Page 6 of Sacred

“You have to keep quiet, Rose,” he growled, lifting his head. His enthralling green eye was glittering with lust. The other eye was still hollow and black as night, so dark and dangerous that I knew I’d get lost within it if I stared for too long.

“I know,” I gasped out. I felt as if I were melting into a puddle on the sheets. “But I want you, sir. Please, I need it.”

“I like it when you call me that,” he said. Wickedness was emanating from him, making goosebumps stand up all over my bare skin. “Sir.”

I didn’t know what else to call him, because I didn’t know his name, but I was glad that he liked it.

“Please, sir,” I whispered. “Keep making me feel good.”

“Oh, I’ll do more than that, my sweet girl.” His tongue dipped between my legs again, and I squeezed my eyes shut, biting my lip so hard it bled.

I let the man take control of my body, letting my vows of chastity and purity scatter to the wind through the open window he’d slipped through.

His mouth and fingers toyed with every inch of me until I felt like I was about to combust, setting the whole room on fire with my desire. I was so close to reaching something, some sort of peak. One more kiss, one more stroke, one more flick of his tongue…

A door slammed distantly, and my eyes flew open. The man was gone, and I was left panting on the bed, my thighs slick with desire. My window was indeed open, but now I remembered that I’d left it that way last night in the hope that the cool breeze coming through would quell the fire constantly raging beneath my skin.

I groaned and rolled over, squeezing my eyes shut again as a hot wave of shame crashed over me. I was losing my mind, surely. Losing all sense of reality.

Just a few weeks ago, I had no idea the skull-faced man even existed. Now, he infiltrated my dreams every night and monopolized my thoughts when I was awake.

From the moment I spotted him in the woods, he’d taken control of my mind, blotting out all rational thought. I kept hearing his voice wherever I went, even though he was never there, and every time I saw someone wave to me out in the village, I thought of his hand, beckoning me to join him on the other side of the fence.

My obsession had grown and grown, like a weed inside my brain, and now… now I didn’t know what to think at all. I didn’t know what to do, either. I couldn’t possibly tell anyone, because then I’d have to face a Confession.

Besides, I hadn’t technically done anything wrong. After all, I still held my purity. A man or woman had never touched me. At least not likethat.They were just dreams.

And yet, somehow I knew it was wrong anyway. Wrong enough that I’d very likely face punishment if anyone saw inside my mind and discovered my secret shame.

Another door slammed somewhere, and I sat up straight and rubbed my eyes before glancing at the clock on the wall. My heart sank. I was almost late for Rite of Devotion in the cathedral.

“Oh, no. No, no, no…”

I dressed as quickly as possible and raced down the main street, heart pounding. Others were allowed to be late, but not the daughter of the Governor.

With every step, I heard the skull-faced man’s voice in my head, whispering terrifying yet thrilling words to me.

Not long now, Rose.

You’re mine, Rose.

I grimaced and pushed the thought aside as I dashed into the cathedral and made my way to the front. My father was at the pulpit already, conferring with one of the elders. I’d made it in the nick of time.

When I sat down, Papa glanced over at me and smiled. Despite the seemingly happy expression, I knew he was displeased. I could always tell when he felt that way, because his smile wouldn’t reach his eyes.

The service was nice, and my father spoke eloquently. When it was over, he brushed off those wishing to speak with him, directing them to the other elders instead, and headed toward me.

“Rosamund,” he said, giving me another half-smile. “I need to speak with you in the chambers.”

“I…” I trailed off and gulped. “Don’t you have more work to do?”

“Not today. The alchemists are taking a few days off, so none of the elders need to accompany them to the cave for quite some time,” he said. “Now, let’s go and have some tea.”

He beckoned me to a door beyond the pulpit that led to the cathedral chambers. He ushered me into one of the rooms, andI took a seat on a wooden bench while he busied himself boiling some water for the tea.

I knew it wasn’t normal tea. We had that at home. There was a reason we were here in the church instead, and it wasn’t good. He must have heard me crying out and moaning in the night, and now he wanted to know the truth—had I given up my purity? Had I broken every vow I ever made to the Covenant?

Fortunately, the answer was no, but I knew I could still be in trouble if I admitted the truth about what I’d seen in the woods and what it was doing to my mind. That wasn’t supposed to happen to a celestial virgin like me. It meant I’d done something wrong. Something wicked. But how could I admit it and accept my punishment when I didn’t even know what I’d done to entice the skull-faced man into my life?

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