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The bargain wasn’t punishment. It was accepted. I gave us–all three, without their consent.

Fuck.

Rhett—Malakai… I did this to them. Two hundred and thirty-five years—because of me.

“Ezra!”

Sage.

No.

I look up and see her pushing through the crowd.

No. no, no, no.

“What are you doing here?”

She reaches me. “I followed you.”

“Why?”

“Because you ran out of the fucking house looking like you were about to lose your shit!”

“I told you to stay away.”

“And I’ve been fantastic at listening so far.” She drops beside me then reaches up and grabs my face. “What happened?”

I can’t answer.

Her skin. Her presence. Her scent. Her.

Everything the Harvest needs. Everything I want.

I grab her wrists. “Don’t touch me.”

Pain flashes across her face and I hate myself for putting it there.

“Ezra.”

I take a deep breath. “I remember.”

She goes still. “What?”

“1791.”

Her anger disappears. “All of it?”

I nod and her hands lower.

“What happened?” She asks as the Communion grows louder around us. She finally sees it—really sees it.

Her face changes. “Holy shit.”

A man stumbles past us laughing as blood pours from his ear. Two women dance around a scarecrow. Someone crawls beneath the table as hands disappear under clothes.

Food flies. A guest bites into an apple and when she pulls it away, human teeth are embedded among the seeds.

She screams then starts laughing.