Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Too Late (Grady POV)

"What were you thinking?" Grady demanded, pacing the living room in blind panic and agitation.

The burns on Sophie's arms...

He could barely look at them.

He was trying to tell himself that history was not repeating itself, but it was hard to listen to that voice of reason when he knew, deep down, that though Sophie was alive and well, he'd already lost her due to his own decisions.

And now?

She'd be lucky not to be exiled for what she had just done and where she had just gone.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?" he asked, tearing his hands through his hair.

Before she could respond--and before he could start yelling some more--Alden and Elwin burst through the door. Alden marched straight over to her, uncharacteristically angry as he said, "you promised! Just this morning, you promised!"

"I can explain," Sophie insisted.

"Oh, you'd better—though I'm not sure it will help at this point." His voice deflated as he glanced furtively up at Grady. "Bronte's calling for a tribunal."

Bronte.

Grady had a very complicated relationship with Bronte. The surly Councillor had given Grady mercy when he could have punished him.

But then...Bronte had not been understanding or kind when they had lost Jolie.

And he had not been kind to Sophie.

Not that Grady had any right to be upset on Sophie's behalf. He and Edaline had caused her more pain than Bronte or anyone else.

Grady hardly knew what to say, didn't know what to do anymore, didn't know how to take back the pain they'd given her by choosing not to adopt her, didn't even know if it would be right to do so, even though he was only just starting to realize how much he'd already grown to love her.

It was all a moot point, though, after what she'd just done.

Elwin cleared his throat. "Let's treat those burns, shall we?"

He squatted next to where she sat, flashing blue light around her arms. "These aren't so bad. I won't even have to use the yeti pee balm."

"Yeti pee?" She asked, sounding horrified.

"Takes the sting out of the most severe burn," he told her as he applied a purple burn cream to her arms. "You're welcome. Any other burns you need me to treat?"

She shook her head.

Grady watched in silence as she drank the medicine and the Youth Elwin gave her, and was too distracted and upset to thank or even acknowledge Elwin as he said his goodbyes and glittered away.

All Grady could think was that even Elwin, the school physician, was better to Sophie than her own guardians had been.

He felt such a contradictory desire to pull her into his arms and promise to do better while also feeling that this was confirmation that they'd made the right decision.

"What were you thinking?" Alden demanded, pulling Grady out of his reverie.

"You said we needed evidence to make an accusation," she replied, her voice sounding strained. So I got us evidence." She pointed to her balled-up cape. "Take a look. It's unlike any of the flames I've bottled in elementalism."

Alden reached out and unwrapped the bottle. Inside...

It was clearly Everblaze.

"Incredible," Alden breathed.