Sophie groaned, dropping back to the grass hard enough to send Panakes petals scattering. “Please tell me you don’t think Lady Gisela messed with your memories.”

Oralie shook her head, making her circlet shimmer in the sunlight. “She didn’t. I did. Or… they did—whoever they are.”

“I have no idea what that means,” Sophie told her.

“Don’t you?” Oralie stretched out her arm and snapped her fingers, making a tiny glass sphere the size of a marble appear in the center of her palm.

A cache.

Sophie’s heart changed rhythm. “You’re saying stellarlune is a Forgotten Secret.”

“It’s part of one, at least. This one.” She raised the cache to Sophie’s eye level—and when the light hit the glass, it caught the tiny blue crystal set into the middle.

The only inner crystal.

“You only have one Forgotten Secret?” Sophie had to ask.

Kenric’s cache had glittered with seven.

“Empaths shatter more easily, so the Council has to be very selective with how often they involve me in their more fraught situations. And the only challenge that they’ve ever decided was desperate enough to need my help was this one.” She tilted her hand, letting the cache roll slowly around her palm. “And… it had something to do with stellarlune. So I’m willing to help you access the memory—but only if you promise we’ll face this truth together.”

Sophie plucked the cache from Oralie’s palm, watching the light shift in the tiny inner crystal, which was more of a pale blue than a deep blue. “If this is your idea of mother-daughter bonding…”

“No—this is about trust. If I show you what’s in this cache, I’ll be violating some of the most fundamental vows I’ve made as a Councillor. And you’re the only person I’m willing to take that risk for.”

Sophie snorted. “Right, because my very existence violates a ton more vows you made.”

Oralie sighed, but admitted, “That too.”

There was no warmth in her voice—no regret in her eyes.

But… maybe Sophie didn’t need there to be.

She didn’t need another mother.

She needed answers.

That’s what Oralie was offering her.

One, at least.

One truth that had been erased.

And Sophie wanted it.

Needed it.

And Keefe might never wake up without it.

But her conscience still forced her to say, “I thought the Forgotten Secrets were things that could damage your sanity if you remembered them.”

“They are. That’s another risk I’m willing to take. The question is, are you?” She let the question dangle for a second before she added, “It’s going to get ugly, Sophie. And I can’t guarantee your safety—or mine. All I can offer is truth—and I’m ready to get started. If you’re ready to trust me.”

She held out her hand, asking for her cache.

And Sophie hesitated only a second before placing it gently in Oralie’s palm, pressing her hand over it to seal their bargain.

She didn’t need to weigh her options or think through consequences or doubt herself or stress or panic.

She could do all of that later, as she fought her way through.

Right now, only one thing mattered.

“I’m ready,” Sophie told Oralie, doing her best to channel Keefe’s confidence as she added, “Bring it on.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

So… raise your hand if you’re mad at me for that cliff-hanger!

*pauses while the entire Keeper fandom raises their hands*

I know… I know. I’m probably going to need to go into hiding until book nine comes out.

Must. Write. Faster.

In all seriousness, though, despite how cruelly I treat you guys with my endings, I hope you know how much I love each and every one of you. We’re on an epic journey together with this series—a glorious sleep-deprived adventure! (for me, at least)—and I truly wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for trusting me to guide you through this story. And thank you, thank you, thank you for not throwing your books at my head (these things are heavy!).

I worked some of the longest hours I’ve ever worked in my life to get this book done in time. But the truly amazing thing is how many people at Simon & Schuster suffered through the same schedule with me—and how many more work tirelessly every day behind the scenes to make sure this series finds its way to stores, schools, libraries, and readers. It’s such an honor and a joy to work with so many inspiring people, including Liesa Abrams Mignogna—my endlessly patient editor—and Jon Anderson, Mara Anastas, Chriscynethia Floyd, Katherine Devendorf, Rebecca Vitkus, Chelsea Morgan, Elizabeth Mims, Karin Paprocki, Mike Rosamilia, Adam Smith, Stacey Sakal, Cassie Malmo, Lauren Hoffman, Caitlin Sweeny, Alissa Nigro, Anna Jarzab, Nicole Russo, Jessica Smith, Sara Berko, Michelle Leo, Jenn Rothkin, Ian Reilly, Christina Pecorale, Victor Iannone, and the entire sales team. And Jason Chan never ceases to wow me with his gorgeous cover illustrations.

I’m also incredibly lucky to work with my brilliant and supportive agent, Laura Rennert, who truly is my lifeline in this chaotic business (same goes for everyone else at Andrea Brown Literary and Taryn Fagerness Agency).

And I’m in awe of how hard Cécile Pournin and Mathilde Tamae-Bouhon—and everyone at Lumen Editions—work to get my books translated for French readers every year, despite my down-to-the-wire deadlines.

To all the booksellers, the teachers, the librarians, the bloggers, and the #bookstagrammers who go out of your way to support this series: Please know that I see you. I adore you. And I would not be where I am without you. You truly are my heroes.

This year has been an interesting year for me, filled with some of the greatest joys and biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. And all of that madness might’ve unraveled my creativity if it weren’t for a host of supportive, inspiring people.

Debra Driza: I know I already dedicated the book to you—but I have to thank you here, too, because I truly wouldn’t have survived this deadline without you. Thank you for the snacks, for the abundance of iced tea, and for talking me through Every. Single. Plot hole. Here’s hoping for many more Shannon-and-Deb writing days in the future!

Thank you, Faith Hochhalter and Brandi Stewart, for being an endless source of wisdom on all things book/event related, and for all of the texts, calls, and hilarious GIFs. I’m so glad this business brought us together. *jazz hands*

Thank you, Kelly Ramirez, for proving that some friendships truly do last a lifetime, and for providing excellent pep talks, perfect distractions, and an abundance of Instagram wisdom.

Thank you, Kari Olson, for always making yourself available for a desperate brainstorming session—and for all the cute animal picture motivation. (The aardwolf mention in Legacy is for you!)

Thank you, Alexander Morelli, for teaching me about mindfulness exercises (best deadline coping mechanism ever!) and then not judging me for twisting one of them around to serve my plotting purposes. You saved the hardest scene in the book!

Thank you, C. J. Redwine, for being my writing check-in buddy on the longest deadline days, Sarah Wylie for the wonderful e-mails (and for not judging my long gaps between replies), Amy Tintera for putting up with my really long text messages, and Roshani Chokshi for always being fabulous (and inspiring me to try to be the same).