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Her mouth almost smiles. “You sound like him.”

“Which one?”

“All three, unfortunately.”

Another impact shakes the doors and dust falls.

“Mercy.” She looks at me. “How do I stop it?”

“You change what it is given.”

I freeze. “What?”

“The founders misunderstood.”

“Ezra said the ritual requires choice.”

“Yes.”

“Then I choose no.”

“To becoming the anchor.”

“Yes.”

“You can.”

Hope. Tiny but dangerous.

“But someone must anchor it.”

“Then we’re back where we started.”

“No.” Mercy reaches for my hand but stops before touching me and waits for my choice.

I give her my hand and her fingers close around mine.

Cold. So fucking cold.

“The Harvest existed before the Bride.”

I stare. “What?”

“The land fed people long before the founders came.”

“Then why does it need a woman shoved underground?”

“It doesn’t.”

Silence.

“What?”

“The founders were starving.” Her grip tightens. “They begged for abundance.”

“Feed the Earth and the Earth will feed you.”

“Yes.”