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Her pulse jumps. Mine answers.

Thump.

Jesus Christ.

I laugh quietly this time. Not because it’s funny. Because I don’t know what else to do. “I forgot what that felt like.”

Her expression softens.

Fuck.

Don’t look at me like that. I’d rather she be afraid. I’d rather she make another joke. Instead her thumb moves slightly against my shirt.

I feel that too—too much.

I step away, her hand falls, the heartbeat stops but the whistle comes from the field again. Getting closer.

The Reaper wakes.

I understand.

Ezra looks at me. “What?”

I stare toward the corn. “The Hunt wants a choice.”

Malakai nods. “Yes.”

Sage looks at us. “What choice?”

I know, I don’t know how but I do. Maybe I’ve always known. I turn towards her. “Yours.”

“No.” Ezra says

I ignore him.

Sage doesn’t. “What do you mean?”

“The first Hunt wasn’t a game.”

“No shit.”

“The Reaper pursued the offering.”

Her face tightens. “Bride.”

“Yes.”

“And if he caught her?”

I don’t answer. Because whatever happened centuries ago isn’t what I want now. I take off my mask and hold it at my side. “The old Hunt doesn’t matter.”

Malakai watches me carefully. Ezra does too.

I look only at Sage. “This one does.”

Her heartbeat speeds up. “What are you saying?”

“I won’t chase you because a field tells me to.”