Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“Don’t pretend like you actually care how we feel about this,” Fitz
interrupted.
“We do,” Della promised.
“Then why didn’t you talk to us before you gave the Council
permission?” Biana asked. “We have to live with him too.”
“And we have to deal with the drama,” Fitz added. “If you think this
is bad”—he pointed to the last few Vackers grumbling their way out of
the hall—“wait until we’re back at school. You should hear the things
people are saying about us.”
Sadly, he wasn’t exaggerating. Foxfire had been back in session for
a couple of weeks, and everywhere Fitz and Biana went, Sophie heard
very unpleasant whispers.
“It’ll quiet down soon,” Della promised.
“I doubt it,” Biana mumbled.
“Well, even if you’re right,” Alden said, “this is hardly the first time
we’ve had anyone gossip about our family. You didn’t care when Fitz
was sneaking off to the Forbidden Cities to find Sophie and people
were wondering where he was disappearing to. And neither of you
thought twice about running off to join the Black Swan, even though
you knew you’d be banished.”
“But this time the people gossiping about us are right!” Fitz
snapped. “You’re making us live with a murderer!”
“You won’t be living with him,” Alden corrected. “You’ll be living
near him. And you’ll be able to control whether you have any contact.”
“Like that makes a difference,” Fitz muttered.
“It does a little,” Biana conceded. “But you should’ve warned us
about this before we got here.”
Della wrung her hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”