Chapter 3Sacrificial Vow

My cheeks flushed, a blush of what I hoped looked like shy anticipation. I gazed at the dark maw of the cavern. "I am."

"The Patron is said to be tall and handsome, a match beyond compare," I said, my voice thick with feigned desire. "I'm not getting any younger, and I've never known the touch of a man."

My crude words made the men around me frown. Even Elder Hawthorne seemed displeased. But I had passed all their tests that morning. And I was, by my own declaration, the fertile vessel they so desperately wanted. No matter how much he disliked me, he had to let me go. "The village has no other unmarried girls, Elara. This difficult duty falls to you," he said, his tone grim. "When you are in there, think of your parents. You're the only child they have left."

My face grew even redder. "Don't you worry, Elder. I promise I'll come out with the Patron's child. My parents will have a grandchild to dote on, and our village will prosper!"

No one but me was allowed to set foot in the Patron’s domain. They could only escort me this far.

Under their watchful eyes, I walked quickly down the narrow path and stepped into the cavern. The scent of jasmine and the warmth of the sun vanished behind me, replaced by the damp, cloying smell of rot and decay.

My heart began to hammer against my ribs.

And then I saw him. At the end of the passage, a powerfully built man sat on a throne carved from stone. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

"Are you… the Patron?"

The man didn't move. He made no sound. As I drew closer, I could see his head was tilted back slightly, his chest rising and falling in the shallowest of breaths.

Following Martha’s instructions, I knelt and bowed my head to the ground. "Your Bride is here to present her gift," I murmured. "I am Elara of the House of Croft. I am twenty-eight years of age. After tonight, I am your woman."

Martha had said the Patron would not unwrap his gift himself. I had to offer myself to him. As a woman of my age, though I had no real experience, I’d done my research. I knew the steps.

With every step I took, another piece of my ceremonial gown fell away. By the time I stood before him, I wore nothing but my most delicate underthings. The air in the cave was frigid, and a shiver wracked my body.

Martha's words echoed in my mind: The Patron will not move, but his body is warm. You must press yourself against him, use his heat to warm yourself. Otherwise, you won't survive two days in the cold.

I reached out and unfastened his clothes.

His skin was warm to the touch. A soft moan escaped my lips, and my legs went weak. I practically melted into his arms.

"Patron..." I whispered, my lips brushing against his ear. "You're so warm. Won't you hold me?"

"I never knew you'd be so handsome," I purred. "If I'd known how good it was to be the Patron's Bride, I never would have let my sister come here last year. She was useless, you know. Only lasted three days before she died. Don't you worry," I whispered, my voice turning husky, "I'm much stronger than she was. I'm sure I can take whatever you dish out."

I thought his body felt… pliant. Not stiff and unmoving like Martha had described. Was it because the day was so warm?

According to the rules, it was time to proceed to the next step.

I pulled his expensive clothes from his body, tossing them carelessly to the floor. Soon, he was as bare as I was. In the dim light filtering from the cave entrance, I could make out the hard planes of his stomach. I couldn't resist pressing my cheek against his eight-pack.

"Did my sister touch you here, Patron?" My fingers trailed slowly, deliberately, downwards. "What about here? Did the other Brides touch you here? Did they tell you how… impressive you are?"

Was it my imagination, or did I feel a faint tremor run through his body? No, Martha said the Patron never moved. It was up to the Bride to do all the work if she wanted to conceive his child.

I took a deep breath, positioned myself over his hips, and lowered myself down.

His body bucked upwards in a sharp, involuntary thrust. I was still reeling from the shock of his movement when, in the next instant, the cavern was suddenly filled with people…