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Noah sits down beside me and grabs my hand. “I just wanna make something clear … The president didn’t come to your apartment because of me.”
I place a finger on his lips. “I know. It was Patrick …”
He lowers his eyes. “I wish I could’ve brought you back under different circumstances.”
I frown. “Did I ever have a choice?”
A smirk spreads on his lips. “Did you even want one?”
Now I’m the one to smile.
He’s right. I didn’t need a choice. I needed a reason, and he gave me plenty. My mother being alive, the child growing inside me needing a father … and the people in this community need looking after. Someone has to save these people from their cruel rulers.
“We have to change things,” I say softly.
His grip on my hand grows tighter, and he looks up at me from underneath his lashes with beautiful dark eyes that remind me of a devilish angel come down to save us from destruction.
“We’ll break this community.” His fingers lace through mine, and I’ve never felt more secure, more courageous than I feel right now. “Together …”
Chapter 15
Natalie
It’s been a while since I’ve been back. A few weeks, I think, but there’s no way of tracking time since there aren’t any clocks or calendars. They let us out of our rooms after a few days, and now we’re finally allowed to roam about the property again. Mostly just the temple, especially now that I’m pregnant.
Noah’s only allowed outside whenever he has to attend an event, but he never comes back happy. I’m still forced to sleep in my own room. We can’t spend nights together even though I desperately want to. The guards only listen to the president. Noah can’t control them anymore, which worries me.
Ever since we’re back, he no longer has the power he once did, back before I escaped. It’s as if in order to let me in, he’s had to shun the rest, which has consequences. I don’t think the other patriarchs want to talk to him anymore. Not that I see them often; they keep us Matriarchs away from the business. Away from everything, if they could.
They only want us when they’re ready to fuck.
Ready to make … babies.
And the rest of our time is spent in solitary confinement with only books, knitting, and trivial games to keep us company.
There’s a common women’s room too. Today’s the day I join them for the first time, and for some reason, that makes me anxious. Even though it’s just a bunch of women, and I know they don’t carry the same power as the patriarchs do, they’re still dangerous. They’re married or are daughters to the most powerful men in this community.
Men who love them. Men who cherish them, even if it’s only for their bodies.
And those men will do anything to keep their prized possessions intact.
Maybe they’d even hurt another patriarch’s wife to keep their own safe.
I wonder …
Agatha escorts me to the room, which is in the back on the ground floor of the building, a place that was previously closed for me. Agatha has a key. I’m surprised the women are okay with being locked inside.
“There you go,” she says, opening the door.
I smile at her. “Thank you.”
I step inside in my long, yellow dress that Agatha made for me and fits snugly. It’s more like a conservatory than a room, as there are flowers and potted plants all over. The floors are covered with pink and white tiles, and it smells tropical in here, as though someone danced around spritzing bottled perfume. In the corner to the left are six cozy-looking, rosy-pillowed seats, two of which are vacant. One belongs to my mother, no doubt.
In the others are five women, all dressed in puffy, pink, red, purple dresses that look an awful lot like mine. Does Agatha make them for all the women here?
The door behind me closes, and I’m acutely aware of the fact that I’m now locked in a single room with these women, who are all looking at me like I’m an unwelcome guest.
Then one of them smiles and gets up from her seat. “Darling … welcome.”
Her silvery-white hair cascades down her shoulders as she approaches me, and she gives me a kiss on each cheek and then a bow.
I just stare, and when she does too, and I realize it’s becoming awkward, so I bow too.
“Finally, you’ve joined us,” she says.
I smile. “Sorry, I didn’t—”
“No, no, you don’t have to apologize,” she says with a sort of French accent. I wonder if she too was stolen from the outside world or if she’s just putting on a front. “We’re all family here.”
“Right …” I reply. “I wish I could’ve joined you guys sooner.” It’s a lie, but it’s one I’ll happily tell in order to keep them from stabbing me once they find out I want their husbands dead.
