Sophie, Edaline, and Sandor walked to the kitchen, Amy trailing behind when she noticed the group gathering. Edaline opened the scroll, her face washing over with disbelief and worry. Sophie didn't need to be an Empath to know something bad had happened.

"What is it? I know something happened," she added, sure that her mom would try to protect her and say it was nothing.

She blinked and finally said, "Your father has been arrested."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I just can't believe the Council would do that!" Sophie cried, pacing back and forth across Biana's bedroom. "He was tracking down the Neverseen!"

Sophie, Biana, Fitz, Keefe, Dex, Tam, and Linh had met at Everglen before everyone came over for dinner to discuss plans to track the Neverseen. All seven teenagers were anxious, Sophie most of all. Her father had been arrested because the Council objected to the fact that he was doing something they hadn't assigned, even though he was tracking an evil group of murderers.

Sophie sighed loudly and flopped backwards onto Biana's bed. Her human parents were already kidnapped, and now her elven father was arrested. Just what she needed.

"Hey, let's do something to stop you from pelting me with your worry," Keefe suggested. "You'll have plenty of time to worry at dinner."

"We could play Truth or Dare," Biana suggested.

"For the last time, Biana, no. That always gets weird," Fitz argued.

Sophie had heard stories of how Keefe kissed Biana in a game of Truth or Dare. Apparently it was going to be on the cheek but Biana moved her head. It sounded pretty weird. However, there was a person she wouldn't mind being kissed by...

She shook her head. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about that. Keefe raised his eyebrows at her. She groaned internally. Now really wasn't the time to be thinking about that.

"So, what can we do?" Sophie asked, changing the subject.

"We could always play Make Foster Blush," Keefe suggested. Right on cue, Sophie blushed.

I don't know about everyone else, but we could always do Cognate training, Fitz suggested.

Um, okay, Sophie agreed nervously.

Fitz announced to the group what they were going to do, and Sophie followed him to his room. They sat next to each other on the bed. Fitz pulled out his notebook of exercises from his desk. He passed it to Sophie. "You can go first."

She opened the book.

What would you change if you could?

Keefe's face filled his mind. Sophie had to agree. Their friend had had a pretty hard life, from his neglectful father to his murderous (literally) mother. She passed the book to Fitz. He smiled smugly.

What's your biggest secret?

It doesn't say that!

Too bad. You still owe me a favor.

She sighed. You're not gonna let me get out of this, huh?

Nope.

A million worries flitted through her mind, but she pushed them away. She would have to tell Fitz eventually, or they could never truly be Cognates. Why not now? Doubt seeped back into her mind.

She shook her head. She was going to do this. She took a deep breath and transmitted, I...

Ahh!! I finally added Tam and Linh. Took me long enough. I didn't forget about them, I just couldn't find a good time to add them in. And omg!! The ending!! Eek!! I'm so excited to keep writing this!!