ming of a guitar, her boots crunching agains
oice cut through the stillness as sh
jolt through her, and she immediately dropped her ha
a long time. "I-" The words caught in her throat. Her mind raced, torn between fea
down. "Captain Mufasa what?" H
ise to captain Mufasa, and swallowed hard. Ev
ng her voice steady. "He... he's recove
issed it with a wave of her hand, her co
etter, the wax seal glinting in the dim lig
went
heavy. House Keil. It's been three years... Dr
in Mufasa's torment, free from his suffocating grip, and his
mart of you to return," she purred, unfolding the letter with deliber
sfied nod. "Pre
lora, suffocating her. Her hands clenche
nger. Or... maybe I should return to Mufa
be a sentence worse than any suffering she had ever en
o
And this time, s
hing away," Carol snappe
tar aside and stood up. "
owing. "And why are you doing nothing, you lazy girl? A guitar won't put food on the
o the city center and fetch the milk gallons. And while you're at it, remi
I should wait a bit longer." She n
I won't tolerate your laziness
hone rang. She answe
purred, her voice d
mes. His voice came sharp and demanding. "Yo
ering her in one piece. However, the deal
" captain Mufasa snapped, fu
use you took too long to be a man, Mufasa. Old lady Stee
know about your plan to
ration. "She was already betrothe
ol. How much lower can you si
giggled, unfazed by his scorn. "Now that Sir E
o pay back," he warned. "You tricked me into believing that Alor
who once looked down on us-like that smug Serene and the arrogant elite leader Lupita-are already crawling back,
u and Todd are playing a dangerous
ll be ready soon enough," she
nto her car and drove away. There w
, Alora contempla
ed as she weigh
uld make her his pawn, his captive, his plaything, but her
unknown. Leave Provid
The world outside was vast, unfamiliar, and ruthless. But for the first time, her
ision w
e had hidden away in the stable. Her fingers brushed the
eyes. Could she
ar had been her voice when no one listened, her solace when the worl
rn for you.
ay, she steeled her resolv
back her life. She was heading for Willowy Heights-the on