Page 112

His gaze shifts toward my friends. “The Harvest doesn’t need them anymore.”

My hands fall from my hips. “What does that mean?”

“They completed their part.”

A cold knot forms in my stomach. “Their part in what?”

“The Revel.”

I stare at him. Then at Mariah and Ali, both lying perfectly still beneath the blankets. “They danced.”

“Yes.”

“They drank. They ate.”

“Just like everyone else.”

“And now what?” Frustration breaks through the fear, and I throw my hands up. “The Harvest just turns them off?”

Malakai’s expression tightens slightly. “They sleep.”

I hate how simple he makes it sound. I move to the side of the bed and touch Mariah’s cheek.

Warm.

Alive.

Completely unresponsive.

“Until when?”

Silence.

I look over my shoulder. He doesn’t answer.

My pulse begins to climb again. “Until when, Malakai.”

His eyes meet mine.

And that’s when I understand.

The anger drains out of me, leaving something much worse behind.

Fear.

I turn back to my friends.

“No.” My voice comes out quieter this time. “No, you don’t get to tell me they’re just sleeping and then not know if they’re ever going to wake up.”

“Sage,” Ezra says softly.

I shake my head. “They came here because of me.”

“They came here with you,” he corrects. “There’s a difference.”

“Doesn’t fucking feel like one,” My fingers close around her hand. She doesn’t squeeze back. And somehow, that scares me more than anything that’s happened tonight.

“Okay.” I stand. “Then we figure out how to wake them up.”