Page 9 of Ellie 3

More like it was time people woke up to the truth and women were still mistreated all over the world.

The woman stepped off the elevator with her daughter and the nurse who was in charge of discharging her. She did a double take at everyone gathered and understanding slowly filled her eyes.

The female doctor nearest her extended her hand. “Good luck. Know we’re with you, hon.”

The abused vampire who had escaped blinked back tears as she accepted the encouragement. She moved on to the next person in the receiving line, taking in the advice, accepting hugs or handshakes—all of it. The daughter as well, some giving her stuffed animals or cute clothes for her new life.

It took a while because that many people were gathered, but no one seemed bored or annoyed at the time. This was the best part of the program. We’d saved one. Now we got to witness her fly from her cage into where she would be safe.

I could watch that all day, every fucking day.

Aurora shocked me by joining in, patting the woman’s shoulder and glancing at her daughter. “You will be stronger than you ever thought possible to give your daughter the future she deserves. The gods will bless your path and appreciate your gratitude.”

“Yes, I will always be grateful,” she agreed, her voice full of tears. “Thank you.”

I wished her luck and asked her again to always stay true to the program so she and her daughter kept safe. We’d never lostanyone who kept to the rules and worked with the plan. If there was a problem with the people hosting her, she could contact Alexis and she would handle it.

“Thank you, Ms. Reed, but my host already visited me and we will be fast friends,” the woman assured me, hugging her daughter to her. “I don’t judge the ones who waver because they once loved their husbands, but that was not my case. I look forward to my life being free and the day I can be a host to save someone else. Truly.”

“It will be here sooner than you think just as your host will tell you,” I promised. I smiled down at the little girl. “And you will thrive in your new settings and school. Study hard and appreciate that your mom risked everything to give you a better life, yeah?”

She nodded. “I’m going to be an attorney like Alexis and make bad people pay for hurting others. She’s a rockstar.”

I smiled when Alexis chuckled from a few feet away where she was talking with a woman that I assumed was the one hosting these two. I wished them luck and let them head off to their new home.

“So it’s like a fostering system but not just for a child or children,” Aurora surmised when I turned to her. She was staring at Alexis, the two women, and child who were talking. “The host has been through the program herself and understands the risks, knows who to contact—it’s not just a place to stay.”

“No, it’s not, and most of the hosts have had some sort of training,” I told her. “Several are former military or current police. We have dozens all over the country that host someone when they’re on leave from the military, and those are normally the trickier situations where we have tohidesomeone. They understand the risks and it’s more protective custody than couch crashing.”

“Because women’s shelters aren’t always safe and can be held against a woman when it comes time for court battles and such,” she muttered, bobbing her head. She very apparently wouldn’t look at me. “I’d love to be a part of something this wonderful, but I have absolutely nothing useful to contribute, Ellie. I would only hamper a flawless system like this.”

That was so far from the truth that it hurt my heart.

“That’s your abuse talking, Aurora,” I said gently, studying her carefully. “Would you be open to speaking to someone?”

Her mouth parted slightly before she corrected herself from showing emotion. “A professional? Therapy?”

“I’m speaking to someone,” I told her as I nodded.

She was quiet for several moments, once again showing the glaring differences from the Aurora Reed I used to know. The Aurora I knew was confident and her mind was set. Her goals laid out and ready for any change in her plans or retort someone might throw at her.

This was… A beaten down and broken version that made it hard for me to be angry with her when I was valid in hating her. It was very confusing and kept throwing me in ways that made me feel like I wasn’t just on uneven ground but trying to walk on water.

So move in impossible ways.

Awesome. Exactly what I needed at the moment.

Ha-joon moved behind me and I felt steady. Just that and I felt my footing become more secure.

“Just think about it,” he suggested gently. “Ellie’s not saying you have to.”

Aurora seemed relieved even as she was leery of him. She met my eyes. “I would like to but not yet. I would like to adjust to my new reality. I wasn’t given warning and had no idea what was even going on with Kenneth before being informed of everything and then given hours to pack a bag and tossed out.”

Wow, that was… Heartless didn’t fully cover it.

At. All.

“You’re going to go after them, right?” I hedged.

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