This theory brought Tanner Rifle, one of our guardians, to his feet. “From among our own?”

“Are we all in danger?” his wife, Sandra, asked.

“Lord help us,” George Martin muttered, clutching his youngest daughter in his lap.

Then cries were piling up on top of others. All the while, Grace sat with her head bowed between Andrew and her brother. Did she know something?

Rose returned her gaze to Sylous, who was now leaning back against the wall, watching the show with arms casually crossed. His brilliant green eyes shifted to her and held her gaze. She could feel her cheeks flush.

Rose felt the room drift away for a moment, and in that space of disconnected calm, Sylous gave her a reassuring nod. Just that single nod before she returned to the room and all its chaos.

But now she knew: there was nothing they needed to be concerned with. Jamie and his silly thoughts were nothing compared to the real power in this room. Doubt was a foolish venture for foolish minds. Rose knew the reality of what they had built here; Jamie just needed to be reminded.

And if he was indeed the wolf in sheep’s clothing, he would be easily dismissed.

“This boy needs to be cleansed from the evil in his mind,” Colin was saying.

“I’m telling you the truth!” Jamie insisted over the cacophony. “Why would I lie about this? Bring myself under fire for what purpose?”

“The enemy comes dressed as one of our own and tempts us with alluring theories of a beautiful world,” Colin retorted. “You seek to confuse us, that’s why.”

“I seek to understand, not confuse!”

“Enough!” Harrison snapped. Her husband rarely raised his voice. The room immediately stilled.

But the councilman Colin couldn’t hold his tongue. “We cannot delay on this,” he said, voice trembling. “Actions must be taken immediately. Punish the boy’s sins. Cleanse the devil within.”

“There is no devil within,” Jamie ground out through his teeth. “I’m only speaking truth.”

For a brief moment, no one spoke. And then one did. The soft voice of his sister, Grace, whom Rose loved dearly.

“He’s not lying,” Grace said, rising to her feet.

Every eye in the Chapel turned to her. A familiar warm buzz nipped at the back of Rose’s skull as Sylous spoke to her mind.

Are you prepared to speak for me?

Always.

His voice filled her mind with instruction, and it was clear what needed to be done. So she would do what he commanded.

Always.