Under His Rule

My lips quake as he leans back again and smiles as though he never spoke a word. But what he said almost splits me in half.

He places a hand on my cheek, and says, “Don’t stray off too far, or you’ll get lost. You’re always welcome in my room of course … Upstairs, fifth one on the left.” He winks and lets go of me. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a ceremony to prepare for.”

When he turns around, I’m still flabbergasted by everything that just happened. But as he walks away, my brain kicks back into gear, and I say, “What ceremony?”

He glances at me over his shoulder with a devious look on his face. “Noah didn’t tell you? The Patriarchal Ceremony … Now that the president knows about you two, he will probably call for one to happen tonight.” He winks again and adds. “I hope you’ll be wearing the same dress.”

When the doors close, chills run up and down my spine.

I wasn’t dreaming. This really happened. Another patriarch is trying to woo me.

A part of me is disgusted, but another part of me wants to use this to my advantage. After all, the man has just as much power as Noah, which means he could help me get out of here if he wanted to. All I need to do is convince him. The question is … am I prepared to go as far as to use my body to get my way?

I sigh and close my eyes for a moment, then turn around and walk out again. Patrick isn’t in the hallway anymore. It’s actually so quiet, you could probably hear a pin drop. I wonder where everyone has gone. Maybe they’re preparing for that Patriarchal Ceremony.

I go upstairs, back to my room like Noah instructed me to. I figured it’s better than being caught looking through their stuff. I’ve done enough damage already by letting Noah do what he did on that dining table.

Just thinking about it gives me goose bumps again. Why does he have such power over me? No other man has ever been able to make me bend to his will like he does, and it scares me.

This whole place gives me the chills.

Regardless, there’s nothing I can do but wait and hope that Noah managed to convince the president that I’m not going to destroy this place even though I might … but they don’t have to know that.

I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. After all, anything I say can and will be used against me. They had cameras in the huts, so what’s to say they’re not hanging in this very room? Anyone could be watching me right this very second.

Maybe it’s Noah. Maybe it’s Patrick. It could even be the president.

Nothing I do or say is safe within these walls, and I have to remember that.

Now all I have to do is figure out how I can use this patriarchal lust to my advantage and break out of here.

“There you are.”

Noah’s voice immediately makes me sit up in bed. I don’t know how long it’s been. I must’ve dozed off because the sun isn’t shining anymore. Shit. How long did I sleep?

Noah steps inside and cocks his head. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Sleep well?”

“I think so,” I say, tucking my hair behind my ear as though I’m trying to cover up for a messy hairdo. Why do I even care? I shouldn’t.

“You look worried,” he says, approaching me.

“I … uh … maybe,” I mutter.

“What are you thinking about?” Noah sits down on my bed.

“The president doesn’t like me, does he?” I ask. “If he doesn’t approve of me becoming your wife, what will happen to me?” I rub my lips together. I’m almost too afraid to ask. “He won’t—”

“Kill you?” he interjects. Then when he sees the serious look on my face, he bursts out into laughter. “No, of course not.”

I breathe a sigh of relief even though I shouldn’t because everything about this is insane. But I’m still relieved. The president seemed like the kind of man who’d do just that.

“He likes you. He just doesn’t know it yet,” Noah jokes, a wicked smile spreading on his lips as he places his hand on mine. “C’mon. Time to go.”

“Where?” I ask as he gets up.

“The Patriarchal Ceremony,” he explains, and he pulls my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss on top. “To officially pronounce you as my wife.”

He pulls me off the bed and drags me to the door. “Wait, shouldn’t I put on new clothes?”

I know that makes me sound compliant, but I don’t know how special this occasion is going to be, and I’d rather not give them more ammunition to hurt me. These patriarchs can do whatever they want with no one standing in the way to punish them for any mishaps.