Sasha stiffened. There was something dark in Alexander’s eyes. She wondered if it had always been there and she’d just ignored it before. Her heart began to race. Sweat beaded on the back of her neck. There were a lot of people around still, but she was away from the most crowded part of the main drag. It wouldn’t be hard for three strong young men to move her somewhere less visible.

“I’d prefer to walk alone.” She tried to keep her tone even. Sasha felt like they must still have heard the trembling in her voice.

“That’s nonsense, Sasha,” Alexander said. “No woman wants to be alone when they can enjoy the company of their protectors.”

He stepped toward her, reached a hand out, and brushed the hair away from her eyes. Alexander stroked her cheek. His hand drifted down to her shoulder, where he applied firm pressure. Sasha wanted to pull away. But Alexander was much larger than she was. He had a gun, and two friends with guns, and apparently the personal support of Pastor Mike. So she stood still and tried to stop her heart from beating quite so fast.

“Sasha,” he said in the gentle, sweet voice that had helped to carry her here, “you deserve to be cared for. I know the full truth was a shock to you, and I’m not angry at your reaction. Really. But you’re still holding onto fragments of the secular world. You need to drop that veil from your eyes and accept that God wants this. He wants men like us…” Alexander gestured to his friends, “men with superior talents, to breed and fill the world with more holy warriors.”

Sasha closed her eyes. She took a deep breath in, and out, and then another. Just go with it, a part of her said, he won’t hurt you if you just tell him what he wants to hear. She knew that wasn’t right, though. She hadn’t risked her life to cross into the Heavenly Kingdom just to compromise her morals now.

“I am doing good and valuable work here,” she replied in the calmest voice she could muster. “I don’t want to be your third wife. I know God has another purpose for me, and I intend to seek it ou–”

His hand clenched tight on her shoulder. Sasha’s eyes widened in fear. There was something dull, black, and hungry in his eyes. The two men behind him straightened their backs and started glancing around, scoping out the area.

“Sasha,” Alexander said, “I brought you here. You are my responsibility. I don’t believe you’re thinking clearly. We should take a walk and find somewhere private to talk about all this. I’ve commandeered a home nearby. Come on. Walk with me.”