betrayal was a cons

o her sessions with Dr.

Path," Dr. Re

naling, and working with her own stal

d given her, focusing on its coolness, tryi

find her own strength, the stre

ink to them, lay on the small tab

heir legacy, not just f

ty Peak, whispers from the outs

world, a few loyal grooms from Blackw

sabelle Thorne, front

er a champion mare

ng they' re the n

f pain, a reminder of her own f

ase," while Isabelle was the polished,

iliatio

focus on Dr. Reed' s words

ling at Isabelle, his hand on her a

, refusing to be banished by calm

process, the "intense" part

didn't mak

r hand, a conduit for the tur

ix in the quiet, sun-dappled stables near

ssed in designer riding gear, though Ellie

ind older man named Ben

te area. Miss Vance isn

ive hand, her expression

l see me. Ethan is...

ng on the cobblestones, an unwelcome

d Ellie by Ph

surveying Ellie with a look that wa

have here. Hiding away i

h, cultured, and dr

atic. He sent me to check. He' s very thoughtful, y

ns" hung in the air,

nger rise, but she foug

elle the satisfaction

belle continued, her eyes flicking over Ell

wood Estates. But I suppose it

, a cold,

n girl, clinging to her pony. It was quite touching, in a

Isabelle had clea

ou know? He finds your devotion... quaint. Lik

with physical force,

d tried to ignore, confirmed by the

all she' d ev

vely went to the sunsto

t, was shaking, but she tri

id, her words a desperate defense. "He said

nded weak, even

hed, a short,

to get what he wants. And for a while, he wanted you. Or rathe

her voice dropping to

He needs a partner n

er of something ugly in them – jea

ze fixed on the locket. "He said your m

d react, Isabelle

nails snagged the deli

tug, the cl

ing the dusty stable

, her voice devoid of

u let go of childish things, Elara.

in as she walked away, leaving Ellie staring at the

knees, her vision

symbol of everything she had lost, ev

s, the casual destruction of some

new feeling began to s

n anymore. This was about h

ket, its sunstone sti

en, but the stone

ought. Damaged,

he would find a way to fix what was

o longer just about healing; it w