Flashback ( PDFDrive )

cheeks, or quickened breaths, or any other tells that might give away
how hard her heart was currently pounding.
But Fitz had been the one to hail her, and she wouldn’t ignore him.
Plus, she’d been looking for a distraction anyway.
After she’d left Flori alone in the shadowy thicket, Tarina had
helped Sandor set up the scarecrowlike dummy for his lesson with
Tam, Linh, Marella, and Wylie. Sophie knew it was only a matter of
time before there’d be screaming and fake-but-traumatic splattering.
“How long do you think it’ll take Flori to finish the song?” Fitz
asked.
The hope threaded through the words made her wish she didn’t
have to tell him, “I have no idea. Flori said she’s trying to find where
to begin, so I guess it’s possible it’ll all pour out once she starts. But I
have a feeling it’s going to be verse by verse. Maybe even lyric by
lyric.”
Fitz ran a hand down his face, muffling a sigh. “Yeah, you’re
probably right.”
“Why? Is your echo causing problems?” she asked.
“Kind of. It’s just . . . it’s always there. Every time I think it’s
starting to fade, Alvar spouts some sappy ‘look how perfect I am’
garbage, or my mom turns all misty eyed and I feel my pulse start to
get away from me—and I know how to keep it under control. But . . .
I’m getting sick of deep breaths and having to choke back everything I
want to say, you know?”
Sophie nodded. “Well . . . at least today’s your last day having to be
around Alvar, right?”
“It is,” he agreed, sounding more tired than relieved. “Starting
tomorrow, no one can make me go anywhere near him unless I ask to.