Page 326 of Ripe

Their bodies have simply… stopped.

Slowly, three heads turn toward me.

And from the look on their faces, not one of them chose to do it.

I stare.

Rhett blinks. “Well.”

I release whatever I just did.

They move again.

Ezra looks at me. “You stopped us.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

Malakai looks at my wrist. “Keeper.”

I hate how much power is inside that word.

“No.”

Mercy comes closer. “You decide what grows.”

“That doesn’t mean I get to control people.”

“No.”

“Apparently the farm disagrees.”

“The seeds.”

I look at their hands. Three red kernels. “Get them out.”

“Sage.”

“Now.”

Malakai looks at me. “If we remove them, we may lose the connection.”

“Good.”

Ezra’s eyes narrow. “No.”

I stare at him. “Excuse me?”

“I said no.”

“You have a seed growing inside your hand.”

“Yes.”

“From me.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re comfortable with that?”