V

rivate jet and stopp

of them. All shiny and expensive. Men in dark su

tterly to myself. I didn't know w

would come for me. Seraphina, Alaric. Maybe even

g on my shoulder

e men nodd

back, Mi

Miss

a second, but I nodde

le. It was a Rolls-Royce. I paused for a moment, my e

n't make me fe

d the door closed behind me. T

t my phone. If I didn't call my best friend,

connecte

anded?" s

did." I r

ing to think something

, "have you seen you

ightened arou

't expect him to leave w

brother doesn't even check on his sister? All he does

ftly, trying

ke that," I said. "Yo

ntry's top company and all that," s

y imagine her r

red past. "It's fine, Stacy. I'll call yo

d. "And Ava... take c

wi

ust as tall iron ga

Hale

ked wider than I remembered. The main house appeared ahead, exq

d have f

chest, reminding me that I was stepping back

pped at the

but in a way that made everything else look less important. Ria, the housekeeper, st

ened, and I

ard me immediately an

to see you

you too," I said,

at you," she said. "You've g

odded. "You

t to say when people talked about my

ent i

ensive. Many things had changed, but some

her, sat reading the newspaper.

a small smile. "Welcome h

fine,"

again on your grad

u," I said

nd returned

ound the room wit

ed. "Are you loo

uickly. "No

y like she didn't

visiting th

ted beating faster. I nodded

she said. "We

and went

the door to my

g had c

ow. It felt like the room had been waiting for me,

t neatly on top. My friends from high sc

ne picture an

me and

Lucien stood beside me, taller even then,

mbered

her. It was my sixteenth birthday, and the next mo

oto of us together. A

shook my head. I didn't wa

the bed. The maids had alr

water was warm, exactly what I needed. I stayed there lo

gown from the wardrobe. It had a soft flora

and stood in fr

e it hadn't been before. My skin was clear. My hair fell d

ould try modelling for a skincare brand. I

hair and turned

the door knob, I heard a

en wa