Flashback ( PDFDrive )

each containing an orange blob. “This is the antidote that Silveny and
Greyfell need. And I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she warned,
pointing her silver weapon at Ro’s chest and freezing the ogre princess
midlunge. “Another fun fact about soporidine: Your body reacts more
harshly to it every time you’re exposed. So considering how close you
came to dying last time, I’d recommend spending the rest of this
conversation right where you are. Same goes for whatever you’re doing
with those shadows, Tam.” Her eyes flicked to the Shade. “There’s no
reason for you to bring pain upon yourself. How about we make a deal
instead?”
Sophie stood up straighter. “We’ll never give you the baby alicorns.”
“Yes, I figured you might say that, considering our location. The
good news is, I don’t want them. My plans now go far beyond trying to
blackmail the Council with the Timeline to Extinction.”
“Then why are we here?” Keefe demanded.
His mom smiled. “Just because I don’t personally want the babies
doesn’t make them any less valuable. I knew the second Umber
followed you here that it would be a crucial bargaining chip. Mind
you, I’d been planning to use it for something else, but . . .
circumstances change.”
“When did Umber follow us here?” Sophie asked—then shivered
when her brain dredged up the answer. “Wait—was she that presence
Fitz and I felt in the forest?”
Lady Gisela nodded. “Umber can track your echoes—or . . . she
could. Before . . .” She heaved a heavy sigh. “So much talent, wasted by
such a senseless accident.”
“It wasn’t an accident,” Sophie argued. “Tarina warned her not to
open that door.”