Chapter 235
Chapter 236 Safe Harbor
Bethe time Torin and his men arrived, only the hovercar’s taillights were vanishing into the distance.
Ayla watched Torin’s dark, storm-cloud expression, and a flicker of bitter satisfaction stirred inside her.
But the small spark of triumph faded fast, slipping iñtu dejection.
“Even if I go back, they’ll lecture me nonstop. They’ll probably drag me straight off to the therapy room p>
Lyra turned her head and looked at her, plainly confused.
If these Sentinels made her so unhappy, why didn’t she just replace them?
Lyra typed the question out.
Ayla fell silent. Her lips twisted, working soundlessly, as if the words were hard to force out. It took her a long moment to speak.
“…They’re good to me in most ways. And… I do like them. That’s why I took them on as my personal guards in the first place.
“They hover and smother me, but deep down p>
Lyra had no patience for those excuses. Her brows drew tight, staring at Ayla in bewilderment.
What was she talking about?
What did liking have to do with picking personal guards?
From Lyra’s perspective, personal guards were supposed to be a practical partnership. You trusted them to keep you safe, and in return, you bore the duty to purify their contamination. It was mutual aid, plain and simple.
“So… I do not plan to abandon them for now p>
Ayla finished speaking and met Lyra’s unblinking gaze head-on. Her heart gave a nervous lurch.
“W-what is it p>
Lyra glanced at her, then dropped her eyes. Her fingers hovered over her input device and froze.
For a second, she did not even know how to phrase her confusion.
Before she could figure it out, Zane spoke up.
“Ms. Kaelin, we’ve arrived p>
Lyra lifted her gaze, opened the door, and pulled Ayla inside her house.
She typed. “I just got back today. None of these rooms has been used yet. Pick whichever one you like and get some rest p>
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Ayla stared, dumbfounded.
Fituh p>
That was unbelievably kind. Lyra was going all-in for her.
“I-1…” She stammered, still struggling to believe it.
Right then, Torin and his men came rushing onto the scene.
Looking at the new Guide who had run off with their own Guide, they did not look happy.
Still mindful of Lyra’s status, they held their tongues.
Torin spoke only to Ayla.
“Ayla, stop this nonsense. Come home with us p>
He reached out, intending to take her away.
Lyra leaned calmly against the doorframe,completely unruffled.
Zane stepped forward and blocked him, firm and unyielding.
“Torin, this is Ms. Kaelin’s private property. You have no right to approach, and you cannot enter without invitation p>
Lyra was glad Zane read the room so well. Unlike the members of the other two squads, who stood beside Torin as if they backed his side.
Torin shot Zane a cold, sharp look. He kept his tone measured and polite as he addressed Lyra.
“Ms. Kaelin, we mean no disturbance. We only wish to retrieve our Guide. Her psychic state requires immediate therapy room treatment p>
Lyra typed back, steady as ever.
“If you respect the Guide’s wishes, then do not make noise. Let her go upstairs and rest, instead of forcing her to keep pushing herself and go do some therapy p>
She turned toward Ayla and typed, “Do you want to go upstairs, or leave with them p>
Her eyes rested quietly on Ayla, waiting for the answer.
Ayla looked out at her personal guards, every face tight and serious. Then she looked back at Lyra, calm and unpressured.
Loyalty versus kindness.
Since she had come to the White Citadel, no one had ever cared what she truly wanted the way Lyra did. Gratitude welled up inside her. Her long-bottled-up emotions had finally found a safe harbor.
She was not going to pass up this rare chance to breathe, shut the whole world out for a little while.
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After barely any hesitation, she called out to Torin and the rest.
staying here with Ms. Kaelin for a while. You can either head back, or wait outside p>
Relief flickered across Lyra’s face.
Torin frowned sharply. “Ayla p>
Ayla set her jaw. “Don’t say another word. I’m staying right here today.
“And don’t try bursting in. Ms. Kaelin can have you all removed p>
With that, she turned and stepped inside the house.
Lyra threw one glance toward Torin’s group, then led Ayla up the stairs.
“Ayla!” Torin and his men kept calling, trying to change her mind.
Zane moved to block their line of sight.
“Please keep your voices down. You will disturb the two Guides’ rest p>
Torin glared at him, chest heaving with rage.
“Zane p>
Zane gave a polite, shallow nod. He gestured for his squad to spread out around the building, securing the people inside.
There was nothing Torin and his men could do. Fuming, they took up watch outside the estate’s perimeter.
Upstairs, through the large window, Ayla watched the Sentinels forced to back off.
“You’re incredibly brave,” she said with open admiration.
Lyra had swept her away to this private home right under the noses of all those Sentinels, with zero advance warning.
They stood in an upstairs sitting room. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the whole space with warm sunlight.
Lyra sat down on a sofa, her expression unchanged.
She typed, “Have you picked a room to rest in p>
Ayla laughed a little sheepishly.
“After everything that just happened… I’m not even tired anymore p>
Lyra lifted an eyebrow.
Ayla seemed to guess her thought and took a seat.
“It’s just… you stuck your neck out for me. If I left with them right away, that would feel so ungrateful.
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“And p>
He shoulders drooped little by little. She kept pressing her lips together; those small gestures softened her
round features,
Lyra watched her.
“I just need to catch my breath,” Ayla said, her voice low. “All these Sentinels are supposed to protect us Half the time, though… they feel more like enemies p>
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Feral Sentinels Obey Only Her
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.