On the cusp of becoming a woman in the eyes of their Lord, Sage Marlowe had questions no one seemed inclined to answer. Her mother, Alma, had finally granted her wish to accompany her on a trip into Loveland, Colorado to replenish supplies and have work done on the engine of her station wagon. It had been making funny noises for weeks. It also happened to be the first time Sage had left their compound. She was homeschooled like so many other children in the congregation and had never been allowed to venture out.

There were nearly three hundred members that lived in their small village. All of whom followed the Lord’s will and the word of the bishop, her father, Gideon. Lately, he’d been preaching about temptation and sin; how they must always fight from giving in.

Hell’s disciples would come for them in their sleep if they failed.

What he didn’t know was that her oldest brother, Porter, had been sneaking around with another parishioner. A married woman in an unholy union.

Sage caught them naked in the pond one night when she was sent to repent after disobeying her mother and not helping in the gardens. Instead, she chose to tell stories to some of the younger children about fairies and princesses.

During that incident, her father had grown so volatile that she feared him for the first time in her life. She began to question everything after that. What purpose did she serve on earth if she couldn’t have the freedom to tell a simple story? How was she to follow his rule?

Nearly a week had gone by before the bruising faded and Sage was introduced to a newly widowed member whose wife had passed from an unexplained illness. Morgan was a nice enough man, but he was older than her barely seventeen years, closing in on forty now.

She had a feeling her father intended for her to marry this person no matter that Sage wasn’t ready for it. She wanted to explore the world, fall in love, find out who she really was.

As her mother parked in the lot of what she’d described to Sage as a mechanic’s shop, she noticed a man. He immediately caught her eye because of the way he was wiping his face with the edge of his shirt. The skin of his stomach and chest was accentuated with muscles of the likes she’d never seen on a man before.

When he lowered the material again, his gaze pierced her own, snaring her in a trap only Medusa could extract herself from. He looked shocked as she watched him cover himself up. When she stepped out of the car after her mother, he left, and she found herself disappointed she wouldn’t be able to speak to him.

* * *

Lochlan Hogan heard the sputtering engine stall as he wiped the sweat from his face after being under the body of a ‘78 Fairlane installing a new exhaust. When he dropped his shirt, a girl with snow white hair and crystal clear blue eyes was watching him.

At first, he’d been shocked. Then he watched as she got out of the car with the woman who had been driving, and he had a feeling she was young. It could have been the baggy clothes hiding her figure he supposed, but the fresh doe-eyed look she’d given him spoke volumes for her age.

He stayed quiet in the background as his oldest brother, Lennox, helped her and the woman. Watching as Nox checked the spark plugs for looseness and proceeded to move through any small issues the vehicle may have had. When Loch saw him pull out the filter and the amount of dust corroding it, he immediately knew what the problem was and that Nox would have no trouble fixing it, so Loch went on with his day.

She remained at the forefront of his mind, though. With everything he did, he worried about the two women getting home safely. He wondered about the look in the girl’s eyes—equal parts curiosity and wonder. The way her gaze never stopped roaming from one object to the next as if she were seeing it all for the first time.

When that same icy stare kept shooting shy glances his way, he backed away further. Until he was out of sight and able to observe her without fear of being caught. The mother looked downright cranky anytime the girl tried to explore the garage.

It was going fine until Asher caught him. “She’s cute.”

Startled, Loch crashed into a pile of empty jugs of oil. “Crap. Can’t you warn someone when you’re around?” Asher was a good guy, just extremely stealthy.

“Sorry, kid.” Ash’s smile wasn’t hiding his laughter. “You crushing?” His nod was to the girl.

“What? No. She’s too young.” Walking away before the other man could further comment or someone else could catch him, Loch was sad to see the girl leave, knowing he likely wouldn’t see her again.

* * *

They were back. Again.

Loch didn’t know whether to be frustrated or happy. The girl—he still didn’t know her name, only that she was too young for him—kept sabotaging her mother’s car. For months, they’d been coming in with one problem or another, and he feared that one day her antics would go too far.

This girl, she awakened something in him. His heart stood up and took notice when she was around. His mind screamed she couldn’t be real. Not because she was too perfect with her pale white skin, clear blue eyes, or white-blonde hair. It was that she was so natural, fresh, innocent.

Off-limits.

He spoke to her mother all the time when they came in. He sensed she wasn’t comfortable around the other guys. Maybe his lack of cursing every other word set her at ease. Maybe it was that he knew he couldn’t look at her daughter no matter how much his body begged him to.

