ws of the fountain. Her bare feet stepp

voice cut through the night air like a whip. She ordered Offi

ed mere inches away from the lockdo

nuine shock at seeing Ava outside. She hadn't

eet facade and took a step toward Ava. "Sister, w

ast her, her shoulder brushing roughly against Seraphin

dark and unforgiving. "Who gave you the aut

at Seraphina. "Miss Vance told me... she said they w

"Since when do you have the right to d

her eyes well up with tears. "I was only trying to protect th

re disdain. She turned her back on Seraphin

s hands. "Miss Sinclair, please. Protocol dicta

the guard dead in the eye. "I am the primary heir to

hisper, "or I will have you fired and blacklisted from ever

ority, Officer Miles stepped aside. He was sweating pr

button on the console. The massive iron ga

heavily on his cane. His stern expression in

ssessed the situation immediately, noting Ava's bare fe

gates. She entirely abando

his bespoke wool coat. The familiar scent of cedar and ex

he immediately wrapped a protective arm around his granddaug

cket and draped it gently over Ava's shivering shoulders.

e Ava had failed, ran up to the gates.

gustus, trying to act like a lo

pped his silver-tipped cane. His cold eyes

us stated in a booming voice that echoe

e looked down at Seraphina like she was a pi

e family so informally again," Griffin

. Her hands clenched into tight fists at her sid

brow, realizing he had almost turned away the most po

rity personnel. The guard immediately jogged over to the fountain, retrieved Ava's