Page 6

But then again, we deserved it.

Every moment of my life had been consumed with regret. I shouldn’t have ever believed the cards, that bullshit prophecy — should’ve called Cyrus a fucking liar, chased after Tess, and explained myself.

Instead, I’d let her walk out of our loft and let the thought cement in her mind that I believed she was capable of turning Cyrus in when we were kids.

I’d barely been able to look at Cyrus in the weeks since. A part of me feared that I’d never forgive her for putting Tess in that position.

But her lack of remorse hadn’t made it easier to let it go.

Blade and I had channeled all of our frustration into tracking Tess every moment of every day.

“There’s no way she could have done it.” Blade shook her head, refusing to tear her eyes away from her Trinket.

“I know, Blade.” I felt my teeth grinding into each other, hard enough to wear away at the enamel. “We never should have believed it.”

The question that lingered between us was obvious. If Tess hadn’t turned Cyrus in, hadn’t reported her to Pastor Harris, who had? How had Heirs of Promise found out about Cyrus’ identity and our plan to flee?

There was no clear answer. But that didn’t make Tess guilty by default.

There wouldn’t be a solution, not in this car. Not tonight.

That wouldn’t stop me from following her, ensuring her safety.

She didn’t need it. My Sweet Lamb was tough, battle-tested and ready for a fight. But I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes at night if I knew she was out here alone.

Rubin was onto her, obsessed with her.

And I wouldn’t let her slip into his demented grasp.

I’d kill him before I let that happen.

As we rolled along behind her, keeping a safe distance, she got closer and closer to the gazebo at Valemont’s center.

“Shit.” Blade growled.

“A sermon.” I felt my chest tighten at the thought.

Our girl was about to get herself into a fuckload of trouble.

My Sweet Lamb was about to walk into the lion’s den.

5

TESS

Rolling my shoulders back, I tucked my hands into my pockets and strode through the lawn of Valemont’s town square with my head held high. If the Freaks insisted on following me around, I might as well make it interesting for all of us.

Maybe they’ll actually have to show their faces instead of haunting me like a bad dream.

I was dying to know which one of them was in the Cadillac. Had they been taking turns watching me? If they cared as much as they liked to pretend, they wouldn’t be able to play coy much longer.

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected to find here: people convulsing on the floor, Rubin floating above his adoring masses, the clouds parting to show the way to heaven. But instead, what I got were a lot of dudes in old parkas blocking up the entire walkway.

Fucking go figure.

The crowd was more dense than I’d expected. Sure, Rubin got traffic on his livestreams, but it was a shock to think that this many people were willing to leave their homes and stand out in the chilly fall air to listen to him drone on at three in the morning.

Doesn’t matter. The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned.