This story takes place in October, during the novel Shades of Gray [in the Amaranthine Saga], two years after Bren's story. It opens in The Guild's citadel in Iowa.

***

Franklin cautiously opened one eye, trying to feign sleep. Since he was a sun walker, Migina should know he'd woken some time ago, but maybe she wasn't thinking about it.

That or she's teasing me.

He watched as she stood in front of the full length mirror, brushing her waist ...