Chapter Two: A Wedding Without a Bride

“My fee is the complete White Tern archive, including what your father does not want me to see.” Adrian offered his hand. Mira did not take it. She signed the last page instead. As she did, she noticed Celeste turning her bare ring finger. A fresh puncture marked the skin. “Where is the ring?” Mira asked. Adrian produced a dark blue velvet box. “It just arrived.” Inside lay two platinum bands. The woman’s ring bore the wedding date. The man’s ring carried initials: M.S. Mira Shen. Adrian was plainly seeing them for the first time. Celeste inhaled softly. “Those are certainly not my initials.” Under the light, the ring resembled an open eye. Before Mira touched it, her palm began to burn.