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Her heart broke for him. And while she appreciated his concern, it was misplaced. “There has to be some explanation for this, Cain. I can’t rewrite my beliefs simply because you think God has somehow wronged you—”
“I know God has wronged me. This is not a misunderstanding, Larissa. This is a vicious trick.”
“You haven’t met her yet—”
“I have! It’s too late!”
His anger startled her. “Why? What aren’t you explaining to me?”
His eyes, damp with tears and black with emotion, pinned her in place. “Just as we shared our mother’s womb, we have been sentenced to share a mate.”
A shiver glided up her spine and she lowered her voice to a whisper. “What are you saying?”
“Adam. Born first. Called first. And, of course, he found her first.” He looked away. “Now you have my side of the story.”
Chills chased over her legs. “Annalise?”
He nodded.
“How can that be? There are two of you and only one of her.”
“And there can only be one bonding. One salvation made of one sacrifice.”
The bile in her stomach threatened to rise. “If you don’t get to her...”
“I’ll die. And if I get to her first...”
“Adam.”
Her vision wavered as tears rushed to her eyes. “Something has to be done. How can anyone make such a decision?”
“The decision’s been made. She only knows my cruelty while she gets all of Adam’s kindness. She wants Adam. Perhaps she even loves him. Part of me wishes I were stronger, strong enough to let them have their love. But I’m first a predator, and my soul recognizes her as mine. She believes I’m coming for her.”
“Then Adam knows as well.” Her hand drifted to her throat. “You plan on stealing her away.”
“I see the condemnation in your eyes. If I tell you my full intentions, you could be punished, so I’ll save you from knowing too much. But do not think I take any pleasure for my part in Adam’s misery. He has always been better than me. But I am not evil.”
“This will break all of us.”
He caught her hands in his, forcing her to look him in the eye. “You must listen to me, Larissa. If something should happen to either of us, Mother will have Grace and Father to help with her grief.”
Tears rushed from her eyes. “What are you planning to do?”
“That’s not your worry. It is mine. I’ll see my mate tonight and this will end. But I cannot stay here. Once I leave, you’ll not see me again, sister.”
“No.” Her hands tightened around his.
“I have no choice. This is the destiny God has chosen for me.”
She batted away her tears. “This can’t be. This isn’t how we were taught.”
He cupped her face. “Hush now. Your husband’s approaching and he can’t see your tears. Listen to me carefully. There is a car, hidden in the barn where the one-legged rooster crows. The keys are inside.”
She shook her head, trying to stifle her upset.
“Don’t shake your head. Don’t trust them, Larissa. They’ve lied to all of us. There are no guarantees, unless we make them for ourselves. Get out while you can.”
“I cannot let you do this thing. Whatever you are thinking—”
“Goodbye, Larissa.” He pressed a kiss to her tear drenched cheek and let her go.
“Cain...” She searched the room. “Cain?”
She rushed to the door, only to stagger back as Silus loomed in the entrance. He scowled at her. “What’s the matter with you?”
Her lips pressed tight, her gaze dropping to the ground as her heart desperately begged her to search for Cain. He pushed past her, hanging his hat by the door.
“Did your brother leave?”
She nodded.
“Does he intend to answer to the Council?”
She shook her head.
“Then I hope you made your goodbyes. He will not be welcome in my home again. Do you understand me, wife?”
“I understand,” she rasped.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“You must be Annalise.” Ezekiel’s soft-spoken voice surprised and unnerved her. Adam’s grandfather was the patriarch of the Hartzler family, as well as an Elder on the Council. He’d come to visit at Adam’s request.
“It’s nice to meet you. Adam speaks highly of you—sir.”
“Relax, child. No need to be nervous. No harm will befall you here.” His gaze shifted to Adam. “She’s quite beautiful.”
Adam insisted they visit with his grandfather, and she understood his hope for guidance from a highly respected relative. But Annalise didn’t want advice from someone who spoke about her as if she weren’t sitting right there.
Adam’s hand closed around hers and squeezed lightly. “Yes. She’s also quite modern in her views. You have my permission to compliment her, Grandfather.”
The man raised a brow. He held a remarkable resemblance to Jonas, but had a streak of white running through his hair. “I see. My grandson is very lucky to have been blessed with such an ... independent and striking mate.”
His emphases on the word independent niggled, but she didn’t know what he was trying to imply. “Thank you.”
