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Tears threaten to spill again, and I school my face into neutrality.

I hate that they’ve instilled this fear in me. This fear that if I don’t do as they say, I might be their next sacrifice, or theirs to torture until they feel they’re done with me. Then, they’d move on to everyone I love and care for. Which honestly isn’t many people, but still, they matter. I hate myself for everything I put Kain and Jordan through.

Either way, I can’t take any more risks.

I’d rather it be me than anyone else.

“Promise me,” I say, looking directly at Heath.

He lifts his head with disgust.

He knows what I’m asking—keep away from Cassie.

He gives me a curt nod, and I rise from my seat. “And if we don’t find them?”

“You better pray for your life, boy.”

Cassie wasn’t something I told him about. He had a tracker on me and we got caught. But being his only suitable heir, I held that over him.

Vivian’s sharp eyes watch me intently with warning as I head out of the door, but not before Samuel stops me.

“Bring my wife alive, will you? I’d like to assist in her sacrifice.”

A chill runs down my spine as I snap the door shut.

“We’ll check the forest. It seems like somewhere they’d most likely hide, right?” Twenty pairs of unsure eyes turn to me, hoods raised over their heads.

I suppress the urge to shake my head. These people are lost. They don’t know who they are without Heath’s cult, and they always look to the people in power positions for approval.

I don’t grace them with a response; I just stare back.

Unlike me, they chose this life. They could’ve been free. Lived their own lives, but instead, they chose the illusion of power. What they really are, are sacrificial lambs, lined up for their slaughter one by one. While my deluded father thinks it will help him live longer and stay in absolute power. What power do they believe they even have? Christ.

And Jordan’s sacrifice has been planned since before she left Vivian’s womb. She was also desperate for power—still is. But once you start believing your own delusions, it’s hard to reverse it. They’re all blinded by it because they love the attention.

They need to be stopped.

My phone dings as my boot crunches on the twigs underneath me.

Nova: If my information is correct (which it is btw) I believe tomorrow is the night? We’re on standby.

I almost break my finger rushing to reply. It was supposed to be tomorrow, but someone calculated the timing of the full moon wrong. This is happening before dawn.

Deranged. These people are deranged.

Me: It’s today. I may need you, I may not. I managed to make them leave.

Nova: So you don’t want us to end them anyway? I don’t know if you think I’m joking, but I can end everything with a snap of my fingers.

She’s selling me a dream, but how can she guarantee it? I’ve seen more than enough times that actions speak louder than words.

Me: I have people I need to protect.

Nova: I can give you that and more.

Me: Not without a price, right?

Nova: No