Page 63 of Seraph's Tears
Rage and despair tore through me. No. I’ve given up everything for this. Everything. They can’t take me back.
Zorababel gripped my unraveling braid and hauled me backward.
Something between a moan and a scream escaped my lips as I fought to free myself. But the three men were too fast. They grabbed my arms and bound my wrists behind me, then hauled me back to the foot of a bed and tied my feet together and then to one of the legs of the bed.
“What’s happening?” A feminine voice broke through the men’s grunts and my growls. I whipped my head around, surprised another person was in the room.
“Be quiet, Lilith,” Absalom snapped as he kicked my legs and backed away, face flushed and chest heaving.
Lilith? I twisted to see the edge of a skirt falling off the side of the bed, then the shape of fidgeting legs beneath it. I couldn’t twist further to see the rest of her body above me.
“Eve,” Zorababel said calmly, as if he wasn’t in the middle of kidnapping me, “has become confused while away from the safety of the fold. For her own well-being we are bringing her home. Once back in the shelter of our church, she’ll realize the mistakes she’s made, and we will guide her back into the light. A few days fasting in the prayer closet will be a good start.”
“Like hell you will,” I snapped.
Absalom grabbed me by the roots of my hair and jerked my head to the side, holding up his hand to hit me.
I cringed.
“Meadows,” Zorababel said in a deceptively even tone. “As of right now she is still my betrothed, and I will take responsibility for her discipline.”
Grunting, Absalom shoved my head into the bedpost and let go.
My head throbbed and my scalp burned. I blinked back angry tears.
“Men,” Zorababel said in a priestly tone, “I believe we should head out to visit with this Gabriel now rather than wait for our appointment. There’s no way to know if she’s sabotaged anything.”
They murmured their assent and left, filing out the door. Zorababel was last, and he paused in the threshold to smile at me.
My skin crawled. I glared at him.
“Don’t fret,” he told me. “We’ll make sure you’re obedient and follow the precepts’ commands. Perhaps when we’ve rooted out the spirit of rebellion in you, when you’re your sweet, gentle self again, we can re-introduce you to the Herald.” With those horrifying, parting words, he clicked the door shut.
I waited until their footsteps faded, then spoke, “Lilith! Please, let me go!”
Lilith sighed and I heard her slide off the bed, then walk around to stand in front of me. She was as beautiful as ever, like a porcelain doll, though her eyes held disappointment and censure. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” I demanded. “Cut me free and we can both run.”
She gave me a horrified look. “Run? Run where? My brother is an elder. I have multiple men begging Reverend Grimshaw for my hand in marriage.”
I swallowed the bitterness crawling up the back of my throat. I’d assumed Lilith was as secretly unhappy as me. She might be the favorite female in the church, but surely that came with special restrictions or unwelcome attention. But perhaps not. Perhaps she was willing to believe her favor among the powerful would protect her forever.
More fool she.
I turned my face away from her, desperately close to tears but equally desperate not to let her see them. I slumped in my bonds, wondering if Gabriel would even miss me.
Gabriel
I stormed through Mirkwold, furious at Eve. I’d returned from several hours of flying, finally ready to speak with her again, to listen to why she had lied to me for so long. She was my mate; she deserved that much.
Even if I was still angry.
But then I couldn’t find her. I went from room to room, bellowing her name. Where is that blasted woman?
Something pounded in the Great Hall.
Grinding my teeth, I stalked to the minstrel gallery, jumped the railing, and landed on the floor with my bare feet. I went over to the front door and jerked it open. “What?” I demanded.
