Page 60 of The Monster's Mate

Donald Templeton clasps his palms together near his chest briefly, wrists to outstretched fingertips, and bows his head.

But then he lifts it.

“And she shamed my house by refusing!” His words ring out as he shouts, and somewhere in the distance, a female wails as she tosses herself to the ground.

Oddly, everyone allows her to carry on.

“Today, however, I make it up to Prophet Josiah. I present to you, Duke Milinazzo, publicly announced as River’s biological father.”

The second male takes a bow, his hand still gripping Lucy’s arm. Lucy stands stock still, but of course, she knows we’re all around her. She heard Samantha get matched. I’m sure her fears have vanished as she realizes this is the plan. This is what we all planned for, despite the small, surprising twist that she was the one they were after, not Isabel.

Several people in the crowd clap. One woman throws herself to her knees, arms open as she chants, “Blessed be the Lord! He makes it right.”

“Thank you,” Donald says. “The Lord sayeth, a male is blessed when I taketh his wife to my side. And as payment for such a gift, it is declared that man may have access to his wife’s sister, for no longer is she a sister by marriage but shall replace his wife in her duties. Blessed is the woman, for He shall gift her with precious sons.”

“So sayeth the Lord,” people in the crowd chant.

Duke inclines his head, then speaks to the crowd, ever the politician. “I wish I had known I had spawned such a beautiful daughter.” He winks at River. “But it didn’t come to my attention until recently. You see, her mother was a bit of a jezebel. I was ever so lucky to get away from her. And though it’s not my place to make amends for what that woman did next—tainting the presence of your church with her loose morals—I choose to take the honorable path and make things right. So, Brother Templeton, I offer my second daughter to you.” In a grand gesture, he sweeps his hands toward her. “Lucy.”

Duke turns to Lucy and takes the hat off her head. He hands it to Donald, but one of the females steps up and takes it instead. Then he lifts the cloth covering Lucy’s head and the female takes that also, draping it over her arm ceremoniously before she steps back in line with the other two.

A strip of silver sticks over her mouth so she can’t speak.

Duke Milinazzo looks at River. “I give you River’s sister.”

There are mumblings in the crowd and several people warily look our way, aware that we took River from all this.

Lucy looks beautiful, even with her face red and splotchy, a scratch on her cheek. Her glorious hair scraped up on top of her head in the severe style of the other three.

River steps up, pretending confusion. “This is my sister?”

Duke smirks. “She is. And given to Donald, just like you were. Correcting a wrong because you shouldn’t have been allowed to leave your lot in life.”

The prophet hobbles up on stage, wrinkles surrounding his mouth as he grins like a mummified ghoul. “Thank you for the precious gift. While she wasn’t raised a Maiden of the Chosen, she shares the bloodline and will still do nicely. I accept. Everyone”—he raises a spindly arm into the air— “meet my bride.”

“One moment, please.” Lilaina steps up onto the stage, a drone following behind her.

The human males notice it and wisely stay silent.

The prophet’s arm drops.

“Why is her mouth taped?”

Without answering, Duke reaches over and rips the tape off, leaving a pink mark welting across her skin.

“Ahh,” Lucy gasps. “I’m taped because I’m not willing to marry him. I was kidnapped by him.” She points her finger at Duke.

“But he says he’s your father,” Lilaina says.

Lucy shrugs. “He would know best. But he didn’t raise me and I don’t consent to being given to a stranger.”

Lilaina smiles at her. “I need your full name, please.”

Lucy pales and her eyes cut to me. I give her a nod.

“I’m Lucifer’s Daughter.”

A few of the females in the crowd shriek, and someone murmurs. “That’s her? The one in the papers?”

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