ALL IN. sokeefe.

026

"Fitz!" Sophie cried out, putting out her hand as if to stop him. But he was already gone. She crumpled to the ground, but before her knees hit the gritty dirt, Keefe wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. "Hey, it's okay." He said soothingly, trying to calm her. "He'll show up again—Fitz can never resist some drama."

Sophie trembled in his arms as he wrapped her in a hug. "Thanks," She whispered in his ear. Keefe just held her tighter, almost like he was trying to squeeze her hurt out. Tears pooled in her eyes as she struggled for air, black spotting her vision as she crumpled to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

What was she going to do?

She didn't know.

And now Fitz was gone.

Her friend, boyfriend-turned-ex-boyfriend, an enemy agent, now turned into an information source.

What could she do? Roll over and surrender to him—again?

Her head hurt just thinking about it—of all the possibilities, everything that factored into this. From the Black Swan and the Neverseen alone... It was too much for her. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she curled into a Sophie-ball and sobbed.

"Foster?" Keefe's tentative whisper hit her like a punch to the gut, making her sob harder. "It's my fault," She cried, clutching her knees to her chest. "If Fitz had never found me..." She let herself trail off, staring blankly at the grassy field she was lying on. "Sophie, don't think like that." Biana's voice wobbled as she tried to help Sophie up.

"You're my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without you." Tears slid down Sophie's cheeks, hot and salty. "Biana..." She croaked out, throat raw from her sobbing. "Thank you." She allowed herself to be propped up against Keefe's shoulder, she allowed herself to rest her head on his shoulder. Keefe wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair soothingly.

"Hey, Foster, we'll get you back to Havenfield in no time." She looked up at him through the curtain of her hair; wanting to believe him. "It'll all be okay." She looked at him, his perfectly tousled blond hair, and his piercingly ice-blue eyes. "Promise?" She whispered, her voice still a hollow shell. He nodded firmly, holding her tighter. "I promise."

She breathed out a sigh she didn't know she had been holding and nestled into the crook of his shoulder. "Okay."

"Sooo... are we going?" Stina's shrill voice cut through Sophie's fog of emotion, leaving her slightly disoriented. "Yeah," Sophie said, her legs trembling as she stood up. "Yeah, we are." Standing up, she stretched her surprisingly cramped arms and shook out her hair, sending little bits of grass flying. "Hey now, Foster!" Keefe said in mock outrage. "Don't mess up The Hair!"

Sophie smiled just a little bit at that. She knew Keefe used humor to deflect, but he also used it to lighten the mood. However he used it, it made her feel better. He made her feel better. "I think we have more important things than your hair, Keefe." Tam deadpanned, his silver-tipped bangs glinting in the light. Keefe's eyes narrowed. "Oh? Well, you should make your hair a priority. Sometimes I can't tell if it's hair on your head, or a dead raccoon."

Tam blinked at him. "What in the world is a raccoon?" Sophie goggled at him. "What? Do you not have those here?" Keefe stood up beside her, slinging an arm around her shoulder. "We don't. You told me all about them, remember?" Sophie raised her eyebrows. "I told you all about... raccoons?" Keefe nodded self-importantly. "Yes. On one of our many dates." Sophie's brow crinkled as she considered what he was saying.

"Huh. Wait. Dates?" Keefe grinned winningly at her. "Yep, dates!" Sophie shook her head, bemused. "But we haven't—" He placed a finger on her lips, "Hush now, there are some things you don't want them to know." As if for emphasis on them, he gestured at their friends surrounding them.

"As fascinating as that sounds," Stina snarked, "We should get to work." Sophie flushed bright red and nodded at her. "Right," She stammered, looking at her friends. "Okay, so, Biana, Tam, and Dex." They all snapped to attention, looking at her intently. "Yes?" Dex asked, Tam and Biana clustered behind him. "I want you 3 to do a sweep of Candleshade's grounds. Clear?" Dex nodded. "Clear."

She turned to Stina and Marella. "Can you two go talk to Fintan? Interrogate him a bit, see what he knows." Marella smirked at her, "Give us the easy task, why don't you?" Sophie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Okay?" Stina nodded. "Okay." Marella lifted her crystal to the light, and her and Stina glittered away to Fintan's icy prison.

"Linh," Sophie said, focusing on the placid Hydrokinetic. She blinked at Sophie serenely, a small smile on her face. "Yes?" Her silver-tipped hair floated in the slight breeze, making her look like a model. "Can you update Mr. Forkle and the Collective? We haven't updated them in a week." Linh nodded. "Any idea where I can find them?" She asked quietly, looking at Sophie. "Check Foxfire first—Magnate Leto's office. If he's not there, leave a note."

"Okay," Linh said, smiling at her before she leaped to Foxfire.

Sophie exhaled. Now that everyone had their separate tasks...

"Foster? What about me?" Keefe asked, nudging her side.

Okay, well not everyone. I guess I can take him with me. Who knows if I'll want to?

"You can come with me, if you want." Sophie inhaled, then exhaled. Deep breaths. "Okay, where we going?" Keefe questioned, looking down at her.

"To find your mother."

( omg. you guys, im so sorry it took me this long to update, ive had a really chaotic year (2023) && im going to try && finish this fic. i love all of you, tysm for reading !! remember to vote && comment !! also, 30k reads ?! tysm, i never expected that. ill also be editing the earlier chaps of this book ! theyre pretty... raw. tysm for reading this, i cant say it enough. <3 )