Page 85 of The Shadow Sanctum

“If you allowed me to bring in a doctor, we could better assess the children’s condition.”

“We are not whores for Western medicine. You know that.”

Her voice wavers—barely. “I know. But they’re children.”

Another pause. Another cough. “You let sentiment cloud you. What they need is discipline, not poison from the outside. Let their bodies fight the way God intended.”

Angel’s nails dig into his knees beside me. He wants to spring up, I can feel it in his body like static. I grab his arm and hold him down without a word. Not now.

Luna tries again, softer. “I’m not suggesting medicine. Just a doctor. Some expert advice… Father, I’m doing everything I can, but I don’t have the knowledge to⁠—”

“Enough.” Aurelius’s voice slices through her words. “You will not weaken the Sanctum with your doubts.”

The silence after nearly chokes me. My gut twists watching her through the dark of my mind, fighting battles she can’t win.

Finally, her voice comes again, lower, resigned. “Daddy, please.”

The rustle of the couch. A quiet tension. Aurelius’s breathing rattles. Then, almost too quiet to hear: “I’m not in the mood.”

Angel’s eyes widen as his brows lift. He gives me a holy shit look that I try to return. If only so he won’t see how deep this goes.

But I don’t think I manage because Angel’s face turns from surprised to concerned. My stomach feels like it’s taking gymnastics, and my chest is so tight, it’s hard to breathe.

“I miss you,” Luna says, pushing bile up my throat. Angel’s face doesn’t predictably scrunch. He never takes his prying eyes off me. The concern on his face never leaves.

There’s a few seconds’ pause before there’s a smack. “I said I’m not in the mood.”

Now it’s my turn to rise up, but Angel pulls me back down. Fire burns through my lungs, every breath feeding the flame. My jaw grinds so hard I think for sure it’ll crack.

The horn blares—three long, familiar siren-like sounds that drag to four. Five. Six. Seven. Until I no longer understand what it means. The Keep’s walls shake with its warning.

“Do you know anything about this?” Aurelius asks.

By the height of his voice, he must’ve jumped from the couch. “No…”

It’s only a couple of seconds before they’re gone, the door slamming behind them, their footsteps fading down the corridor.

Angel and I don’t move until the silence stretches taut again. My lungs burn when I finally breathe.

“You okay?” Angel asks. I don’t answer. The question is irrelevant.

“We need to go.”

I stand and shut the laptop while Angel jerks to his feet.

“What are you doing?” he asks, grabbing the laptop. When he goes to open it, I stop him.

“The Keep is the farthest building from the ceremonial stage. If we’re late, it’ll look suspicious. People will know we’re up to something.”

Luna will know.

“So?”

“Your guy promised antibiotics for three people. We need it for at least three dozen. If he can’t deliver⁠—”

“He can deliver,” Angel says. Confident, but I know him too well. He’s convincing himself.

“But if he can’t, we’re going to need Luna… If she knows I kept this from her, she’ll never trust me.”