ELORA My heart beat a frantic rhythm in my chest and a lump formed at the back of my throat as tears sprang behind my eyes. Could it really be true? Was I really not alone anymore? It felt so strange to hear someone so ardently profess the desire to protect me after so long. To know that there was someone other than my family that knew the truth of everything that had happened. For the first time in a long time, I felt the stirrings of hope in my blood. "Oh, Gael. It wasn't your fault those bastards ruined us..." "It wasn't. But I have made it my mission to bring those bastards to justice.” He professed moving so fast I had barely even seen him move to stand before me. Grabbing my hands in one large calloused hand, he placed the other under my chin and pushed my head up to look at