But once a month or so for the last three months, they’d been coming in. Oil was low, steering fluid was low, a tire had mysteriously gotten a puncture in it. It was always something small that could turn into something deadly. And she always had this look in her eye. Not innocent anymore, more mischievous, and Loch knew his nameless girl was at the center of it all.

The biggest problem was not knowing how young she was.

Not legal.

Not his.

After talking to Nox when they were watching a football game neither had been interested in, his brother tried to encourage him to go for it. To give her a shot, become friends, something. Anything that beat the fuck out of not interacting with her. He couldn’t, though, his morals wouldn’t allow him. Conversely, his heart wanted nothing more than to claim her as theirs. To know everything about the young woman.

At one point, confessing to Levi, his other brother, that all he wanted to do was steal her away. Hide her from the nasty looks her parents were constantly shooting at her. Levi had reiterated almost exactly the same advice as Nox.

Fight for her.

They didn’t understand the age difference, though. They didn’t know how it felt to see the girl of your dreams sabotage her parents’ car just so she could spend time with you. They didn’t know what it was like to have everything you’ve ever wanted right in front of your face, and yet be so far out of reach.

Keeping clear so she didn’t see him, Loch called to Levi as he watched them enter the shop. “Where the hell are you?” Levi called, not catching onto his need to remain silent.

“Over here,” Loch called quietly from behind the connecting door to the main office. “She’s here,” he muttered.

Confused, Levi walked over to him. “Who’s here?”

Loch levelled him with a look, and it hit him. “Yeah, her,” he whispered as Levi looked around the door.

His brother’s gaze landed on her as she came into sight. “You wanna know her name, right?” Loch nodded. “You know how old she is?”

“Not a damn clue.” One of his biggest regrets. The hurdle they needed to jump.

“Let’s go.” Levi pulled the door open before Loch could argue and announced their arrival. “Welcome, I apologize for the wait. How can I help you?”

“Oh, hello, I was hoping to see Mr. Hogan.” The older woman’s face grew serious and her tone was put upon.

“I’m one of the Mr. Hogans.” Levi stuck his hand out to her. “Call me Levi.” His own gaze was glued to her.

“Mrs. Marlowe,” she replied back. “I’ve been dealing with another man for a while. I’d like to see him.” Her tone was getting less and less friendly, and she wouldn’t take his hand.

Levi suddenly pointed towards Loch, and he straightened his stance. “That’s my other brother Lochlan. Was it him you were dealing with?”

“No, well, sometimes,” she damn near snapped. “But I want the other one. Perhaps, I’ll just come back.”

Her smile died, and Loch froze just as he was about to walk forward. Panic seized him at the thought of her nearness. About to move on in his life once again and still not knowing her name.

“Alright, Mrs. Marlowe. If you and…” Levi’s voice hung in the thin air with that open question.

“Sage,” the girl whispered. Loch’s heart sung.

He didn’t hear anything else that was said following that. Now, he knew her name.

Sage Marlowe.

* * *

He’d finally noticed her. His smile, the dimples. Sage was on cloud nine recalling the way Lochlan looked at her. When he heard her name, his entire demeanor shifted. She knew he would try just a little bit harder next time and maybe speak to her.

Mother had hustled her out of there so quickly, she’d barely gotten to see him.

“You’ll have no part of them,” Alma snapped from the driver’s seat of their car. “That one is not meant for you. Morgan will make a fine husband.”

She cringed at the much older man’s name. “Morgan is old enough to be my father,” Sage whispered. Over the past few months, both of her parents had gotten more and more violent with her. It appeared every time she opened her mouth for anything but prayer, she was being backhanded.

Sage didn’t understand what had happened to make them hate her so much. She couldn’t ask simple questions. She felt like a prisoner in her home as each day passed. Her faith was so shaken, she didn’t think she’d ever recover.

“You’d do best to watch your mouth, Sage. Morgan won’t tolerate your insolence once you’re wed.” That was the first time they’d come out and said it.

She couldn’t hold her tongue. “Wed?”

“I’m warning you, Sage, Morgan has a temper.”

“And you’re handing me over to him?”

The glare Alma shot her way shut her up. She knew she had to get out, but she just didn’t know what to do.

All the way home and to church, it was all she could think about.

“Avoid it. Resist it. And pray for help.” Bishop Marlowe, her father, the leader of their communion and all things Grail had the entire congregation chanting and praying together.

He was God, their God. And he knew what was right. Her father was the key to the path to the Holy Land, and she must follow. Her sisters, brothers, and mother pushed for her to better understand the promises of God and His mission.

The problem was, Sage didn’t understand anymore. Not her faith, nor her life. She felt things. Things she was taught would lead her to the devil and a sinner’s way.

