I raised my ax and grit my teeth, hoping Valyan steel would fare better than the knight’s weapons.The heat slammed into me. My skin baked. I wanted ...o flinch away. I growled and reached in to my rage. It was chained in my mind by Faoril’s magic. I seized them. All I had to do was loosen the chains and let it rampage under my control. I would rip into the efreet.And probably die from the heat.“Faoril,” I shouted.Water surged around me. But it wasn’t Faoril’s magic. This water moved like two. Perhaps he’s already taken? Is that why you haven’t told him how you feel?” Kristen hesitated, stiffening a little in my arms. “No. He’s no longer taken.” “Well, give him some time. If he left his girlfriend recently, give him some time.” We hugged warmly again, and although Kristen definitely was not Angela, the special bond my twin and I had shared for more than two decades certainly helped to further ease my mind and my heart. “I should probably head back to campus,” I finally said sadly. I. I was upsetand left. Now I don't even know where I am," I sputtered, crying again."Hold on now. Don't go and get yourself upset again. You guys went to asession, right?" Yeah, but I left that. I'm walking to a gas station nearby. Dad'sgonna come pick me up." I know where that is. Look I'm only a few minutes away. I can swing byand pick you up," he offered."Thanks but I don't want to keep you from anything," I replied."It's no problem, I just finished running an errand for my mom. I'm onmy way. Kimiko was left with a shattered family and without the means to continue her education. One day, as she pondered what to do, fate intervened in the form of a phone call to her dorm room. It was Claude Bertrand, “Uncle Claude” to her, a business associate and friend of her father’s. Uncle Claude had known Kimi all her life, and had spent quite a bit of time at her family’s home when she was growing up. Kimi liked him and had flirted with him for years, sometimes sitting on his lap and.