Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

A Friend (Dex POV)

By the time they'd closed the shop and headed home, Dex's thoughts were consumed with the new girl--with Sophie.

He still couldn't fathom how an elf could possibly not be raised by elves, but he hoped that her different upbringing would make her a bit more kind toward people like him.

Products of a so-called 'bad match'.

As if.

No one who took one look at his parents--whose open affection for each other was sometimes downright gross--could logically say they were poorly matched. They were happy. And they loved their kids--even as crazy as the triplets were.

And his dad had not let the busyness of running a business and raising three hyperactive triplets stop him from training Dex in alchemy. It hadn't stopped his parents from teaching them the importance of skills. It hadn't stopped Rimeshire from being a happy, loving place.

But the happiness was harder to emulate at Foxfire. He knew he should be glad to even be allowed to attend the school, but sometimes he wished he wasn't.

People ignored him--apart from Stina.

He tended to give others a wide berth, too. He told himself it was because he didn't need them.

But Sophie...she had seemed interested in what he was doing, in what he had to say. She'd even seemed somewhat reluctant to leave Slurps and Burps.

So when his dad delivered the news to his mom--her sister and brother-in-law had just taken in a new girl--Dex encouraged his mother's natural curiosity.

"I think it's time I paid my sister a visit," she decided, alight with curiosity.

"Can I come?" Dex asked immediately, already jumping up to join her on the way to the Leapmaster.

She hesitated and stole a glance at his dad. "You should probably help your dad with your siblings."

"Somehow I'll manage alone," his dad said with a mock long-suffering sigh.

His mom laughed and glanced back at Dex.

"Come on, Mom, let me come too, I can keep Sophie company while you talk with Edaline." And maybe find out more about Sophie--and about humans. It was so cool that she'd been around humans her whole life.

"Okay then," she agreed with another laugh. "Come on."

Sophie was outside with Grady when they leaped onto Havenfield's grounds. Dex always liked visiting Havenfield, the animal preserve was pretty cool. And his aunt and uncle always seemed more comfortable when they were wrangling animals. They almost seemed happy.

"Had to come see for yourself, Juline?" Grady teased as Dex and his mom made their way over.

"I'm allowed to visit my sister, aren't I?" she asked innocently.

Grady laughed. "Where's the rest of the family?"

"Home with Kesler. I didn't want to overwhelm you."

"And maybe you wanted time to gossip without interruption?" Grady grinned at them. "Sophie, why don't you show Dex your room? I have a feeling the girls have a lot of talking to do."

Sophie smiled at Dex and gestured for him to follow her. She led him inside and up to the third floor, which was made up entirely of one massive bedroom. This must have been a Reception Hall once. He knew his aunt and uncle used to host a lot of parties.

He wandered her room, taking in the view from the giant windows, the flower petals woven into the carpet, and the crumpled piece of fabric that Sophie said were called "jeans".