She’d been unable to justify Alexander’s actions in the same way. Oh yes, she knew polygamy was condoned by the word of God. She’d read about Lamech and Abraham and Solomon and David and, of course, Jacob, the patriarch of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and apparent namesake for Alexander’s “order.” She still hated what he’d done to her. Sasha couldn’t bring herself to believe that a man as truly good as Pastor Mike would condone their actions.

“Polygamy is a biblically sound strategy for a people on the edge of destruction,” he’d written in one of his Revelator columns. “But it is not the human ideal. In our Lord’s eyes, the most perfect union is one man, one woman, and as many children as they can bear.” Had he decided since then that the Heavenly Kingdom was a people “on the edge of destruction”?

After the disastrous meeting with Alexander, Sasha had made her way back to the House of Miriam. Helen was seated at her desk when Sasha barged in. The older woman looked tired, resigned, and almost depressed. It seemed as if she’d been waiting for Sasha.

“Hello, dear,” she said with a sad smile, “I assume you just met with Alexander?”

“Yes!” Sasha couldn’t help but shout. “What they’re doing is vile, Helen. He wanted me as his third wife. He lied to convince me to come down here. He says there’s a whole group of Martyrs—they call themselves Jacobians—and they’re just catfishing girls down here. We have to tell someone. This isn’t OK. This is so wrong. I just, I can’t–”

Sasha started to sob. She’d been too angry to cry in front of ­Alexander. But the House of Miriam was a safe place. Helen was a safe person. Sasha’s grief caught up with her anger and she found herself doubled over on the floor, wracked by sobs. She lost herself in sorrow for a few long heartbeats, and then Helen was there beside her. She felt the older woman’s strong arms around her, felt a hand running through her hair.

“There, there, child. It’s alright. It’s going to be OK.”

“We have to do something,” Sasha choked out. “Pastor Mike needs to know what’s being done in his name.”

She looked up into Helen’s eyes. She saw pain and anger there.

“Sasha,” Helen said, “this will be hard for you to understand. But the Pastor is well aware of what those men are doing. I’ve spoken to him about it myself.”

Sasha stiffened. She pulled away from Helen, and Helen let her go. They sat next to each other, on the floor, in silence, until Sasha spoke again.

“Authenticity is the strongest arrow in our quiver,” she quoted. “When did that stop being true? When did it become OK to lie in the name of the Lord?”