Keefe's POV

The light of the Everglen gates blind me for a few moments before my eyes settle. I walk towards the gate, which opens at the recognition of me. As I walk through the forest we used to play in, I reminisce on old memories. When things weren't so complicated. When the only person holding back was me. I still had Fitz as my best friend. And although I hid my feelings for Sophie, she was still by my side. Through everything. I even miss Ro sometimes. Key word-- sometimes. The old days are gone. Now I'm engaged to the love of my life. And soon I will live the rest of my life out with her. In peace. I will do everything and anything for her. I will cherish her. And never let her out of my sight. She doesn't know what she has agreed to, but I purposely didn't mention my intentions. For, if I scare her off now, I don't think I would be able to let her go nonetheless. 

"Keefe, I'm so happy to see you," Alden gives me a warm smile and wraps me in a hug. 

His familiar scent calms down my anger. "Good to see you Alden, Fitz home?"

He nods, tilting his head towards the hallway that goes to his room. 

"He's there with Biana and Dex as well," Alden says, "Make yourself at home."

I thank him and start walking towards his door. Be calm Keefe. Just ask him to reach out again. Figure out what he's hiding. I know Fitz. Probably better than a lot of people. So I know if I start out with attacking him, he's not gonna want to help me. 

I approach his door and open it, without bothering to knock. I see Biana and Dex sitting down at the desk, leaving Fitz sitting on a chair on the other side of the room. Biana notices me first. 

"Keefe," she looks at me shocked. 

Dex waves. Fitz just stares. I can feel anger and feelings of betrayal. I sigh. Remember the end goal. 

"We need to talk," I tell Fitz. "Alone, preferably."

Biana and Dex nod, leaving the room. 

"I don't know where you get the balls from, but you're really gonna show up in front of my face?" he asks. "After taking my girlfriend?"

Ex- girlfriend. "Look, we can talk about this all after, but I'm here about finding Foster."

There. The shift of emotion. He hides it well, but his eye twitch doesn't go unnoticed. 

"I already tried," he says. 

"Well, can you try again? Maybe she wasn't focusing. But Foster would definitely try to contact us someway. And she knows you have the strongest mental connection with her," the last sentence makes my blood boil. 

Why couldn't I be a telepath? All those years he got to have with her because they were both telepaths. It's unfair. 

He sighs. "Look, bro," he says sarcastically, "I'm tired, I don't wanna do this right now."

He gets up and reaches for the door, but I grab his hand, closing my eyes. 

Guilt. Secrecy. Nervousness. Anger. Indecisive. 

He tears his arm away from me. I open my eyes, not being able to hold back anymore. 

"You contacted her," I form the conclusion. 

His emotions turn into defense. I'm right. 

"You contacted her," I repeat, this time with anger. "And you lied."

"What the hell are you saying?" he laughs at me nervously. "You're crazy."

"Where is she?" I demand. "Tell me right now or I swear-"

"What?" he challenges me. "You're gonna do what? Hit me?"

Before I can grip onto sanity, my right fist swings, knocking him straight to the floor. He gets up from the floor, grabbing me and pinning me against the wall. But I trip him and pin him down. I punch him again, his only line of defense being crumbled. 

"Tell me where she is?" the anger bubbles through me. 

I can't stop it anymore. He knew where Sophie was this whole time and lied. I could've had Sophie in my arms by now. I could've been laying down next to her, listening to her heartbeat to lull me into sleep. I could've had her. 

"Keefe, stop!" someone yells but I can't recognize the voice. 

I try to throw another punch but I feel people grabbing me and pulling me off of him. Blood runs down from his mouth and nose, and his left eye can't open anymore. 

"Where the fuck is she, Fitz?!" I yell. 

"What are you talking about Keefe?" Dex yells, confused and scared. 

"He knows where Sophie is," I say against the restraints of the arms holding me back. "He lied. This whole time he knew and didn't say anything. That bastard-"

I lunge forward, but this time Dex holds me back. 

"Okay, STOP!" Biana yells. 

Everyone stops, but I notice I'm still being held back. 

"Fitz, is this true?" Biana asks him. 

His mouth remains shut. I'm about to yell again but then a loud slap silences the room. Alden stands in front of Fitz, a look of disbelief on his face. 

"She is in Russia," Alden answers. "Ms Foster is in Russia."

Gasps run through the room and looks of betrayal land on the faces around me. 

"Fitz," Biana starts, her eyes watering. 

"How could you?" Dex asks angrily. 

Fitz scoffs and stands up, meeting Alden eye to eye, but looking at me. 

"You're a piece of shit," he tells me before walking out. 

No one follows him. 

"Let go of me," I tell the two goblins behind me. 

They do and I start to walk towards the leap master, not waiting for anyone else. 

I can feel my hand already starting to bruise, but I ignore it. "Take me to Russia," I tell the crystals.