Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Legacy 28-29: part 2 (Keefe POV)

"I take it that means they haven't found anything useful?" Sophie asked him.

Keefe explained that his dad was probably intentionally making it harder on Fitz, and even admitted—though he felt like a bad friend for doing so—that it was probably beyond Fitz's capabilities.

Keefe had all the faith in the world in his best friend's talent. He knew Fitz was a powerful telepath.

But he also knew his father was a powerful manipulator who seemed to enjoy making life harder for the people around him.

He was also exceptionally good at thwarting telepaths.

Which was stupid, really, since he claimed this was what he wanted.

But whatever.

Foster seemed to understand what he was saying, though, and even seemed to agree. Unfortunately, that led her to offer to step in and search his dad's memories herself.

Or rather, she tried to offer. He stopped her before she could get the words out.

He didn't want her anywhere near his dad's mind. Quite apart from the fact that he didn't want her seeing his dad's treatment of him—the worst of which he had continued to shield her from—his dad had also made a lot of pointed remarks about the intimate nature of Keefe's friendship with Sophie.

He had also needled Keefe endlessly about his obvious feelings for her.

Going back and forth between telling him how hopeless it was when Keefe's competition was Fitz Vacker and commenting on how convenient it was that Keefe had such a direct line to the moonlark—and her emotions.

He even went so far as to imply how fortunate it was that Keefe was so capable of catering to and even influencing her emotions.

Of all the ways Keefe had imagined finally telling Sophie how he felt about her, he had never for a moment considered letting her find out inside his dad's mind.

Nor did he want her to see his past in such raw, undiluted fashion.

So he insisted that she needed to rest, and that when she felt better she would have other important things to do.

She was so earnest, her warm brown eyes wide as she pressed him on it. She wanted to help him, and he loved her for it.

But he loved her too much to let her.

Loved her too much to risk letting her find out that way.

Loved her too much to be willing to risk having to hear her say that his home life was too complicated, too much for her, and that he should move on because she preferred Fitz and all of the Vackers.

So he looked away, trying to keep his voice neutral as he cut her off again.

"Seriously, Foster. It's not worth it."

Please drop it.

Please stop.

Thankfully, she did. She quickly changed the subject, asking if he'd made any progress with his memories.

But unlike his dad, Keefe rarely got what he wanted. He hadn't made any more discoveries, and Dex hadn't had any luck finding the mystery human in London.

But she suddenly sat up a bit straighter, sending a jolt of pain through Keefe as she asked if Mr. Forkle was still around.

Right on cue, Mr. Forkle's voice issued from the doorway, making Foster jump—and therefore making her and Keefe both wince in pain.

Livvy and Elwin had both come with him, ready to examine her now that she was awake.

The exam was painful for her—which meant it was a bit painful for him, too. He seriously didn't know how she wasn't making a bigger fuss about her pain level.