Chapter 10

Dark and intimidating, at least the palace had elegance and beauty, not a scare tactic to ward off thieves. Mayura sat in the hideout as Bently went about his mission, all the while she was thinking up a plan of her own. Somewhere within that correctional facility was Rajan, Sly, and Murray. Bently had come up with a plan to bust Sly out first, since he was more agile and more equipped with handling these situations.

At long last the hideout door slammed open and the two rushed in, Bently looking as stressed as a mocking bird trying to mimic a cricket." We made it!"

" I'm so glad!" Squealed Mayura as they took their seats. Now the turtle went into explaining how they would get Murray out and leave, but the wolf wasn't about to go without the other person she'd come for." As Sly breaks in I'll follow but..I have a plan of my own and a way to do it also. I'm sure you'll both understand...if I can't pull it off I'll be right behind you and help free Murray."

Both of the men looked at eachother then smiled," Right."

The chimes sounded in her head as they approached the building, and of course, after Bently took one of the tanks. This was it, her one real chance to prove to herself that she could do whatever she set her mind to, nothing could possibly stop her.

After just busting down the door Sly looked towards Bently then at Mayura," Come on you two!"

As soon as they were inside all the tension from before returned, it was so heavily guarded even a tiny ant would get caught. Which way, she thought looking down both hallways, in the end she had to follow directly after Sly. He took out some guards and they proceeded, a hall that looked deserted caught her eye, for some odd reason. In addition to the gut feeling she had her sense of smell came in handy, she could not only smell his unique scent but hear him shifting around on some sort of springed mattress.

" Sly...go on without me, I think I found what I've been looking for."

Bounding down the passage she heard Sly's distinct footsteps as he jumped but the sound of breathing was what snared her attention back to her goal at hand. Just as she thought Rajan sat in his cell with a wounded expression, not just his pride but bruises all along his shoulders and chest.

" Dear Lord!" Cried Mayura, startling him and anyone else down the hall.

Getting to his feet Rajan wasted no time in reaching her," Mayura, you were serious when you—"

" Of course I was!" Throwing her arms, as best as she could, around his neck through the bars, Mayura held him like that for what seemed like forever." Sly's here for his friend Murray and so am I, but I came here with you on my mind. Listen, Rajan, you know when you said my mother was in this world?"

" Yes."

Taking a bobby pen from her hair that she had there just for the purpose of unlocking the jail cell and began picking away," You were right...apparently I have more than one family member here and I believe—shoot—that I saw one. She was a silver wolf with ocean eyes...just like you said before we..well, kissed."

" And a sweet moment that was," the scowl she gave him made the tiger laugh, causing her to chuckle in response. As he was about to say more Mayura opened the cell door and draped her arms around his waist. Pressing her against him was all he wanted at the moment, that and her safety, which she didn't have at The Contessa's facility." How I've missed you..."

Mayura smiled and with tearful eyes looked up at the man that held her," I've missed you too...so much. That's why I couldn't leave you here...I love you. I thought it was impossible...but you've shown me how no matter how much pain my heart suffers...there will be someone there to help me."

It was all more than he could handle, from the confession to her sweet voice saying how much he'd come to mean to her." For you..."

" W-what..?"

" For you, that is why I will stay here, if I leave I'll be considered even more of a criminal, so I'll stay here for your sake..." As her tears threatened to spill over he brushed them away." If I am to be there for you..it will be when I have cleared myself of my criminal ways."

Tightening her hold Mayura looked so anguished it tore at his heart even more," But you don't have to...you're already here for me why would—"

" So I can be someone who people will respect...and someone who you can be proud of."

" But I'm already proud of you Rajan!" Easing her head against his chest the tiger stroked her hair and whispered his regrets, until her sobbing came to an end." What can I do...to change you mind...?"

That simple sentence was his undoing but he answered despite the tears he knew it would cause," Nothing, love...there is nothing. But you can allow me, while we have the time, to show you just how much I love you...will you let me do that?"

" Yes..." She spoke barely above a whisper but he heard it and his heart leaped in his chest.

stressed to the max...fanning self with a dictionary I'm worried that I'm not doing a good job with this story so far sweatdrop Yeah...I'm a lover of Romance Books, especially Gaelen Foley, her Knight Family series rocks! Ahem, it's quite cute.

While in the first chapter of The Contessa I screamed after we freed Murray—I never knew he was so frickin' fast! lol I had my nieces watching me as I played and I'm jumpy anyways, they'd scream and I'd freak out. Heheh, I'm hopeless to a fault. Anyways, Chapter 11 up next!

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