Page 82 of Ceremony of Lust

“What are you doing here?” Anders exclaims, standing. “You’re not allowed in here!”

I cluck my tongue in admonishment. “Sit down, Chief Elder. You’re going to want to hear what I have to say.” Each folder falls onto the table with a satisfying slap. “All of you are going to listen to what I have to say. Once I am done talking, you’ll have two options. Step down from your role and leave Ripley or be arrested for your sins.”

Anders barks out a laugh. “You can’t make those demands.”

One of my brows lifts. “I can’t? At least three of you are guilty of rape. The proof is all right there. And should you resist, the proof will be sent to the authorities. I always make copies.”

“What do you want?” one of the Elders—Joshua—demands.

“You’re all going to step down and leave Ripley. And I’ll take over.”

The sinister laugh of Anders Huxley fills the chamber, which is as sparse and austere as the rest of the Temple. “Is that so? I bet this was all her idea. Did she tell you how much we’ve paid her for her so-called prophecies? How much she’s been paid to make certain matches.”

I glance toward Hadassah, who’s gone a bit grim, but her chin is lifted in defiance.

“She has,” I say sternly.

“I’m leaving too,” she says at last. “But your money doesn’t mean my gifts aren’t real. I know what’s coming. I know what will be, and it’s not a happy future for you. You’ll all be rotting in jail by the end of the year if you don’t comply with Zev’s requests.”

From the corner of my eye, I notice another of the Elders—Thom—thumb through the documents in the folder in front of him. His forehead instantly glistens with sweat and he swallows several times before sputtering, “How did you get these?”

“You mean how did I get photographic evidence of you having sex with a sixteen-year-old girl? I took them.” I nod toward Anders. “He used me as his personal spy. This information was collected at his behest.”

They all start shouting at each other, which is what I expected. All along, they’ve been clueless. Now that they’ve been enlightened, all I have to do is stand back and watch. Eventually, Joshua and Thom pick up the folders in front of them and approach me. “Burn these,” Joshua snarls. “We’ll step down, but Ripley is our home. We’re not leaving the city.”

“You’ll be shunned for your crimes and have no choice,” I state flatly.

Joshua’s mouth opens, but Thom presses a hand to his chest. “We will leave. Just give us some time.”

“You have a week.”

Two down, five to go.

The rest tumble like dominos, with Anders the last one standing.

“You seem to have won,” he says coolly as he packs up his belongings. “Congratulations.”

As he brushes past me, I step in front of him, blocking his path.

“What is your choice?” I demand.

“I will leave Ripley, but we are far from done,” he spits. “You’ve done things too.”

“And I will atone for my sins, but that is none of your concern.”

His eyes narrow. “You’ve been a pain in my ass since the day you knocked up that poor girl. Your time will come, Zev.”

“And I’ll be ready.” I step aside to let him pass.

“Are you prepared for the next step?” Hadassah asks from the shadows. “People are already filling the Great Hall.”

My fingers work to button my jacket. “Let’s go.”

Walking down the sterile white hallways of the Temple, my mind races with so many thoughts. This plan is complicated, and it might not work. Then not only will my life be ruined but so will Yael’s. There is too much at stake for anything to go wrong, but my body is prepared, on high alert, waiting for the unexpected.

The crowd in the Great Hall is loud, all of their murmuring voices mingled together, echoing off the walls. My stomach lurches once with nerves.

It’s now or never.