Sophie stomach growled, and she gave herself three seconds to imagine it-to picture what it would be like to creep through the shimmering halls when they were empty and quiet and dark and see all the hidden places Keefe had discovered. But...“Don’t you go shaking that adorable little head at me, Foster,” Keefe said before she could get a word out.

What I was still out of it, I heard your voice in my head- I think it’s why I woke up.”Her face tried its best to burst into flames. “Sorry, I-““Don’t be,” he interrupted. “I’m glad I’m awake.”“So am I,” she admitted. “But... you have to be super careful, okay?”“I will if you will,” he made her promise. He waited for her to meet his eyes, and when she did, he gave her the sweetest smile she’d ever seen. “By the way,” he murmured, pressing Mr. Snuggles against his heart. “I missed you too.

We could dig into some of the small stuff we hold back.”“Like what?”He started his hands, twisting the Cognate rings round and round before he transmitted, like all the stuff you tell Keefe and don’t tell me.

And you can keep the pin.”“Uh-uh, it’s yours.”“But you want it.”“And I want you to have it! So how about we call him ours? Will name Krakie, and he can live right here.” Keefe pointed to the bandage covering her right hand. “That way Krakie can protect you from the echo – not that you need protection. He’ll just be your backup.

Keefe shouted, "YOU GUYS HAVE TO SEE THIS!" They ran to the main room and found Keefe standing under the skylight, holding up Mr. Snuggles like it was a baby lion about to be made kind. The sparkly red dragon twinkled almost as much as Keefe's eyes as he said, "I went in to check on our boy and found him cuddling with this!

What?” Sophie asked, wiping under her lashes when she noticed Keefe staring. “Did I smudge it?”“No, Foster. You look... perfect.

...if you lose, you’ll have to wear a metal diaper to school and call me Lord Hunkyhair from now on.”“Uh... yeah, no,” Fitz said as Biana asked, “Hunkyhair?”“Lord Hunkyhair,” Keefe corrected. “What? It’s accurate.” He tossed his head like he was in a shampoo commercial. “I think we need to make it a thing either way- don’t you, Foster?”“I think you’re ridiculous,” Sophie told him.

The teasing tone faded from his voice, replaced with something that made Sophie very aware of how close they were standing.

Keefe grinned. “You’re adorable when you worry. I’ve told you that, right?”Sophie gave him her best glare, but his smile only widened.