"You help people," she repeated. "You've been in our world around a month and you've already gone out of your way to help at least three people. Most people don't do that. Most people only care about themselves, not others. You're different. You do the opposite and the world needs that badly.""Thanks, but I also put them in danger in the first place so I'm not sure it counts," Ethan replied."You didn't put Alana or me in danger," Rachel countered. "She was about to be eaten and the will-breaker ring was attacking me long before you arrived."Ethan nodded."Maybe that's your place in this world," Rachel continued. "Maybe helping others is something you're good at. Maybe that's your calling""I could live with that, it doesn't exactly come with a manual though.""Life rarely does,""You know, you're pretty wise," he said looking at the redhead with a newfound respect."Thank you. It's amazing what I've learned about myself since getting that ring off.""It's only been a couple days,"

Ethan recoiled as if someone had punched him in the face. He clutched his head the same way Alana was, like someone had turned the inside of his skull into a drum. They both fell to the ground and it took a few seconds for Alana's splitting headache to subside enough for rational thought.She looked around to get her bearings.The alley was deserted except for Ethan, Rachel, herself and Beth's body. Rachel stood frozen like a statue exactly where she had been when Beth...She shook her head, but that just caused the splitting headache to return. She waited a moment, and struggled to stand, both her hands and knees slipping several times in the wet cobblestone pavement. She got unsteadily on her feet, head still pounding from the echoing voice and being hit by the dragon's tail.The world had just stopped spinning when at least a dozen men – Arcanum guards by the uniforms – ran into the alley from both ends. They all had swords drawn and the moment they saw the dragon, they closed rank

"But, but what about my time with him? I want him to focus on me and our relationship. If he marries another woman, then he'll have to focus on her too.""Ah, but where does the Book of Light say your focus – or your husband's focus – should be?"Beth looked away sheepishly and mumbled. "On Illuminar Himself.""So, should you desire Ethan to completely focus on you?"Beth crossed her arms, clenched her teeth and mumbled a few choice words under her breath, but shook her head anyway."So then, wouldn't Ethan taking another wife serve as a constant reminder that he shouldn't focus exclusively on you, any more than you should focus on him?Beth decided the silent treatment was the right way to go. That would show this beautiful, smart and absolutely infuriating woman. Yes, the silent treatment would be perfect. Consequently, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air for several minutes.Or at least it made Beth uncomfortable.Gabriella didn't look the least bit uneasy. She just stood ther

Ethan struggled to his feet for the first time in almost two days. He heard the door behind him slam shut because the guard who released the straps hadn't stuck around to see what happened next.Ethan stretched all of his limbs to their utmost to work the kinks out after his long confinement. As he stretched, he noticed something very peculiar. His groin felt a little different. A quick peek showed he was back down to three testicles. The fourth one seemed to have disappeared since Beth died.*Are you ready for this?* Alana's voice rang out in his head. It was dripping with worry.*Ready as I'll ever be.* Ethan replied then put the missing testicle out of his mind. He had more pressing concerns right now, like preventing his imminent and gruesome death.The room He occupied was only about ten feet square. Behind him was a locked and barred door; in front of him was a large portcullis. Beyond the portcullis he could hear thousands of people all talking at once.Looking through the gaps

Curiosity killed the Fey...* * *"I dreamed a dream in time gone by," Hailey sung under her breath as she scrubbed the floor. "When hope was high and life worth living."She pulled at the leather slave collar around her neck. No matter how she moved her head, it always seemed to dig into her chin or collarbone. She considered trying to get it off again, but didn't want to be caught trying.Again."I dreamed that love would never die," She continued singing quietly. "I dreamed that God would be forgiving."Bracing herself, she plunged the rag into the ice cold water to rinse it out. She winced, then started on the next section of floor. "Then I was young and unafraid, and dreams were made and used and wasted. There was no ransom to be paid, no song unsung, no wine untasted."Hailey felt a few tears collect at the corners of her eyes. This wasn't how her life was supposed to turn out. She was supposed to be at college, or starting her career, or maybe marrying and settling down. Anywhe