Lucy staggered closer, staring at the scorched ground. "What the hell just happened?"
"She took it," Stella said, voice trembling. "Whatever that altar was… she took it into herself."
Jude wiped the sweat from his brow, though he wasn't sure if it was sweat or the dampness of fear. His eyes darted to the edge of the clearing. No sign of Rose. No sign of anyone. Just the trees watching in silence.
Zoey and Grace emerged from where they'd been standing guard, both shaken but unharmed. Scarlet and Natalie followed, faces tight with confusion.
"She's getting stronger," Sophie whispered. "That thing inside her, it's not waiting anymore. It's feeding. Growing."
"But what is it feeding on?" Jude asked, his voice hollow.
"Our fear," Lucy said. "Our love. Our ties to her."
Sophie shivered. "Then we can't let it have any of that. We can't give it anything."