“Yeee-OUCH!” My Tusken Raider voice ululates, and my hands flit to my neck to wrest any ponytail I have left from Abby’s grasp. “What are you doing back there?”   With a huff, she releases her hold on the brush she’s wrapped my curls around. “Trying to tame this rat’s nest.”    “Well, brute force isn’t the answer,” I assure her, carefully unwinding single strands from the cylindrical bristles. “Hand me that detangling spray.”   She steps aside and shuffles the bottles of product crowding the top shelf of the rolling cart stuffed between our desks. The ...

Footsteps echoed in the darkened temple as golden sunlight broke through slits in the vast curtains covering the wide windows. Crown Princess Rhiannon knelt in the quiet with her fiery copper braid sweeping the ground. She looked up towards the limestone altar where the statue of the Spring Goddess Evanthia waited. Gold-brushed bronze glinted in ...

Part One Part Two Dean knocked on the door and turned the knob. “Annie, I’m home,” he called out.  Turning towards Nicki, he ushered her into the warm, spacious foyer. The aroma of whatever was cooking on the stove filled the air. From down the hall, a log swing door burst open. A young woman ...