Page 157

But this isn’t the Harvest.

Not entirely.

Because I felt this before any of it started. Back in the maze, before the roots came alive and dead women crawled from the Earth. Before any of us understood what the fuck was happening.

This was already here.

Whatever exists between Sage and me was here first.

Her gaze flicks toward the corn before returning to me. “How much of a head start?”

A slow smile spreads across my face.

Behind her, Ezra swears under his breath.

And Malakai?

Malakai actually fucking laughs.

“Don’t encourage her,” Ezra snaps.

Sage finally looks at him. “You don’t get to decide this.”

“I know.”

“Then stop acting like you do.”

“I am trying to keep you alive.”

“And I’m trying to understand what this place is doing to me.”

“By running into the fucking corn?”

“Apparently so. “

“Sage.”

She steps toward him. For a second, I think they’re going to fight. Instead, she touches his chest and he goes completely still. “I’ll come back.”

His eyes drop to her hand. “You keep saying that.”

“And I keep meaning it.”

“You can’t promise it.”

“No.” Her voice softens. “But I can choose what I do while I’m still here.”

Ezra looks at her long enough that I feel like I’m intruding.

Interesting.

Then he looks at me. “If you hurt her…”

“You’ll kill me.”

“I’ll find a way.”

I smile. “Romantic.”