Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“Thanks for all the visits,” Fitz countered, his tone trying for
sarcastic teasing but his eyes not really selling it.
“Hey—Elwin kept shooing me away!” Biana argued.
“Yeah, and you never sneak around orders like that.”
Biana sighed. “You’re right. I just . . . didn’t want to upset you. I
figured if I came here, you’d want to know what’s going on with Alvar
and—”
“What is going on with Alvar?” Fitz interrupted.
She shot him a look and pointed to where he’d pressed his hand
over his chest. “See? That’s what I mean! I knew you’d ask all kinds of
questions you don’t really want to know the answers to, and it’d mess
with that echo thing and set back your recovery. So I figured it’d be
better if I just checked in with Sophie and left you alone until you
were better.”
Fitz blew out a breath. “Well . . . I guess that’s a better excuse than
Mom and Dad’s.”
“It’s killing them, you know,” Biana said quietly. “Knowing you’re
here, still recovering, and don’t want to see them. I catch Mom crying
all the time.”
“Good,” Fitz said.
“Don’t be like that,” she told him.
“And don’t tell me you’re on their side now!” Fitz snapped back,
taking a long breath and rubbing his chest. “I’m fine,” he told Sophie
when he caught her staring at him.
“Want me to leave you guys alone to talk?” Sophie offered.
“No,” Biana told her. “He’ll be on better behavior if you’re here.”
Fitz rolled his eyes and Biana slumped against one of the cots.