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Mariah leans closer to her. “If they murder us, I’m haunting you.”

“Deal.”

“I’m haunting both of you.” Ali adds.

Sage nods. “Fair.”

That seems to settle it.

They step inside, and I follow last.

The moment I cross the threshold, warmth crawls over my skin.

I stop.

Not the warmth of an old house holding heat. Something deeper. Familiar. Harvest warmth.

It followed us.

Fuck.

I shut the door behind me, and Ezra immediately turns the lock before sliding the old iron bolt into place.

Sage eyes it. “That’s reassuring.”

“No one comes here during the Reaping.” Ezra says.

“Why?”

I pull off my mask. “Because Ezra hates people.”

“I don’t hate people.”

All three of us look at him.

He lets out a tired breath. “Most people.”

Sage laughs.

Good.

The sound loosens something in my chest I hadn’t realized was tight.

Then Malakai lets go of her hand.

Nothing happens.

Sage takes another step away from him.

Still nothing.

We all notice.

Her attention drops to the red ribbon around her wrist. “Oh.”

She touches the knot cautiously, waiting for the pain.

It doesn’t come.