Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Not as much as it usually had—and she’d still have to be careful
about how much she used it.
But . . . things really were getting back to normal.
“You sure your concentration’s up for a leap like this?” Grady asked
as Bo and Tarina linked hands with the others. “You’re going to have
to hold everyone together.”
Sophie nodded, feeling a fresh burst of confidence. “Yeah. Don’t
worry—I’ve got this.”
She called for the Leapmaster to lower the crystal for Everglen, and
after one quick breath, she imagined her concentration wrapping
around her overprotective group like thick, heavy cloth. When
everyone was fully covered—completely in her hold—she smiled at
both of her parents. Then she stepped into the Leapmaster’s path and
let the light carry them away.
• • •
Sophie told herself she was running because she didn’t want to be late.
Not because she was trying to put some distance between herself and
her horde of bodyguards—and definitely not because she’d spotted a
familiar figure standing next to the glowing bars of Everglen’s massive
gate.
Apparently, she was lying to herself a lot that day.
And she probably would’ve been better off walking at a normal
pace, because it meant she was sweaty and out of breath by the time
she reached Fitz. But that did give her a ready excuse for her redflushed
cheeks when Fitz threw his arms around her, whispering,
“Thank you for doing this.”