Contents WHERE LIES BEAUTY By Sheri L. McGathy MOURN A MOONREFT SKY By Shannah Biondine THE WELL OF FOREVER By Jeanine Berry THE TREASURE OF ARVALIS By Jeanne Allen

Author's Introduction to WHERE LIES BEAUTY A hush settles over the land. Time seems to slow, and for the briefest of moments, you behold the beauty of twilight. You seek its magic as you reach upward and let your fingers waft through the shimmering veil of blue-gray hues. In the wind, you hear the fading whisper of what might have been even as you long for the promise of what might someday be. Then twilight ebbs and moves on, leaving you to wonder if what you thought you saw, what you felt, could ever truly exist. I hope you enjoy WHERE LIES BEAUTY. ~ Sheri L. McGathy WHERE LIES BEAUTY By Sheri L. McGathy Prologue He looked upon the flower, to its dew-kissed bloom shimmering in the light of early morn. He traced the pad of his thumb across the delicate petals and downward along the contour of the curved thorn that hid amongst its pale green leaves. He paused over the thorn's sharp point. What was perfection without the shadow of fault? He pressed against the thorn. Its sharp point pierced his skin. When he withdrew his thumb, a bead of bright red blood lingered. Does beauty exist if the one who looks upon it cannot see its charm? Can beauty's light survive if hidden within the cloying mantle of darkness? He could only hope this was so. He raised the bloom and inhaled deepl...