Becoming Magical [2]

C H A P T E R - 3 3

Grady pulled Sophie aside as she, Meredith and Keefe followed him and Sandor downstairs.

"You're okay, right? The session—Bronte didn't . . . ?"

"I'm fine," she promised, wishing there hadn't been a tremble in her voice as she said it. "The elixir fixed everything, and Sandor brought me to Elwin just in case."

Grady's hands curled into fists. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

Sophie stared at the floor. "Why is the Council concerned about what happened? Why does it matter if Bronte can inflict on me?"

"They're just a little concerned that your mind . . . isn't as strong as they thought it was."

She swallowed as she processed that. "Why would that affect Silveny?"

Grady sighed. "If Bronte's theory is right, it would affect everything—but it's not right. And that's what you're going to show them right now."

"What's Bronte's theory?"

"It's not important."

"Kinda sounds like it is," Keefe jumped in, grinning as Grady spun to face him. "Forgot we were standing here, didn't you?"

"No—I—what are you doing here, Keefe, Mer?"

"Foster invited us." He reached out and brushed Grady's arm. "Whoa—that is some serious tension radiating off of you. Is it that bad?"

"Is it?" Sophie asked as her pulse picked up speed.

"Empaths," Grady grumbled as he turned back to Sophie. "There's very little chance that Bronte's right, Sophie."

Very little chance.

That was way different than no chance.

"I need to know," she whispered. "What is he saying about me?"

"It's not worth repeating, Sophie—it's just going to upset you."

"Please. I have to know."

When she didn't back down, he shook his head. "Fine, if you really want me to tell you, I will—but I completely disagree with him." He ran a hand down his face, closing his eyes as he said, "Bronte thinks that you're . . . malfunctioning."

Malfunctioning.

"He thinks that the new abilities the Black Swan triggered aren't working right—and that it's affecting your other abilities. Why Fitz can transmit to you now and why you can't block Silveny's transmissions and why he was able to inflict on you today."

"Because I'm . . . malfunctioning." Sophie wasn't sure if she should be angry or embarrassed or really really scared.

Fitz said she was damaged—but malfunctioning felt worse, somehow. More fundamental.

"He's wrong, Sophie. Bronte's been wrong about many things—and this is another clear example." Meredith told her.

"Of course he's wrong," Keefe agreed. "If anyone's malfunctioning, it's him—I heard him try to laugh one time and he sounded like a freaked-out banshee."

"Exactly. It doesn't mean anything," Grady promised.

Sophie knew they wouldn't stop trying to console her until she agreed, so she gave them her best there's nothing to worry about smile and said, "I guess I need to prove him wrong," as she headed for the door.

She tried to stay calm as they walked toward Silveny's enclosure. But the word "malfunctioning" had taken root in her head, branching out through her brain, weaving together connections she'd never considered before.