Page 153

They were, without a doubt, the men kidnapped for the sacrifice. A ginger head among them stood out to Evan, his skin tan and stature broad. Tiago’s brother. Robbie.

But even after craning his neck and squinting hard, Evan couldn’t find Wren, Rumi, or Nick.

Nor a figure clad in red.

“Looking for someone?”

Evan’s eyes snapped towards the Tomb of Ascension, ears twitching at the familiar voice.

A tall figure rounded the circle of cult members, coming to a stop right before the Tomb. There was a smile on his lips, so familiar yet alien, his eyes blazing purple in the night. Amidst the echoing of the chants, his voice rang unnaturally clear in Evan’s ears, even as he was dangled several meters high in the air.

“Aaron,” his voice took on a cold tone, eyes narrowed at his friend like they’d never done before. He wasn’t even sure anymore if the person standing there and smiling up at him was his friend. If he was gone too far to be brought back. With a muffled curse, Evan barked, “Where are the kids?”

Aaroncocked his head. “What kids?”

Anger seethed inside Evan, his head throbbing. “The three humans you abducted! Where are they?”

“Oh, you mean my pets?”Aaron’sshoulder shook as he chuckled, then pocketed his hands. “They’re asleep in their pet houses, well fed and taken care of. Don’t worry.”

Color drained from Evan’s already pale face. “Pets…? What…what did you do to them?”

Aaronthrew his head back and laughed, “Oh dear, what do you mean? Did you take me for a monster? I would never harm my pets—”

“They’re humans!” Evan snapped, blue flickering in his furious eyes as he struggled in the rock fist binding him. “They’re people like you and me. Snap out of it, Aaron! Wake up.Wake the fuck up!”

“So dramatic,”Aaronsaid, waving dismissively before swinging his arm out. A flash of white whipped past. He caught it without even glancing away from Evan, then casually propped the thing upright beside him.

The golden spear that had blocked their way underground.

“I never denied that my pets are human,”Aarontraced the spell-cast thread on the golden shaft fondly. “But petsaredomesticated for one of two things. Either to be adored without restraint or discarded at will, don’t you agree?”

Evan’s nostrils flared, and blood rushed into his head. His eyes briefly darted around to catch a glimpse of red robes, but to no avail.

This wasn’t Aaron. It couldn’t be him. All that pets and domestication and sinister philosophical bullshit would never occur in Aaron’s simple brain, which sometimes got confused between left and right.

“But of course, I don’t mean to discard my pets. Not yet, at least. Those three are rather adorable. Especially the girl, she’s…”Aaronpaused, then snorted. “Feisty.”

Rumi.

A vein surfaced along Evan’s temple, but he forced himself to calm down and wait for an opportunity to strike. Some time when he wasn’t hanging in mid-air from a rock fist.

If Xen wasn’t in the picture yet, that meant he was either plotting a move or…could he be dead?

That’s impossible. The persistent voice in Evan’s head said.

Studying Evan’s conflicted face,Aarontilted his head and drawled out something unexpected. “Do you think you can save them all?”

Evan stilled. That question, he’d heard that before.

When Aliza Simone had been possessed by the one-eyed demon, it had asked Evan that same question.

Was that demon sent by this thing controlling Aaron?

The cult members continued chanting around the Tomb of Ascension, their voices haunting the open clearing as if an invisible vessel had been upturned above it, trapping every chorus in an endless echo. The trees swayed with their rhythm, and from the depths of the darkness, several pairs of glowing eyes watched the ritual unfold.

With a deep inhale, Evan suppressed his rising emotions and tried in a calm voice. “Aaron, I know you’re in there. Listen to my voice. You have to fight back whatever is controlling you. Make it stop.”

Purple eyes flickered to Evan before crinkling into a smile. “You’re not talking to Aaron, little boy.”