“How have they not managed to kill any of them?” a younger male asked. “We can’t change their ruling on Charles, but if they are so powerful, why haven’t they managed to kill even that bitch of a publisher? She doesn’t even know how to fight, and Louis ended up dead anyway.”
“You’re welcome, little cub,”I hummed to myself. The little mouse didn’t like the violence of this world, but she supported the Family and everything they did. Her words were her power, although not as much as the words of the wild rose.
“Because they are up against a force they didn’t expect,” another stated bitterly. “The Family—”
“That is enough,” Garrett bit. “The Family has nothing on the Church of Daylight. They are a fairytale.”
Oh, he had changed his tune, hadn’t he? The tune was something I had to disagree with though. A fairytale? There were no magic or happy endings in our lives. Our futures were carved into our gravestones, our plots picked out. There was nothing bright or magical about it.
“They have had enough to get the upper handthreetimes,” a younger male argued. “Charles’ daughter and the man who Claimed her managed to kill Igordaysbefore he was accepted into the Russian Initiation program.”
Now that was a development. Those two couldn’t have possibly known that, but dear Mr. Raine would have. Had he questioned why one of the grunts there hadn’t made it to class? Had he confronted father dearest about it? The Initiation Program was still very new in Russia, but I suppose this little incident will prove to be quite good in the eyes of the mountain man. Further proof that the idea of his school was completely founded.
Whatever the answers may be, I would need to make a call as soon as this was over. Perhaps he just assumed Igor ran, unable to handle the pressure of the trials. Perhaps he was just relieved that Igor had decided to run before Initiation started rather than after.
Igor would have been labeled just another Initiate who went rogue the second he stepped out of the program. I had studied the profiles of the Initiates that had gone rogue, and there was nothing in their files indicating that it was something they would do. There was a possibility that Raine never would have seen it coming. He had done his job and calling me over one man who stopped attending wasn’t a red flag, not in and of itself.
“When will we go after them in full force? Why can’twejust handle it. There are enough of us.”
The same song on a different day.
A chorus of young males agreeing met my ears. Such ignorance in that room. Youth did not equate to power. Especially not in this church. These boys have never fought for anything in their lives, butmyfamily? Our teeth were red with the carnage we’ve left behind.
“If you wish to go against the Elders, then do so of your own volition, but we will not protect you,” Garrett told them. “Your fates are your own, as for the reason we’ve gathered today. It has nothing to do with the Elders and their decisions against The Family. They protect us from them, we obey the Good Book and any laws they lay down for us. Unless it affects us directly—”
“Louisdied,” another young male stated.
Silence swept across the room before Garrett spoke again. “It is six months until the marriage of the Blessed one.”
“We all know the laws we have in place for the Favorites, the auctions, the trades going on today, but as a reminder, she is held to a higher standard.”
I straightened. That was new. Four years, and I have never heard anything about her being held to a different set of rules. She wasn’t allowed to speak, to look people in the eyes, to be penetrated in any way, although that had been broken three weeks ago. She was to wear what Thomas told her to wear, she was to marry him, and he was to be her only owner.
While other Favorites had multiple owners, Scarlett Harris was only allowed one, although Thomas shared her with the Leaders so they could have a taste of her so-called ‘blessing’.
“I still don’t understand why he chose to share her,” one of the younger males commented. “I never would have shared her. Not until I got a taste of that honey-coated pussy.”
My eyes narrowed at that. I had assumed it was required because of her being Blessed. Why would Thomas share such a sacred artifact, according to their church, if he hadn’t been required to?
“Enough, Brandon,” Garrett snapped. “The six-month mark is coming up in a few days, which would normally mean that the bond is locked until marriage.”
Whoever the Favorite was betrothed to was the only person they could spend any time with before the marriage in the remaining six months.
“However, the Elders have decided that, due to her circumstances, they will allow her to be picked as another’s Favorite. She will be allowed to have more than one owner who can make his or her own rules during the remaining six months.”
How interesting. The Elders must have heard of her impurities by now. Someone must have petitioned the church to have a piece of her before she was married off.
Murmurs erupted around the room. Excitement barely contained as the possibilities grew.
Everyone wanted a piece of her. Everyone wanted to feel that tongue of hers wrapped around their cock, but as they all spoke of what they wanted to do to her, my own plans grew.
I could accomplish more in six months than others could in a lifetime.
“Tick tock goes the clock, Leaders gather ‘round. Tick tock goes the clock, it’s now my playground.”
~ ~ ~
“Azrael,” the rose said in way of greeting. “Calling for help?”
