The crash of leaving Henry didn’t hit Ella as she got off the bus at the police station. She kept the dam in place in her mind, hoping she could get through all the changes that needed to be made before she was crushed by the weight of it all. If she was truly going to stand on her own, she knew she couldn’t go back to the life she’d once accepted as her only option.
She filed a police report for the black eye, showing them the photo Henry had taken of her on her phone as proof. She explained the whole story, proving that the house she’d let get taken over by the Tremaine women was, in fact, hers. “I need them out, but they won’t go without a fight. I’d rather not get hit again, if I can help it.”
“Eviction isn’t all that simple. If they’ve been paying you rent, they have thirty days to leave.”
“They’ve never paid a thing. Lady Tremaine’s been living there because she doesn’t like my Pulse, and thinks I’m dangerous.” Ella had kept the winter gloves Rory had bought her, and took a page from Cordray’s book, flexing her gloved fingers to incite fear.
The police officer’s eyes widened. “Are you a Lethal?”
“I’m a tax-paying citizen who’s never harmed anyone. I’m asking for a police escort to get rid of abusive squatters who have no legal right to be in my home. I don’t use my Pulse to solve my problems, which is why I’m here, abiding by the law.” Ella met his eyes with a firm but kind smile. “I trust you can respect that.”
The officer was sweating, but stammered through his response. “Of course. Lethals are protected under the same laws as everyone else. Let me look into the name on the deed of your home, and I’ll see what I can do.”
Ella didn’t get up, but waited patiently for the help she requested while she called a locksmith, asking him to meet her at her address in an hour. Leaving Henry had been the hardest line to cross, which made everything else that had seemed so impossible mere hours ago look laughably simple.
Everything was expedited when a Lethal was involved. The officer she’d petitioned handed off the job to two cops who looked like they wrestled trolls for a living. Both of them were easily several inches over six feet tall, and kept their hands on their belts, as if readying to defend themselves against the meek woman.
Ella smiled up at them, brushing a few stray blonde curls from her face. “I’m sorry I’m making you guys uncomfortable. If only I’d been born with a Pulse to make people laugh at my jokes, right?”
The corner of the mouth of the officer standing nearest to her twitched, giving in to the gentleness she couldn’t help but radiate. She did her best to put the men at ease, wondering how Cordray did it so effortlessly.
In the back of the squad car, Ella’s phone buzzed with a call from Henry. The moment she heard his voice, she felt a pressure behind her eyes. “Hello?”
“Tell me that didn’t just happen. Tell me I hallucinated the worst thing in my life. Tell me you didn’t leave me.”
Ella cradled the phone as if it was his hand on her face. “I love you. The people we love never truly leave us. Don’t you feel me in your heart?”
“I do, but I want to feel you in my arms. Come home. This is madness.”
“Actually, I’m on my way home right now. Not to Remus’ place, but mine. After tonight, it’s going to be all mine. I’m kicking out Lady Tremaine and her daughters. I don’t care what happens to me anymore.”
Henry gasped. His next words came out in a rush. “I’m so proud of you. I’m on my way.”
“No. This is something I have to do on my own.”
“That woman is a monster! There’s no way I’m letting you have a confrontation with her without me there in case things go south. Am I not allowed to love you now?”
Ella couldn’t help the smile that played on her lips. “You really do love me.”
Henry let out a sigh of exasperation. “It’s like you’re trying to vex me on purpose. Of course I love you. Always and only you.”
“Stay where you are. Coming here would only complicate things with your father. I’m not going alone. I’ve got the cops with me.”
“With you now? Hand them the phone. I want to speak with them.”
“Now’s not the time to go public.”
“I only want to have a little chat with the boys in blue about my dear friend Ella. What’s the harm in that?”
“Behave,” she scolded him before handing up the phone to the officer in the passenger’s seat. She sent out her Listening, feeling nervous using her abilities inside a police car, but it was worth it to hear Henry’s voice just a little while longer.
“Officer, this is Prince Henry of Avondale. What’s your name?”
“This is Officer Klein. Is this truly Prince Henry?”
“It is. I want you to make sure Lady Tremaine doesn’t lay a hand on Ella. It would be considered a personal favor to me if you could keep an eye on the house until the Tremaines have collected their things and are off the property. In fact, I’d like you to stay until I can get a locksmith there.”
“I already called the locksmith, Prince Henry,” Ella chimed in from the back, using his formal title so as not to appear overly flirtatious.
“Very well, then please stay with her until I can get a security system installed tonight.” Then he raised his voice to be heard through the car. “Bet you didn’t think of that!”
Ella smirked at his protective nature, grateful that, even though she couldn’t be with him, they could hold their connection in their hearts, untarnished from the world that threatened to pull them apart.