

Kenric had been kind. And funny. And one of Sophies most loyal supporters.

And hed still be alive if it werent for her.

She tried not to let herself think about it, because the guilt might shatter her sanity. But she could still feel the stinging heat of the flamesstill hear the crunches and crackles and screams as the jeweled tower melted around them. And shed never forget Fintans taunt as hed ignited the Everblaze to prevent her from retrieving his memories.

Sophie had only been in Oblivimyre that night because of a direct order from the Council. But if shed been stronger, faster, smarter than Fintan...

You okay? Keefe asked, flicking a strand of her blond hair to get her attention. And before you answer, remember: Youre talking to an Empath. Plus, youve already pulled out two eyelashes since we got here, and I can tell youre dying to go for a third.

She was.

Her eyelashes itched whenever she felt anxious, and tugging on them was such a relief. But she kept trying to break the habit, so she held her hands at her sides and forced herself to meet Keefes ice blue eyes. Im fine.

When he raised one eyebrow, she added, Im just frustrated. I wish the Council was holding a Tribunal for Fintan, not Alvar.

Keefe leaned slightly closer. I wouldnt let the Fitzster hear you say that.

I know. Or Biana.

The younger Vacker siblings had been counting down the days to Alvars sentencingand Sophie didnt blame them for wanting everything settled with their older brother.

But...

She glanced over her shoulder, grateful the auditorium was still empty, so she could ask the question shed been trying not to say.

Doesnt this feel like a waste of time?

Because Alvar cant remember anything? Keefe asked.

Sophie nodded.

Alvar had been a longtime member of the Neverseen, involved in many of their cruelest schemes before Sophie and her friends found him drugged, bleeding, and trapped in a cell in an abandoned hideout. And when hed finally regained consciousness, he couldnt even remember his own name.