Page 58 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

An act of violence against someone who was not anointed wasn’t a punishable offence. He had designed the bylaws that way so his people need not ever fear defending themselves against someone from the outside world. For nearly three decades, he had kept peace on the compound.

As much as he hated to admit it, taking Alex in front of the council on this matter would be tricky. Everything would be questioned. Marshall’s authority. His judgment. His contradictory and preferential treatment of his daughter. As well as her conduct with that agent of chaos.

The only way Marshall could ever truly protect Mercy was for her to take her vows and be anointed. He had thought his excuses for her would expire on her twenty-fifth birthday. Instead, tomorrow she’d have to choose. Become a Starlight or one of the fallen.

But he still had to deal with Alex.

My son. My monster.“You must be punished.”

“I will not go quietly into the dark. I’ll fight tooth and nail to stay. I’ll make sure things get messy. You will not walk away spotless. I promise you that!” Alex roared, jerking at his handcuffs, the chain rattling. “Let me stay. Protect me as I’ve protected you...and all your secrets.”

There were other things he could do to Alex that didn’t require the purview of the council. “Flagellation will be your punishment. I’ll do it myself.”

Alex smiled. Even though flesh would be torn from his back with a whip, he smiled as though he’d been given a gift. “After I’ve atoned, I want to hear how you’re so certain that Mercy will be back.”

Oh, ye of little faith.

His daughter would return before the eclipse. Marshall was more than the prophet.

He was a man who always had a plan.

Chapter Fifteen

A warm hand rubbed Mercy’s leg, rousing her.

“I think we’re almost there,” Rocco said.

Yawning, she looked around at the pines and snowcapped peaks. With the higher elevation the temperature would be much cooler.

It was a good thing Rocco had swung by the motel and picked up their things after he had given his boss the details of where they were headed. Charlie had packed a couple of sweaters for her, and she’d need them.

Mercy pulled out the needle for the IV from her hand.

“How are you feeling?”

“The concoction in the IV bag and the sleep made a world of difference. I’m much better now.”

“You look better. No more swelling. No welts or red marks.” A small smile tugged at his mouth. “Gave me quite a scare.”

Alex had terrified them all. He’d watched her with a cool detachment as her airway squeezed tight, closing off all her oxygen. Her skin had turned clammy and itchy. She’d struggled for every strangled breath, her lungs burning, a scream building that she hadn’t been able to release. It felt like an anvil had been on her chest. Darkness had closed in around the edges of her vision.

Rocco had been frantic, doing what he could to save her. While Alex had loomed over her, reminding her of who he was and what he was capable of.

I’d rather see you dead than living in darkness with that man.

His vicious words rang in her head, flooding her veins with ice. She might have underestimated his capacity for cruelty, but not anymore.

“I can’t go back to the compound.” She didn’t want to flee like a traitor. To be designated as “fallen.” To never again associate with the people who she called family. To not say a proper goodbye. But she didn’t see any other way. “Unless I take my vows, there’s no place for me in the commune.” She’d put it off for as long as she could, wrestling with the hardest decision of her life. “But I can’t do it.”

And it was only a matter of time before Alex tried to kill her again because she would never be his. She couldn’t give him that opportunity by returning to the compound.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re making the right choice.” He clutched her hand. “It was good of Charlie to say those things to you last night. I just want to make it clear that neither of us wants you to think that you have to depend on me to make this transition. Of course, I’m here for you. We’ll both help you in any way that makes you comfortable. We have a lot of friends in town who’ll support you.”

“That means a lot.” More than he realized. The idea of leaving the commune had seemed too big, too final. Too far out of reach. With assistance from Charlie, Brian and most especially Rocco—regardless of how deep his feelings truly ran, there was no doubt he cared about her—she could envision a different life.

One she desperately wanted.

“No pressure or anything,” he said, “but I hope you won’t walk away from this. From us. The possibility of what we could be together. It’s real for me. I never lied about my feelings for you. After almost losing you earlier, I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I’m in this for the long haul. If you want me.”

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