“Yes.” He released her and sat back. He wore his usual light linen clothing, and his arm muscles clenched. He’d been working out a lot lately. “On your eighteenth birthday, we will get married and then preparations will begin. I don’t know yet which way the fates will flow, but on your twenty-fifth birthday, we shall do God’s work.”
She frowned. “How? How will we do God’s work?”
“That’s up to the world. We’ll either spread His love or His wrath.” Isaac’s eyes had an odd gleam to them. “We will have children. Special ones. Do you like your scarf?”
Presents weren’t allowed in the family. Yet he’d given her one. One she had to wear around her neck always. “Yes. Thank you.”
“This is how I want you to wear it.” He looped it around once and let the ends trail down her breasts. His smile showed even teeth. “And from now on, you shall only wear white. No other colors. Understand?”
They mostly wore white anyway. But she did like the soft yellow she sometimes got to wear. “Why?”
He tilted his head.
“I mean, of course.” Questions were bad. Her body flushed, and she eyed the door.
He grasped the ends of the scarf. “The other day, I saw you talking to Eagle and Lake in the gardens when you were supposed to be picking tomatoes.”
Her body chilled. “We were gardening and did pick tomatoes.”
He started pulling the scarf. “You are to remain pure until your birthday. Until our wedding. Are you looking at other males?”
“No,” she croaked as he tightened the material across her throat. Her eyes started to water, and she couldn’t breathe. Unable to help herself, she clutched at the scarf and tried to jerk it away from her neck.
He was too strong. Her vision had gone black by the time he let her go.
She sank back in the chair, coughing and gasping, trying to breathe. Tears poured down her face.
“Robin,” he called out, his face oddly calm.
A young woman hustled inside, her long brown hair swaying. She moved to his side, her attention solely on him. “Yes, Prophet.”
He kept his gaze on Mary. “My bride has displeased me. Because she can’t be touched until we wed, you’ll take her punishment.”
Robin looked at Mary and then back at Isaac, her face turning pale. “Of course.”
Isaac grabbed Robin and threw her on the ground. Then he pulled up her skirt. “And you’ll stay and watch, Mary. Rules must be obeyed.”
* * *
Pippa bolted upright in bed, clutching at her neck and trying to breathe. She couldn’t get any air into her lungs.
“Whoa.” Malcolm sat up and put her right onto his lap, cradling her. “You’re okay, baby. Keep breathing.”
She shuddered against him, all but crawling into his warmth. Hard muscle and calm man held her, and she shut her eyes, allowing him to shield her. “Sorry,” she croaked.
He chuckled, his breath stirring her hair. “Nightmares I understand. Live with them almost every night.” Gently, he rocked her in the bed, the movement soothing. “Close your eyes and think of the cutest puppy or kitten you’ve ever seen. Then put yourself in a meadow with the sun shining down.”
She did so, her chest moving as she breathed out. In and out. Again. Her body stopped trembling, and she began to warm up. It was impossible not to in his arms.
“Better?” His big hand slid down her arm and back up. “I’ve got you.”
He did. There was no question that Malcolm West had her. Completely. “Do you think of a puppy to calm yourself?” Her voice shook.
“No. I think of a pizza. A fully loaded one from Antonio’s in New York.”
She smiled, as no doubt he wanted her to. “A pizza. In a meadow.”
“Yeah. No ants either. Just me and a big pie.” He kissed her brow. “You better now?”
