“But, first, your loyalty,” he continues. “This is the sort of deal that is usually inked in blood.”

Blood?

“What do you want me to do?”

The Mog turns his head, nodding toward Ethan’s room.

“He has served us well.”

“What?” I ask. Ethan? My stomach turns. Surely he can’t mean what I think he means—that he wants me to kill the only person I have in the world. “But you made a deal with Ethan.” My voice threatens to shake.

I start to go on, almost pleading, but the Mog just lets out what might be a laugh, but sounds more like choking.

“No, no, dear boy. We aren’t asking you to hurt Ethan. That human has served us very well. And we honor our deals. I simply point out that Ethan went through some of the same trials you will have to go through in the future to prove his intentions to us. Your loyalty to him is commendable, but we’re going to have to harden your resolve.”

I exhale long and hard.

The Mog places a folder on the table.

“There will be a sacrifice to us. Not immediately, but once you’re ready. When we’ve trained you, and helped you unlock your full potential. There’s a picture of your target in here.” He slides the folder across the table. “Would you like to see who it is?”

I don’t touch the document.

“We are offering you the world, Five. Prove yourself, and we will make you a god on this planet. If you are serious about joining us, this is the way it must be. Not only as proof of your loyalty, but proof that you have what it takes to rule in the name of Mogadore. There is much to come. We have no room for the squeamish.”

And if I don’t do it, he’ll have me thrown into a cell and probably tortured. Ethan too. This he doesn’t say, but I know it must be true.

For a moment this scenario seems strangely familiar. My mind flashes back to our little shack on the island. The hogs snorting wildly, practically screaming in their pen. The scared snake, raised halfway off the ground like a clenched spring, ready to strike. Rey telling me to kill it before it harmed one of us. It was the snake or us. It just had to be that way.

The memory seems so far away. So long ago.

I’d simply stood there, not wanting to have to do anything. Hoping that everything would work out somehow—that the danger would go away on its own.

But that’s not how the world works. It’s no use just sitting around waiting for danger to come to me. At least with the Mogs, I’ll know the danger. I’ll be the danger.

Do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Rey’s last words to me.

“All right,” I say. My voice wavers a little, and I try to even it out as I continue. “If that’s what it takes to show my allegiance.”

The Mog grins.

I stare at the folder. I don’t have to open it, but I realize that this—like so many other things in my life—is a test. To see if I have the stomach for what’s to come. I’m going to have to get used to this sort of thing. Harden myself. The Mogs won’t coddle me—of this I have no doubt. They’re ruthless and powerful. That’s what I’ll have to become.

I take a deep breath and open the folder.