Flashback ( PDFDrive )

preparations for the hive. But then Alden and Della got there and . . .
and wanted to see the body. So they went in and . . . the cubby was
empty.”
“Empty,” Sophie repeated, struggling to find some other meaning
for the word.
Marella nodded. “The glass was broken, and half the goop had
spilled onto the floor. But . . . Alvar was in there for, like, an hour
without air—and Tarina said the liquid pours in super hot, so I don’t
see how—”
“Survival instincts,” Keefe interrupted, swiping a hand down his face
before his eyes met Sophie’s. “Breathing control and body temperature
regulation.”
Sophie wanted to kick something.
Alvar excelled at both skills. And he was a Vanisher, so he could’ve
turned invisible once he was free and snuck out the door.
“So . . . he’s still alive,” she murmured, needing to say it to make her
brain believe it.
“We think so,” Dex admitted.
“And Fitz freaked,” Marella added. “So . . . you should probably
check on your boyfriend.”
Sophie couldn’t tell if Marella was teasing or not. But either way,
the word sat there, daring her to deny it.
She didn’t.
But she didn’t confirm it either.
Because now was absolutely not the time.
She did take Marella’s advice, though, and reached out
telepathically to Fitz as soon as she crawled into bed—once she’d
survived Sandor’s “Seriously—no more running off!” lecture and