Fallen

Her desire fueled his and with a groan of surrender, he gave in to the lust, letting it sweep him away, moving faster, pleasure rising. He gritted his teeth, holding himself at the brink until he heard her cry out, her body shuddering around him as he came in long rolling waves of ecstasy.

Camden pulled her with him as he rolled to his back, not willing to let her move away, their breathing growing quieter as their heartbeats slowed, a smile of joy spreading across his face. Nothing had ever felt more right.CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVEThirteen Years AgoKandace wrapped the towel around her body quickly as Sydney entered the bathroom, yawning. “Morning,” she said sleepily heading to the sink.

“Good morning,” Kandace said, scooting past her so she could dress quickly in the bedroom. Aurora had left a few minutes before, heading down to the dining room. Kandace turned her back to the closed bathroom door, pulling her underwear, bra, and uniform on quickly. Thank goodness the uniform Lilith House made them wear was oversized and unshapely. She was definitely showing and Sydney, who’d been sharing a room for months now and had seen Kandace in various stages of undress, would notice. How could she not? Maybe it was safe to confide in Sydney, but Kandace wasn’t going to take the chance.

Kandace had accepted her pregnancy, accepted the horrific circumstances under which she’d conceived. But it was still so surreal, so impossible, that she could almost pretend it was all just a great big mistake. A false positive or a . . . chemical pregnancy or something like that.

A tiny tap from within caused her to swallow, fear rolling through her.

No, no mistake. She was pregnant and even now, her child was consistently reminding Kandace of his or her existence.

Sydney exited the bathroom as Kandace was slipping her shoes on. “Another joyous day at Lilith House,” she muttered. “At least there’s dessert to look forward to tonight.”

Kandace froze, straightening. “The Guild is coming to the service? I thought that was next week.” She’d thought she had time to come up with a plan . . . some sort of plan. Feign illness perhaps? But no, wouldn’t they want to examine her if she pretended to be suffering from some malady or another? It would be unwise to go anywhere near the infirmary right now.

Sydney nodded as she pulled on her uniform. “Ms. West mentioned it yesterday. I guess they have something else to do next week so they moved it up.” She waved her hand around as though they weren’t the point. It was the trays of dessert that came along with them that meant something.

Oh God. Kandace’s muscles tensed. If one of them chose her, he’d know. They’d all know.

But if no one did, she’d have an opportunity to break back into Ms. Wykes’s office. She had names now. Specific names to search for. Did she dare?

All through the day, Kandace turned the question over in her mind. Do you dare? Do you dare? No one knew she was aware of the sleeping medication in the desserts. She hadn’t even told Aurora. She knew Ms. West hadn’t mentioned speaking to her because no punishment had been forthcoming. Not only that, but Ms. West had given Kandace information. Why would she rat on Kandace, when Kandace could rat on her too?

It was time. It was time to use the information she’d been given. It was time to put things in motion that would result in the closure of Lilith House and hopefully more than several prison sentences. It was time to help the kids in the basement, and to ensure that what was happening now did not continue.

You’re stronger than you think you are.

Kandace pulled in a slow, steady breath. Okay then. It was time for Kandace to prove it.

This was her opportunity and she had to take it. She might not get another.**********The men filed in, Kandace’s hands trembling as she clutched the back of the pew in front of her. Please, God, please don’t let me be chosen tonight. Her heart galloped as they went through the motions of the opening prayer, sweat breaking out on her brow when the men stood up to “bless” the girls, their footsteps echoing in her brain like her own death walk. If it was true as she suspected, that one of them had impregnated her while she was drugged and unconscious, she could ruin them all.

And Kandace didn’t think they’d allow that to happen. No, she knew they wouldn’t.

One of the men was moving slowly her way, approaching the end of the aisle where she stood, head bowed, heart pounding wildly, a prayer on her lips, but not directed toward any god Lilith House believed in.

Please, please. Don’t let me be chosen.

An arrow of guilt speared her. Begging God to spare her being chosen meant she was praying for another girl to suffer unknown indignities that she would never even remember. And the fact that she wouldn’t know what happened to her, in Kandace’s mind, made it worse, not better. She pressed her lips together, tears gathering behind her closed lids. She gripped the pew in front of her to disguise the shaking of her hands. She didn’t know what to pray for and so she simply repeated in the quiet of her mind, Help me. Please help me.