In the town of Elveton, everyone knows the story of the beast in the woods, with scales darker than the night itself... Lily never really cared much for those stories, writing them off as stories to scare children. As a farm girl scraping by, she lives a life of peace and quiet. However, women have started going missing in her village, and her friend is worried that Lily may be next. When an accident has her face-to-face with bandits, Lily finds protection with a monster of legend. Silas is a terrifying beast, not to be trifled with. But underneath that scary exterior he's quite surprising. Together, they both uncover the truth of the missing girls, and about their feelings for each other. (This story contains language and violence. Reader Discretion is advised).

Veronica is in her forties now. She still addresses health concerns at her various jobs in schools. The days of hitchhiking and casual sex are behind her. She moved to a different state in the north. Her dreams of becoming a medical doctor did not go through in the sense that she does not hold an M.D. Nonetheless, she is active in urban education for the last fifteen years. She has had numerous opportunities to discuss STDs in her English and Life Span Development classes at various community colleges.