The thought alone sent a wave of nausea crashing through Aliana. She instinctively turned to Gavriel again, silently searching his face for an answer she hoped wasn't true.
A weary sigh escaped him.
"Yes." His voice remained calm. "It's a dark ritual. If they're following everything written in that book, then they intend to feed us human flesh. It's a cult practice. A way of defying the natural order... or perhaps more accurately, defying the gods themselves before moving on to the main event."
"The main event," Aliana repeated in dread. "You mean… the sacrifice."
Gavriel offered no reply, but his heavy silence said everything.
Jade clamped a hand over her mouth as the horrifying realisation finally crashed into her.
Cedric hadn't simply been controlled, he was being… prepared.
"I'm gonna be sick," Jade whispered hoarsely. "Poor Cedric... We have to save him... and those prisoners."
