Vendy Martínková’s Reviews > Keeper of the Lost Cities > Status Update

Grady cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. “Sorry, we don’t want to wear you out. It’s just a little overwhelming to get you back. We went to your funeral. . . .”

“I’m so sorry, Sophie. My dad wanted you around more so he could keep an eye on you, so he told me to reach out to you—but I really am your friend and then you were gone and . . .” Her voice trailed into sobs.

“Elwin,” she whispered.
Tears pooled in his eyes. “I can’t tell you how good it is to hear you say that. Bullhorn’s been sleeping next to you for two weeks. We were starting to lose hope. But yesterday he moved, and now here you are.”

Please, Fitz. I need your help.
He turned away and his hands grabbed something. A tiny purple Albertosaurus, and the note she’d given him with it. If she could’ve felt her chest, her heart would’ve skipped a beat.

“Stop pretending like you care. I know your dad put you up to it, okay?”

“Of course it’s true,” Stina interrupted. “She hated you before that, remember? Did you really think she suddenly wanted to be best friends for no reason?” She studied Sophie closely. “Hmm. I guess you did. You’re even dumber than I thought.”

“Of course I don’t mind. You’re already like my little sister—this would just make it official.”
“Oh. Great.” She knew he meant it as a compliment, but the word “sister” still stung.

“In accordance with your request, adoption proceedings for Sophie Foster have been canceled.”

She bolted upright. “I threw up?”
“Everywhere. Never seen anything like it. It’s always an adventure with you, isn’t it? But don’t worry, I don’t mind—and neither did Fitz. It was only his PE uniform.”
She threw up on Fitz?

and inside the black cube she found a round silver pendant with a cobalt blue crystal in the center.
The candy turned sour.
Since when did Keefe give her jewelry?
He didn’t like her—
She wouldn’t finish the thought. There was no way a guy like Keefe would ever, could ever—