Page 33 (1/2)

She beat theht at the final stroke frorandfather clock in the corner out in the corridor There was a quarter h the openIt wasn’t too cold, just cold enough to make you pull the covers to your chin and let the fresh air hit your face

It was the first time she’d slept over three hours in ht, suddenly sitting up just to look over to see Eed to her chest, her beautiful hair, free of its braid, tangled about her head She was safe

She felt tears sting her eyes, felt them ooze out and slowly trickle over her cheeks They’d been so very lucky As it turned out, she hadn’t been the important one in the equation, not that she’d ever really believed she actually would be

Rahter He would have continued to protect her until he’d gotten her back safely

The tears ca She stuffed her fist into her mouth

"Molly? It’s okay"

How had he heard her? Eood for you I’ll bet this is the first tio Think you can?"

She kept crying and he kept talking, saying nothing really, just nonsense Then, "Ma?"

Emht, E because she’s so relieved you’re safe She’s been on the edge for a really long time She’s been really scared for you"

Molly was hiccuping, crying, and now laughing Emma had wrapped her arms around her

"I feel better now Thanks, Ehter’s neck, and felt as happy as she’d ever felt in her life In that instant, she reo, when she’d believed there was no way she could have been happier It had been a lie