THE SHIFT IN DESIRE The sun was just starting to bleed over the horizon, turning the smoke from the ruins into a hazy purple. We were walking back to what was left of the camp. Every step sent a jolt of pain through my side, but I didn't care. What I felt in my chest was more distracting than the bruised ribs.

Esmeralda was walking a few paces ahead of me. Her hair was a mess, tangled with leaves and dirt. Her tunic was torn. She looked like she had been through hell, yet she walked with her ...