"I suppose I can't complain," Ellie said, tempted for a moment to spill everything that had been worrying her to the former Crown. There was no question he was in a better position than just about anyone to light a fire under Gabriel. But that really wouldn't be fair. "I feel like I'm in a bit of a holding pattern. It's good to have a safe haven--well, mostly safe," she amended with a disgruntled glance back in the direction of the lobby, "but sometimes I almost wonder if I wasn't better off staying under the radar on my own. The place gets to feeling almost a prison sometimes."

Of course, she had no one but herself to blame for that. Unlike many of the Manor residents, she was here entirely by her own choice, not by Adam's summons. Just her bad luck that everyone she cared about in the slightest happened to be here too.