Reluctantly, Silus lowered into a chair on the other side of the aisle and stared daggers at the bishop. Eleazar was not intimidated in the least.
“It has come to The Council’s attention,” Abraham began, “that Sister Larissa has been called to her mate.”
Silus shot up from his seat. “She’s lying!”
“Sit. Down.” Abraham’s eyes flashed with impatience. “I will not remind you again that you have been ordered here by your elders. You will follow the laws of this council or forfeit your right to stay present. What will it be?”
Silus reluctantly sat.
Abraham released the gavel and set it aside. “As a married female, certain items must be addressed. Silus Hostetler, do you accept Larissa’s calling?”
“I do not.”
“Under the protest of Sister Larissa’s husband, The Council shall review the testimony of all those involved in her disappearance. The Council will decide which male holds the greatest claim to her, and the matter of all other claims will dissolve once a final verdict is reached.” Abraham focused on Larissa. “Sister Larissa, is your mate present?”
“Y—yes, Brother Abraham. My mate is Bishop Eleazar King.”
A wave of mumbles washed through the room, and the gavel once again knocked. “Quiet.”
“Bishop King, do you verify Sister Larissa’s claim?”
“Yes, I, too, experienced the calling.” His eyes narrowed on Silus. “We have completed the bond, and I’ve claimed Larissa as my eternal mate.”
More gasps, and the gavel slammed harder. “If the outbursts cannot be controlled, this case will become a private matter.”
“Sister Larissa, can you confirm that the bond with your mate has been completed?”
Her cheeks flushed and her gaze dropped to the hands wringing in her lap. “Yes.”
“This is a conspiracy!” Silus shouted. “She’s a witch! She will lie to all of you!”
“The Elders shall judge her truthfulness,” Abraham barked. “And that is the last warning you get, Brother Silus.” Turning back to Larissa, he lowered his voice. “My child, do you think you can come up here and answer a few questions?”
Larissa slowly nodded but kept her gaze on the floor. She moved to stand before The Council.
“Sister Larissa, how did you come to realize you were being called to Bishop King?”
“Elea—Bishop King told me so.”
“Did you suffer any symptoms before he brought you this news?”
She nodded. “I hadn’t been feeding well. I’d been ravenous but my appetite had been off. I assumed it was simply my nerves.”
“Why would you assume it was your nerves?”
She lifted her gaze, wearing a mask of contrition. “I ran from my home. I feared I’d eventually be found and punished.”
“So, you did not leave the farm to follow your calling?”
“No.”
“How long have you known about the call?”
“Just this week.”
“Did you dream?”
She fidgeted. “A few times. Maybe more. I wasn’t sleeping much.”
She told Eleazar that she had also been watching a lot of television and the fascinating machine had a way of filling her memories with stories. He believed she’d confused her earlier dreams, thinking she merely recalled something she’d watched on TV when, in fact, the memories were workings of her own imagination.
“Could you describe one of your dreams?”
Eleazar objected. “That’s a private matter and irrelevant.”
“Very well,” Abraham said. “Are you in accordance with God’s will, Sister Larissa?”
“Yes.”
Relief washed through Eleazar.
“And would it satisfy you to legally wed the bishop?”
“Yes, it would.”
“It’s important to understand the choice you are making. You will not be permitted to carnal knowledge of any other male, including a past spouse. Should the temptation to return to Silus arise—”
“There will be no such temptation. I’m content with the mate God has chosen for me.”
Silus’s chair flipped to the floor as he bolted to his feet. “You filthy whore! How dare you give your body to another without my consent! I—” Closing his hands around his throat, he gasped.
The bishop’s glare burned into the other male, his mind squeezing the breath from his hateful lungs as he choked for air that could not pass.
“Bishop, please refrain from abusing Brother Silus.”
Silus’s complexion muddled as his eyes bulged and blood vessels popped. Eleazar held him under his control for several more beats, waiting for a true sense of impotence to set in.
When he released his hold, Silus crumpled to the floor, gasping and coughing speckles of blood. Eleazar crossed the floor slowly, not stopping until the other male’s fractured hand crunched under his boot.
“You will never speak of my mate in that tone again. Make no mistake, Silus, she is mine, by my will, her will, and the will of God. Your claim ends here and now. Do not test me on this. I may have surrendered my title today, but tomorrow, and every day after, I will be your bishop. Disobey me, and you will beg for death.”
The moment he stepped off Silus’s hand, he cradled it to his chest and panted. Spittle coated his chin as he stood and shouted, “This is a mockery of justice! Forget your verdict! I rescind my vows. That witch is nothing but trash that will one day incinerate in the pits of hell!” Then, glaring at The Council, he snarled, “Without discipline, a precedent has been set, and you will all pay the price.”