Styx jabbed me in the stomach, then looked questioningly at Lilah still sitting on the bench, seeming shell-shocked, and then looked back at me with a raised brow. My stony face clearly told him not to push whatever he was implying, and he walked away to pull Mae away from Beauty and Letti who were interrogating his woman to fuck.
Turning, I looked down to Lilah, who was as white as a damn ghost; she was sitting awkwardly between Cowboy, Hush, and now AK, her chest jerking and her hand rubbing at her sternum. Kneeling, I took Lilah’s clasped hands between mine and flicked my head at my brothers to scram.
Doing as I ordered, Lilah and I were left alone. She was chewing on her lip, her eyes staring off into nowhere, bright with panic.
“What’s going on in that head, sweet cheeks?”
Taking in a ragged breath, Lilah shook her head, her eyes now focused on Mae and Styx as they were congratulated by the brothers and old ladies of the Hangmen. Tears filled her eyes. I glanced down to our joined hands. Hers were shaking.
Tugging her closer, I asked, “Lilah, what the fuck’s going on? Why the fuck are you shaking? Talk to me,” I pushed quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of anyone else in the yard.
Lilah’s big blues locked on mine and she began shaking her head back and forth, slow tears tumbling down her pale cheeks. “And the third-born Cursed temptress of The Order shall join in holy matrimony with the revealed prophet of the Lord. Her devil-tainted soul will be purified, rid of Eve’s sin, as will all of the fallen daughters of Eve. This sacred joining of the prophet’s wife shall signal the end of days, the triumph of light over darkness, of God’s strength over Satan.”
Lilah’s hands squeezed mine with every line she spoke. I frowned, not understanding the shit spilling from her mouth.
“Lilah, calm the fuck down,” I whispered harshly and glanced behind to make sure her crazy wasn’t being overheard. I immediately crashed gazes with Mae, whose eyes went to Lilah; fear and disappointment shined in their depths.
Lilah began rocking, repeating those words over and over, her voice getting louder, starting to pull the focus of my brothers and their bitches.
My attention back on Lilah, I cupped her cheeks, and her tortured eyes looked into mine, her voice assuming a panicked tone. Her body started to shake so badly she almost convulsed.
Mae suddenly appeared at our side, and Lilah jumped from the bench to her feet when Mae reached out her hand. The mumbling stopped and Mae edged forward. “Lilah, please…”
Lilah stumbled back, almost falling flat on her ass as Mae tried to reach for her. “No!” Lilah whispered, edging away to the center of the yard.
“Mae, leave her the fuck alone!” I yelled and tried to get to Lilah. Her breathing had gone weird and she looked so white. But Styx appeared beside me, fisting the shoulder of my cut, holding me back when I tried to jump forward to stop Mae’s advance on my bitch.
Fuck, what the hell was wrong with her?
“Lilah, please, I love him!” Mae shouted, and Lilah shook her head repeatedly, her legs buckling like a fuckin’ baby deer struggling to walk.
Mae stopped a few feet from Lilah, and Lilah finally looked at Mae, lips trembling. “You cannot marry Styx. You know the teachings. You will condemn us all! You know what must be done to save our damned souls!”
Mae inched farther forward and held out her hand in our direction, clearly telling us not to approach. “Sister, there is no more Order. There is no more prophet, no scripture to control our destiny. We are free, sister. We are free to love whomsoever we wish.”