"Why thank you, my girl! I've been aching for a compliment here." The pain begins to build in Beau's body, focusing in behind those staring eyes of hers.

"As for the ritual, what's there to tell? It was a flop! ADI derailed our train before it got to me for my part in it all. Abe and most of the circus died, and that left me to pick up the pieces."