Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Ability Restrictor: part 1 (Dex POV)

A/N: Dex's POV of this scene was obviously more involved than Keefe's was, so it will be told in two chapters.

Dex was so excited he could barely contain it. The attention he'd been receiving from the Council recently had him glowing with pride and a feeling of acceptance—something that had eluded him his entire life. So then when they arrived at Foxfire to see Magnate Leto officially become the Headmaster, and his family was directed to the very front--among the highest ranking nobles--instead of being shunted to the back like the embarrassment to elvin-kind they usually were...

That felt good.

So mostly...he was really, really excited.

But there was also a little bit of apprehension. Which of his weapons would they be featuring today? How would people react? Elves weren't used to weapons or violence. Would they celebrate his creativity and his willingness to aid the Council, or would they fear him and his family?

And what adjustments did they think he might need to make? Were they actually planning on utilizing a weapon as a demonstration? Wouldn't that just frighten people?

But those concerns were easy to ignore. He'd done a thorough job on each gadget. They would fulfill their intended purposes.

When Sophie arrived with Grady and Edaline, he couldn't even mind that she was so surprised to see him up front.

He was too excited.

He hoped the Council would be more focused on his gadgets and less focused on whatever her punishment was going to be. She'd been through enough already.

Dex didn't know anything about their new Foxfire principal, but he hoped Magnate Leto would be friendly and kind. Dame Alina--Councillor Alina, now--had always been kind of a wild card. Leto looked impressive as he was sworn in, so at least he had that going for him.

And then, Councillor Emery began a long speech about elves and their role as peacekeepers between the different species. Dex was beside himself with apprehension as Emery called Sophie up to the stage. He was relieved that they were doing her punishment first. They must be planning to end with Dex's creations, so the focus wouldn't end on a note of discipline but instead on hope.

Even so, he was anxious to see which gadget they'd be showing the crowd. He was so full of hope. Hope that this would change the way he was treated at Foxfire. At the way his parents were viewed by the rest of society. And at the way his younger siblings were viewed as well--especially by their fellow prodigies at Foxfire.

He was so full of hope and nervous excitement that it took him far longer than it should have for him to realize what was happening.

But he definitely heard when Emery told the crowd that Sophie was not normal. He watched as she closed her eyes, and he saw the pained look on her face.

He felt a flash of annoyance at that. No, Sophie wasn't normal--she was so much better than normal. Way nicer and more considerate than most people.

Hang in there, Sophie, he thought, watching her slowly reopen her eyes and wishing he could actually say those words to her. It's almost over and then everyone will move on. By the time the assembly is over, everyone will have forgotten about your punishment.

Even so, his prominent emotion was excitement for what was to come.

So he was completely blindsided when the Council proclaimed that they would be hunting down the Black Swan...to punish them.

What?!

He repeated that interjection out loud, and added, "but they're the good guys!"

They saved us! Sophie and I would be dead if it weren't for them!