TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 263

They took me back to my room.

After that, I saw no one except the young woman who brought my meals.

The days passed without much happening.

Night never let me rest.

Every time I closed my eyes, my mother was waiting

Blood poured from the wound in her chest.

Her eyes burned red as she screamed for my head.

Staying awake hurt less.

They came for me the following evening and brought me back to the same office.

More women were waiting this time.

Most of them were elders.

One of them read through everything I’d done.

Lisa’s attempted murder.

Cameron’s manipulation.

My role in Dominion.

The conspiracy involving the unborn child.

The psychological abuse.

Cassidy’s attempted execution.

She lowered the papers.

“Do you dispute any of this?”

I looked away and gave a small shrug.

“The floor is yours. Give us one reason not to hand you back to Meridian.”

Nobody spoke.

“I don’t have one.”

The room stayed silent.

Then the arguments began.

Some said I was beyond saving.

Others, including Cassidy and Joanna, reminded them I’d killed my mother and cut Cassidy loose.

None of them called me good.

None of them said I’d changed.

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Only that I’d made one choice that happened to benefit them.

“One decision doesn’t erase years of murder,” another woman said. “Do you know how many widows live in this chapter house because of Meridian? How many children grew up without parents? How many homes were destroyed? How many bonds?”

The bitterness in her voice settled somewhere deep inside me.

Joanna looked at me.

“You have to speak for yourself.”

“Give us one reason to save you.”

I rubbed my damp palms against my trousers.

“Everything you’ve said is true.”

My voice almost failed me.

“If killing me gives you the revenge you want against Meridian…”

I swallowed.

“Then do it.”

The room went still.

Another woman broke the silence.

“Why did you really kill your mother?”

I answered without thinking.

“She chose them over me.”

Several women exchanged glances.

Those who hadn’t been involved in Lisa’s case still wanted punishment.

I stopped listening.

Even after Cassidy led me out, I sat alone in the white room, staring at the wall opposite me.

These women were as powerful as Meridian.

Every Dominion they had ever broken had begun here.

I knew I should ask for their protection.

But they already had Lisa.

Cassidy stood with Lisa.

After everything I’d done…

Why would they choose me?

Cassidy returned and led me back into the office.

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Joanna was waiting.

“Evangeline, you are not a Daughter.”

Her voice remained calm.

“You never will be, because darkness still surrounds you.”

Several women nodded.

“You are not forgiven.”

She let the words settle before continuing.

“We’re placing you under our protection because we need your help undoing the rituals that tied Lisa and Cameron to Meridian.”

“You’ll remain under constant supervision.”

“If Meridian comes for you, we’ll stand between you and them, provided you keep your side of the bargain.”

I lowered my head.

For the first time in my life, someone had offered me protection without asking for my obedience. I didn’t know what to do with that feeling.

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