Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Not Again (Edaline POV)

A/N: @ellaa_love requested Edaline and/or Grady's POV of them cancelling Sophie's adoption. This was definitely more than what I could adequately cover in just one chapter so it will be told in five chapters, and goes through Sophie collecting the sample of Everblaze. I might come back to this eventually and write their POVs of her alleged drowning and return.

Edaline knew, the moment she saw Sophie and Elwin glitter into view during the middle of a school day, that something must be wrong.

But she hadn't expected to hear that Sophie had almost died.

Almost died.

Died.

Not again.

Edaline felt fear and grief clawing at her insides as she and Grady accompanied Sophie upstairs and tucked her into bed. She was just fighting her inner monologue, which was screaming, I CAN'T DO THIS! again and again, when Sophie mumbled the words that made Edaline's heart clench even more painfully.

She told them she loved them.

She fell asleep in the same breath, but she definitely said it.

Sophie loved them.

Edaline loved hearing that, but at the same time...

"I can't do this."

Edaline didn't realize she'd said it aloud until Grady let go of her hand--which he'd taken as they'd begun to descend the stairs to get back to work in the pastures--and turned her to face him.

"What do you mean, Eda?"

"I don't know," she said miserably, leaning against Havenfield's front door. "I can't..." she felt shaky and even a bit clammy. "I can't lose another daughter."

Grady pulled her into his arms and held on tight, giving her some of his warmth. Some of his strength.

"We won't," he promised her. "This was just an anomaly. She's safe. Elwin saved her and now we know to keep her far away from limbium. This isn't like last time. Let's not give in to panic, okay?"

Edaline nodded against his chest, and he pulled away to look at her, bringing both hands up to her face.

"I mean it, Eda. Don't give in to panic. Accidents happen. And we promised ourselves when we took her in that we wouldn't put too much pressure on her. Our happiness or even mental well-being can't be her responsibility."

"You're right," she whispered.

Grady leaned in and kissed her. "Let's get back to work."

Edaline tried to keep her mind from dwelling on what had happened, but her thoughts kept straying up to the sleeping girl inside--and to the girl they'd lost years ago.

Life at Havenfield was rarely quiet.

They'd just been getting ready to head upstairs to bed that night when they heard a screeching outside. They rushed out to find some sort of pterodactyl circling over the pastures. How had it found them?

And why was it so upset?

Edaline conjured a leash, and Grady managed to lasso the creature with it. But it was not going to give in easily. The screeching got louder and more constant, so Edaline shouldn't have been surprised that Sophie was woken up by it. Edaline heard Grady order her back to bed, and she did rush away right after that.

But it wasn't to go to back to bed.

Before Edaline knew what was happening, she saw flames erupt.

Edaline rushed over, screaming "what are you doing?" as Sophie jumped back from the flames. "Someone get some quicksnuff."