{{Unedited}} Austin looked down at his left finger noting the new ring. It was black, matte and there was a small shimmering blue band of radianite in the center. It was otherworldly, but reminded him of ice. This ring had a secret, as did hers. He pulled it back from the base of his finger …

{{Unedited}} Austin hadn’t heard his own voice crying out her name. Nor would he remember rushing to her, and firing at the assailant with his arm gun long enough to take hold of Kirra’s wrist and pull her around the back of the fountain. He wouldn’t remember that he used his jacket to prop her …

{{Unedited}} Neither of them said a word the entire ride home and Marielle spent most of the time leaning against the window, sobbing, thinking about Austin and how more than anything she wanted to talk to him; to hold him. She’d felt the emptiness in him open up before she and Vincent left. No, not …