CHAPTER ELEVEN

That night, Sophie tossed and turned, but she couldn't sleep.

She couldn't stop seeing that look in Keefe's eyes—she had always known he had been jealous of Fitz, but she hadn't realized how deep that envy ran.

Or why he was jealous.

This was more than the childish infatuation she had with him. Sophie thought he was attractive. And he had a nice personality. She wouldn't mind kissing him, or even—though it all seemed so far in the future—dating him.

But Keefe was in love with her.

"Sophie." A whisper came from the other end of the bedroom. "Sophie, are you awake?"

Sophie nodded. Then she remembered it was dark, and said, "I'm awake, Natalie."

"Can you come over?"

"Of course." Sophie walked over and sat down on Amy's fluffy bed. She wondered why other people's beds always felt more comfy than her own.

Amy's face was streaked with silent tears. "Oh my gosh, what's wrong?"

"I was just thinking—" She gave a tiny hiccup. "My genes are different. And we learned in biology—we learned that hybrids of two species—" More tears cascaded down her face. Amy didn't bother wiping them away. "Hybrids of—two species—" She tried again. "They can't reproduce. I won't be able to—I can't have—" She buried her face in Sophie's shoulder.

"Oh, Natalie. You can always adopt."

"Not in the—the Lost Cities."

Sophie didn't know what to say. It was true. Unwanted babies were practically a myth in the elvin world.

"I hate it here, Sophie. I want to go home."

"Natalie, you know that's not possible."

"I know . . . but I wish I could teleport away from here, or go back in time. I want to be with my parents and my friends again."

"Wait—what did you just say?"

Amy looked up. "I want to see my friends?"

"No, before that."

"I wish I could go back in time . . . or teleport back home."

"That's it!" Sophie slapped herself in the forehead. "How did I not think of it earlier?"

She grabbed Amy's hand and dragged her out of bed.

"What are you doing?"

"Natalie, I'm taking you home. Can you get us to the roof?"

Amy nodded and concentrated. The air shimmered around them, and soon they were standing on the roof of their living quarters.

"Thanks. Now whatever you do, don't let go of my hand. And don't scream."

"Why would I—"

Sophie jumped.

She dived into the opening to the void. Amy was flailing behind her, but she had clamped her free hand tight over her own mouth. Sophie had to admire her sister's willpower.

Sophie pictured the green pastures of Havenfield and in a flash, she and Amy were there. They were standing on the hill where Calla's tree was planted. Her willowy branches shivered in the night breeze, and the smell of Panakes blossoms wafted through the air. A single flower was dislodged from a low-hanging branch and landed in Amy's hand.

"What is this place?"

"This is Havenfield."

"Havenfield? You mean Grady and Edaline's house?"

"I lived here too, for two years. This is my home, Natalie."

Amy's eyes followed the path of a shooting star as it streaked across the sky. "It's beautiful," she breathed. "But you said you would take me home."

"And I will," said Sophie. "But we need a little outside help to get there."

Silveny? she transmitted. Where are you?

SOPHIE! SOPHIE! SOPHIE!

Sophie laughed out loud. I was sure you'd be asleep.

NO, AWAKE. SICK. The alicorn transmitted a memory of—

Ewww, Silveny! Remember what I said about the glittery alicorn vomit?

SORRY. A pause. SOPHIE SAFE?

Yes, I'm safe. Could you come to Havenfield? She transmitted a mental picture of Calla's tree. I have someone with me who wants to meet you.

SILVENY COMING! GREYFELL TOO!

The sky lit up with a flash, and Silveny sailed into view. Then a second flash, and her mate Greyfell followed behind. Sophie heard Amy gasp as the alicorns landed beside them.

SOPHIE!

Glad to see you too, Silveny. Sophie reached up to stroke her glittery mane.

Silveny nickered and gestured with her head to Amy.

NEW FRIEND?

Not quite. She's my sister.

SISTER?

Sophie remembered that Silveny and Greyfell were the only alicorns in the world. Silveny didn't know what a sister was. But she seemed to get the idea.

LIKE BABY?

Sophie laughed. A bit like that, yes.

Greyfell sniffed Amy, then stuck his nose right in front of her face. Amy flinched.

"He wants you to pet him, Natalie," said Sophie. She gently took Amy's wrist and guided her hand onto Greyfell's velvety nose.

Amy snorted, then a low whinny came from her throat. Greyfell whinnied back and nuzzled her hand. Too late, Sophie realized that she wasn't wearing her gloves. She snatched her hand back. Instantly, Greyfell pulled away.

"What did I do?" Amy asked. "I was talking to him, and then he—"

"You were talking to him?"

Amy's face fell. "Is that another weird thing about me?"

Sophie was too stunned to respond. Polyglots couldn't speak to animals. Even Councillor Clarette couldn't speak their language—she only shared a special bond with the creatures.

But Amy had been able to after only a brush of Sophie's fingers on her skin.

"It's—it's not important," she said. Silveny?

YES?

Can you tell Greyfell to kneel down and let Natalie climb on his back?

Silveny blew through her nose and stamped her hooves. Greyfell kneeled down.

"What is he doing?"

"He wants you to ride him."

Tentatively, Amy swung one leg over the alicorn's back. She sat just in front of Greyfell's wings in a perfect riding position.

"Good job!" Sophie hoisted herself onto Silveny's back. Let's fly!

Silveny neighed. She and Greyfell spiraled into the air.

GO?

Let's just fly around Havenfield for a bit.

Silveny spread her wings and glided miles above the pastures. The alicorn seemed to know exactly what Sophie was thinking, because she headed straight for the nocturnal creatures' pasture.

It was aglow with light. The fire-breathing drakes sparred in a stone enclosure. Flareflies lit up the sky, and Sophie could just make out the glow-in-the-dark helicoprion swimming in circles in the pond.

She heard Amy suck in a breath.

"What's that?" She pointed at a creature that looked like a horned giraffe . . . if giraffes were forty feet tall. The moonlight reflected off its scales. It was bathed in silver light.

"That's the kirin," said Sophie. "It's one of the oldest animals at Havenfield."

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Neither and both. The kirin is both the ki—the male—and the rin—the female. It's beautiful, don't you think?"

Amy watched the kirin eat leaves from a tall palm tree. "It seems lonely."

"It's immortal, and the only of its kind to exist. But I think it's happy here. It loves playing with the unicorns."

"What about alicorns?"

Sophie smiled. "You know, I don't believe it's ever met Silveny or Greyfell."

She breathed in the cold night air and patted Silveny's neck. Amy had seen Havenfield; it was time for the night to begin.

Silveny, could you take us to Eternalia?

Silveny spiraled high into the upper atmosphere, Greyfell at her side. Then they dived.

A/N: Here's a short and sweet chapter for y'all. Big things are coming!