Ryan felt his world crumble as he watched Nyrissa close her beautiful eyes as crimson-red blood spilled out onto the dirty floor underneath her. The blood stained the bright yellow tank top she had slipped into that morning.

Nyrissa loved bright colors and always wore them, even if it was to bed.

But this time, the bright yellow just seemed to emphasize the blood seeping out of her slender, helpless body.

A sense of shame and failure rushed through him as he reached for the ...