Flashback ( PDFDrive )

She didn’t. But it made sense.
How long have you been trying to reach me?
About fifteen minutes. It kinda gave me a headache, but I wanted to
check in without anyone being able to eavesdrop, so I just kept searching for
the tug and—
Tug? Sophie interrupted.
Yeah. Or maybe “pull” is a better word. I don’t know if it’s a Cognate
thing, or just because your telepathy is so strong, but my thoughts always go
straight to you.
Huh, Sophie thought, ordering her brain not to take those words
and run wild with them. She knew he didn’t mean them the way they
sounded.
But her heart refused to get the message and turned all fluttery.
And her stomach decided to join in with a few annoying flips.
Sorry I didn’t check in earlier, he told her. Did I wake you?
No. Iggy’s been terrorizing me with toxic farts. I swear he’s been saving
them up.
He laughed. Sounds about right. Still glad to be home, though?
Totally.
Is it weird being there with all the new bodyguards?
Yeah, she admitted, trying to keep her thoughts far away from
Tarina, since she’d promised Mr. Forkle she wouldn’t tell anyone yet.
But I’m sure it’s not as weird as what you’re dealing with. How’s it going
with your brother?
Ugh. It’s been rough. I knew it would be. But it’s even worse than I
imagined. Alvar’s just so . . . happy. Like today. He stopped in the middle of
his walk because he HAD to smell all the flowers. And then he got all choked
up about how beautiful they were and how amazing it is to smell something