Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Like she’s my maid of honor, Sammi thought, struck all over again how like a wedding this was. Though of course, it was the exact opposite. She looked at Roark again.
How can he want so badly to leave me that he’s willing to do a public divorce ceremony in the middle of the Sacred Grove? she thought sadly. Is it all just an excuse to never see me again? To not have to help raise the twins when they come?
But Roark had never seemed to dislike the idea of children. In fact, he was all about trying to help women who wanted babies have them. And he’d come from a large family himself—considering that he had two brothers and two fathers. So Sammi didn’t think her pregnancy and the impending birth of her daughters was the problem.
It must be me, she thought. He just doesn’t want to be with me. I’m defective somehow and he doesn’t want me.
The thought brought her so low that she could scarcely pay attention to the Elder Priestess’s next words.
“From the beginning of our people, this ceremony has been one fraught with pain and regret,” she said, her voice filled with sorrow. “A Severing is a permanent parting of ways—a promise to never see each other again. I ask you now, both of you, do you truly find it necessary to leave each other and never be together again in this life?”
“Yes.” Roark’s voice was low and harsh as he looked at the priestess intently. “We must be apart—I have wronged Samantha too greatly for us to continue through life together.”
“And you, my daughter? What do you say?” The priestess turned her green-within-green eyes on Sammi.
“She says yes also, Priestess,” Meg answered for her. “Sorry,” she added apologetically when the priestess frowned at her questioningly. “Her vocal chords were injured in an attack, so I’m here to speak for her. And also for moral support.” She shot Roark an angry glare and nudged Sammi comfortingly.
“I see.” The priestess frowned and looked at Roark. “Was it you who attacked this female and injured her throat? Is this why you seek a Severing?”
No! Sammi mouthed quickly but Roark said,
“I did not injure her myself, but it was my fault that she was attacked and injured, Elder Priestess.”
“And now she’s lost her voice permanently and the doctor is having to build her a whole new voice box,” Meg put in, giving Roark another angry glare.
Clearly, she was incensed at the way he was treating Sammi, though Sammi could only summon sadness herself. Even when she thought of how the big Shadow Twin was leaving her, she couldn’t find any anger in her heart—just a bone-weary sorrow at the thought of never seeing him again.
“I see,” the Elder Priestess said again, nodding. “Well then, as you are both in agreement that you must be permanently parted, let the Severing begin.” She sighed deeply and turned to Roark. “Are you ready, Warrior, to spill your blood and guilt on the altar of the Goddess? To confess your crimes against the one who was given to you to love and cherish? The one you failed to serve and protect as the Goddess intended you to?”
Roark’s face went pale but he lifted his chin. Sammi thought he looked like a condemned man who had been asked if he had any last words.
“Yes,” he said firmly, nodding. “Yes, Elder Priestess, I am ready.”
“Very well, then—you may begin.”
Roark drew a long, curving, silver blade from a sheath at his hip and held out his hand over the moss and wild-flower covered altar, which they were standing in front of. Taking a deep breath, he drew the blade across the palm of his hand.
Sammi winced as she saw the crimson blood begin to flow. Roark held his fist over the altar and ruby droplets pattered down on the moss and flowers as he spoke.
“From the moment I first saw Samantha Grey, I wanted her,” he said, speaking to the Elder Priestess and not looking at Sammi. “I coveted her for her beauty, her intelligence, and her ability to understand the work I was doing and help me in it. I wanted her in my life—I even thought I felt a sign that we should be together when I first touched her.”
A sign? When we touched? Suddenly Sammi remembered the strange sensation she’d had the first time she and Roark had shaken hands—way back during her job interview with him, which seemed like it had been a thousand years ago.
Her thoughts were dragged back to the present as Roark continued his confession.
“But I was attracted to Samantha for another reason. I…” He cleared his throat, his face turning a dull red with shame. “I lusted for her. Her full curves make her an Elite, which all males from my home planet of Twin Moons desire. And so I took her into my employment.” He took a deep breath. “Shortly after that, I began to abuse her.”