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Every move my brother made wasjustthat bit slower,justthat off. Ronan’s cudgel suddenly landed on Rhyder’s face, my twin’s head snapping back, and Ronan following it up with a vicious blow on Rhyder’s ribs, and then another, knocking my twin to his knees.

As I watched in horror, Ronan’s face split open in a bloody grin.

“What’s the Allfather telling you now?” he asked.

Ronan was toying with him

Holy fuck

It would make his triumph that much more glorious, his own Congregation that much more worshipful, to do it with blood on his face.

I wanted toscream. I now knew the horrible fucking truth.

I loved Rhyder, loved my obsessive, controlling brother with all my heart.

And now he was going to die.

I wanted to beg Bee for help, but what could she do?

Madness rose up in me, a terror to consume all others now that my brother was going to be killed in front of me. My hands clutched at air. Bee was bent over on the ground, and suddenly she rose. Then, without looking at me, she shoved something in my mouth, ramming it down my throat, something bitter and vile. Her fingers closed over my mouth, forcing me to swallow all of it as I started to struggle.

Then she whipped a knife out and turned her back to me, forcing the knife into my hand, and held it tight to her own throat.

“Help!” she cried in a shrill voice. “Help me!”

The entire clearing was bone-silent except for the low grunts and thick, nauseating blows of the fight, but my blood ran cold when I saw the Prophet turn around.

The look of chill, almost inhuman rage in his eyes as he saw me with the knife at Bee’s throat made my knees knock together and I almost lost control of my bladder.

My mouth was on fire with whatever Bee had forced me to eat, and I felt the strange, sticky white foam dribble out the side of my mouth.

Ronan instantly turned and started striding toward us.

“Demon possession!” Bee cried in her strong, carrying voice, holding me tightly so I couldn’t escape. “Heal her! A prayer, Ronan Demon-rebuker. Pray for her soul and save her.”

He stopped and I saw him turn those dark, slitted eyes over to her.

“No. No mercy.”

“Stop!” she yelled.

And she took my hand and sliced her throat, my stomach lurching with fear and nausea.

Bright red blood spurted from between my fingers, dripping down Bee’s neck and my arm.

Rhyder stumbled over, still on his knees, and now threw himself between us.

“Do not punish her, Prophet. Kill me instead. It is not her fault.”

Ronan aimed a kick at Rhyder’s ribs, and I cringed as I heard them crack.

“Out of my way.”

His eyes were still locked on his Helpmeet.

“Mercy,” Bee said, and there was a warning tone in her voice. “Mercy or she might kill me. I mean it.”

“No,” Rhyder cried again, getting up heavily. It looked like he had multiple broken ribs, and something seemed wrong with one of his legs.