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His eyes open. “I never left.”

Something in those three words breaks my heart a little.

The woman’s gaze shifts to me then down to the dirt where we just fucked and her smile returns. “You prepared her.”

I want to evaporate. “Can we maybe not discuss that?”

She doesn’t even acknowledge me. “The Earth remembers.”

Malakai steps toward her. “What does Sowing mean?”

She laughs.

He crouches. “What does it mean?”

Her head tilts. “You knew once.”

“No.”

“You all did.”

“We were never told.”

“You didn’t listen.” Her eyes move toward the corn. “Men rarely do.”

Despite everything, I almost laugh.

Malakai doesn’t. “What happens to Sage?”

The woman’s smile disappears.

Finally. Good question.

Her attention returns to me. “The Bride carries the Harvest.”

My stomach drops.

Carries?

Nope. No. I knew I hated that fucking word.

“What does carries mean?”

The woman reaches toward me, but he grabs her wrist and her skin splits beneath his fingers, causing roots to spill through the opening.

I gag.

He releases her and she laughs.

“You cannot hurt what is already planted.”

“Answer her.”

Her eyes find mine. “Life.”

I swallow. “What life?”

“Old life.”