Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Black Swan (Della POV)

A/N: This chapter depicts Della and Alden at the end of Everblaze, deciding how to proceed after what happens to the Black Swan on Mount Everest.

"Elwin says that Sandor is stable," Alden told Della as he walked out of the conservatory. "He has him sedated and gave him some marrow regenerator, though he says he's going to try to brew something stronger. But he's moving on to tend to the kids now."

Della breathed a sigh of relief. The kids had only sustained minor injuries, so her biggest immediate concern had been Sandor--and the emotional toll it would take on the children, Sophie especially--if Elwin had been unable to save him. "Good," she whispered. "Is it true about Lady Gisela?"

"Sounds like it. I think Keefe's taking it harder than when he thought it was Lord Cassius."

Finding out that either of his parents was part of an enemy organization--especially one that had kidnapped and almost killed two of his friends--was not something Keefe was going to be able to bounce back from quickly. This would forever leaves its mark on him.

And he'd already been through so much.

She only hoped he'd begin to trust his friends enough to talk to them about it. To let them help him carry that burden. She and Alden had discussed it with Fitz, who had told them that Keefe would occasionally make offhand comments about his dad being a jerk, or not wanting to go home, but that he never wanted to dwell on it and would change the subject if Fitz asked him about it.

She wished they could invite Keefe to move in with them permanently, but it was too late for that now. She knew what happened next, and it didn't involve any of those five wonderful children staying in the Lost Cities for the time being.

"Alden?" She asked tentatively. "You know...Sophie can't stay here now. In the Lost Cities, I mean."

"No, she certainly cannot. Grady and Edaline are aware of it too. The Council will banish her if she stays. The other kids will be in trouble too, but not that badly. But Sophie's going to have to run. And..." he reached for her hand. "I'm sure the others will go with her."

Della nodded. "I know. If I know Fitz, Biana, and Keefe at all, they will refuse to leave her side now. And I may not know Dex very well, but I know they're close. He'll stay with her too. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

He took her by the hand and led her into their room, shutting the door firmly behind him. She knew he wanted to avoid anyone overhearing their conversation. Before she could say anything, he leaned in and kissed her gently. "You have your worried face," he whispered. "But there's more to it than that. Your eyes--I can see that look. You're scheming."

She couldn't deny it. "I just don't think they should go alone."

He nodded, taking that in. "I've been thinking about that too, to be honest. Grady and Edaline need to stay at Havenfield. They have too much to do with the animals at their preserve to flee the Lost Cities. It'll need to be one of us."

"It'll need to be me," she corrected him. "I can be invisible so they won't have to argue over whether or not I should come with them--and hopefully the Black Swan won't turn me away if I go so far as to make it to their doorstep with the kids. And you need to stay here, and keep working as an Emissary."

"But--"

"No, think about it before you argue. We already decided that you would not quit after what the Council did to Sophie, because we knew we'd want that inside information on what the Council is doing. So it makes sense for you to stay here--and you are in the best position to offer some protection for the Ruewens and the Dizznees, since the Council does still listen to you and confide in you."