I’m always prepared for the worst, prepared to attack at any moment, kill with the swing of my blade. But what’s just beyond the door is nothing I can be prepared for, because it’s nothing I’ve known before. A stairway spirals down into to a large room, packed with people—more people than the hillside. Tables, and chairs are dotted around and noisy chatter and music flurries the air, excited and eager and without restraint. I’ve never seen so much disorder. It’s mind blowing. And there’s no fear that someone will show up and bust them for being so free.

“What are you thinking?” Aiden whispers in my ear.

I flinch, surprised by his sudden closeness—surprised by how my body reacts. “That it’s amazing,” I finally say, as truthful as I’ve ever been. “But I don’t get it. Who are all these people? And why do they live separately from you?”

Aiden moves back and meet my eyes. “These are more of the previous Gathering members,” he says.

“But there’s so many of them,” I say, still mind blown.

“That’s because The Gathering happens more than you realize,” he explains. “Which is part of the reason why we live separately—there’s not enough space for everyone. Plus, these guys like things a little more noisy than we do over on the hillside.”

I shake my head, my lips parted. “But I don’t remember any of them getting chosen.” My gaze scans the crowd searching for any sort of familiarity to any of their faces. But I come up blank.

“Do you remember anyone getting chosen?” Aiden starts down the stairs, the steps shaking under his movement.

“No.” I follow, hand trailing down the railing, knowing I’ve thought this before.

“Do you want to know why?” he asks, reaching the bottom. “And I want you to consider your answer very carefully because once you say yes there’s no turning back, even if you want to.”

“Once you give in Kayla, there’s no going back,” Monarch says. “You have to make sure you really want it.”

“Want what?” I ask.

“The truth,” he says and something clanks in the distance.

“But you told me never to ask for the truth,” I reply, feeling the nervous energy bubble around us.

“Always ask for the truth, Kayla.” His words are soft, distant. “Just make sure the time is right.”

I blink away the forgotten memory. “Yes. I want to know, whatever it is.”

He nods, not happy with my answer, nor sad. He takes my hand again and pushes us through the crowd. Some of their fears sneak up on me, but they’re mild, compared to what I’m used to. Fears of snakes, vampires, of being alone.

“Are you okay?” Aiden hollers over the noise and I catch a few people eyeballing us, fixated with me.