Ember Frost’s POV

The order was pointless. Most of them were already on their knees, heads lowered and backs bent, looking more like livestock waiting for slaughter than worshippers waiting for a blessing.

Then the sky changed.

The clouds slowly drifted apart, and moonlight spilled down onto the altar, turning the entire stone platform a pale silver. A murmur passed through the crowd, low and uncertain, but it didn’t last long.

The High Priestess drew a knife without hesitation and ...