Page 98 of The Shadow Sanctum

Huffing, Raven shakes her head. “This isn’t just about the medicine.”

A beat skips before my cheeks fall. My head whooshes with a dizzy spell that lasts a couple of seconds while I look off.

“We’re telling them everything. The medicine, Zephyr’s murder, the babies you helped the trafficker free, all so you could sell them,” Raven spits with so much disgust it’s obvious she doesn’t know about the others. I wonder if Father will tell them I’ve been selling babies for years.

“Father’s convinced you killed Persephone out of envy. He thinks you rigged the trafficker’s initiation test so he’d pass. You’re responsible for the FBI freezing our money. You’re the reason we have to leave.”

Squinting, I turn my head toward her. She flinches like she’s said something she shouldn’t have, but the guilt quickly passes. She folds her arms over her chest and raises her chin. “You’ve made the Shadow Sanctum unsafe for us… Father says the FBI is building a case against you, and in a week’s time, they’ll burn everything we’ve built… He’s secured a safe place for the Sanctum. For the true followers.”

My heart gives a hard thud. He is planning on moving them.

And too many will be foolish enough to follow. “Raven…” I shake my head. “Our father isn’t fit for leadership. I’m thrilled he’s secured a safer place, but he can’t be the one to⁠—”

“It isn’t up to you.” Guilt flickers across her expression. She looks like she wants to look away but doesn’t. “Nothing is anymore… In an hour’s time, you’ll no longer be Head Keeper of the Shadow Sanctum.”

I blink at her. I can’t fully dissect her words, because the fact that she’s telling me this is most concerning.

She shouldn’t risk me stopping them from leaving. Neither Father nor Raven would chance my interference.

If they don’t plan to simply hide it from me…

“He’s calling for my execution.” My pulse hammers in my ears. The truth is suddenly obvious. Scapegoat or not, I’m a problem Father can’t allow to follow him.

He can’t allow me to heal the children against his wishes. That alone could make too many people turn.

He can’t allow me to know everything I know and walk away with it.

I’m not only his scapegoat for the authorities. I’m his scapegoat for the Shadow Sanctum.

Her cheeks pinch as she fights a cringe. Slowly, she shakes her head. “He’s removing the challenge restriction and letting the people decide.”

I laugh. “He wants them to kill me? He can’t even do it himself?”

She frowns and looks away. “I’m sorry, Luna… It wasn’t my choice.”

A horn splits the air outside, low and thunderous, rattling the windows in their frames.

I don’t move. Neither does Raven. The sound swallows everything, ancient and guttural, the same melody that’s rung for decades, for sacrifices, for blood.

This time, mine.

I close my eyes and let myself feel it. Really feel it.

Because it’s my fault. I counted on bacteria to kill a beast when only a demon could finish the job. And now it might be too late.

When the horn stops, Raven doesn’t prod me to move. She walks up tentatively and squeezes my shoulder.

“All is as it’s supposed to be,” she whispers before leaving me with my final moments in peace.

As soon as she’s gone, I go upstairs and retrieve the little pot of clay I keep in my bottom drawer. I’ve prayed endlessly never to have to use it, but as I feel its weight in my hand, there’s no hesitation to be found. This is not a symbol of vengeance. It’s a symbol of liberation.

I have never feared death. I’ve kissed its doors too many times for it not to be a friend.

But I’m terrified of the fate of my people if Father lives.

If I have to die in order to drag him down to hell, so be it.

CHAPTER 28