If it was so wrong, why did it feel so good? Why did God allow her to feel for a man who didn’t know her if she was meant to be a servant of the Lord? How was she to remain pure and untouched when she didn’t comprehend all these new feelings and emotions?

Frustration beat a drum in her mind as Sage listened to her father continue his sermon. She wanted so badly to go back to a time when she didn’t question if what she believed was true. That marriage wasn’t arranged for her. That when her mother was fifteen, it was illegal for her father to take the young girl to his bed.

Ashley Powers opened her mind to a way of free thinking and choices. She helped Sage realize that maybe, she could serve God’s will and be happy. That a marriage of love was possible.

“Pay attention, Sage,” her oldest sister Anastasia hissed in her ear, not for the first time in recent months.

“How can I believe any of this when the real Bible, the one from the library, speaks so differently. Forgiveness and redemption are possible.” Scathing looks from other members quieted her from saying anything further.

“Let Him guide us free of temptation and sin. Let Him show you how to free your mind from the chains of anarchy. Grace will lead you into His eternal love.” Murmurs flowed through the room of parents telling their children as her sister had told her, to quiet down and pay attention. The problem was, the only temptation the children faced was playing in the ponds across the field on hot summer days.

They weren’t given access to things like candy or ice cream. Not yet old enough to understand the temptation that the bishop spoke of. Every day she watched as the children of the compound were browbeat into believing the twisted views her own father chose to bestow upon them.

There was no longer free will.

Life was chosen for you, and should he see fit, it was taken away from you.

She’d witnessed more than one rebellious member be burned at the stake—not literally, of course. It was a term used to terrify children into complicity.

What actually took place was a complete cleanse. Almost a reverse baptism. Offenders were taken to a swamp-like watering hole filled with snakes where they were forced to enter, and a prayer for their soul was chanted. If they remained in the water until the end of the prayer, they were granted leave but banished for all eternity and smote by the Lord’s hierarchy. They left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and anyone caught conspiring with them would suffer the same fate.

Sage never realized how awful and degrading the ritual truly was. She hadn’t thought it anything but normal. After all she’d heard, other compounds across the state and country, everyone practiced the exact same rituals.

When she met Ashley at a rec center in Denver, about an hour’s drive from where their compound was located outside of Adna in Weld County, she was just as broken as Sage often felt. She liked to think that the older woman took comfort in her continued prayer to repair her spirit. Sage certainly took lessons in all that the woman shared with her.

After Sage ran into Lochlan when they’d gone for repairs in Loveland, things changed for her. He was all she cared about. What she wanted more than anything.

Her Lord’s forgiveness and blessing included.

* * *

“Sage, you will get out there and speak to the man. He is to be your husband.” Anastasia stood in the doorway to her room getting more frustrated by the moment.

“No,” Sage reiterated for the fifth time. She hated Morgan. Loathed him, in fact. He had this lecherous stare that made her skin crawl with all kinds of revulsion. He wasn’t a good man, no matter how hard her sisters tried to convince her.

“Sage.” Kaidence huffed an aggravated breath. “This is your chosen man. By your bishop. You will stop with this insufferable childishness and get your butt in gear and down those stairs.”

Turning her head from the window, Sage glared at her oldest sisters. “If he’s so great, why don’t one of you marry him?” The shared look at her words proved her point. “See? You don’t even believe the crap you’re spewing.” “Sage! You better watch your tongue around him,” Anastasia condemned.

Rolling her eyes, Sage turned her back on her busybody sisters, hoping they’d disappear as quickly as they appeared.

When her door slammed shut, her tense shoulders slumped forward with despair as the situation she found herself in smacked her in the gut.

“Oh Lord, what do I do?” Closing her eyes, she prayed for guidance, for mercy. She prayed for a savior.

“Sage!” Her father’s angry call forced her to rush up from the floor and out the door faster than anything could have. The man truly terrified her. She no longer recognized who he was and what he stood for. Surely the Lord wouldn’t encourage the abuse she suffered at his hands.

Before her foot touched the floor below the landing of the stairs, a hardened grip grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her into the family room.

“You,” her father seethed angrily, “will behave. No smart remarks. No insults. You will be the meek child I raised you to be, and so help me, if you are not eating out of the palm of Morgan’s hand and doing as he bids by the end of the evening, you will live to regret it. Am I clear?”

Meek?

“Sage!” he whisper-yelled at her.

Bowing her head, she did the only she could. “Yes, Father.” She transformed into the compliant darling he wanted but she would never honestly be.