Flashback ( PDFDrive )

finishing up without me?”
The gnomes each gave a green thumbs-up and set to work, causing
a whole lot more roaring as Grady guided Sophie back down the path,
with Sandor glued to her side. The rest of her guards slipped into what
must’ve been a previously agreed-on formation, with Bo taking point,
Flori flanking Sophie’s opposite side, and Tarina bringing in the rear.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Grady said when the house came into view.
“Edaline made enough treats to feed an entire city.”
“I’m starving,” Sophie admitted.
Also thirsty.
And sitting down did sound really, really good.
A deep ache was settling into every muscle—even ones she didn’t
know existed—and she was trying not to let it frustrate her. But it was
hard not to wish she could fast-forward to the part where she’d be 100
percent back to . . .
All thoughts dropped away when she stepped through the door to
Havenfield, into the enormous main room with its elegant white
furnishings and gleaming chandeliers. It looked so much homier than
it had the day Sophie moved in, even though everything was
essentially the same. Maybe it was the dents in the pillows and the
footprints on the rugs and all the other tiny signs of life that were now
everywhere.
Or maybe it was because it smelled like butter and melting sugar
and a million other yummy things that had Sophie’s stomach
unleashing a growl that could’ve rivaled the gorgodon’s.
Edaline burst through the door from the kitchen to greet them, and
then there was a whole lot more hugging and crying—plus lots of
questions about how Sophie was feeling. Sophie also mumbled an