Page 65 of Locked

I just didn't know how to do that. Not without putting every single person involved being placed in danger.

The only thing I could see working would be me leaving on my own.

Except I wouldn't make it downstairs before the tower exploded. Someone would have to be here to remain in my place.

And there was no one I could think of who I wanted to condemn in that way.

Well. There was one person.

Of course, that person, the one who came to mind, was impossible.

Mother.

She would never fall for it. I'd also have to get out without her realizing thatI'dgone.

And I'd have to get far enough away that she couldn't find me afterwards. After she inevitably undid the curse to get herself out of the tower and began to track me down.

It was all so impossible.

But staying here alone was impossible too.

So I had to figure out something. I wasn't going to rot away in this tower, waiting for Mother to get tired of me. I wanted, no…deserveda life of my own. And it was already starting without me.

Rifyr tapped on the doorframe with his foot. "Knock knock, ready for breakfast?"

I smiled and nodded, pulling my knees up to my chest as he entered with the waffles.

I'd figure it out another day. For now, I had Rifyr. And I wasn't about to waste any of my time with him.