The High Priestess

By Jessa James

Damen Aetos. Mob boss. Madman. 

And soon to be my husband.

He doesn’t care that I’m a virgin. 

Doesn’t care about my beauty.

Nothing matters to him but my last name.

By marrying me, the Madman ensures that a centuries-old bargain will be met.

The fact that he gets me -- gets to do anything to me that he wants -- is just icing on the cake for him.

But I have secrets too, lurking beneath my pretty surface.

Secrets, lies, and a power greater than either of us can imagine.

The question is, when The High Priestess comes calling, how will he respond?

• Language: English
• Publisher: KSA Publishing Consultants, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 25, 2021

Book preview

1

BIANKA

Itry not to tremble as I look out the second story window of the old farmhouse. In this tiny bedroom, I feel so cramped and claustrophobic. Something within me screams to be let out, though I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to go about that.

I stare at the ocean, grey as slate and awesome in its wildness, foaming and frothing and churning. It reflects the unsettled feeling I have inside.

The ocean understands me, at least.

I tug at the train of my long white dress, fidgeting. The dress itself is a century old at least, worn by my mother and her mother and so many women before her. It’s pristine silk is starting to turn to cream, the step before it turns yellow with age. It has a hundred little pearl buttons done up the back of the dress, to symbolize purity, generosity, integrity, and loyalty.

I have to wonder how many women have ben in my position, forced into a marriage because the patriarch of the family says so. I’m a traveller; what the patriarch says goes.

Even if the patriarch is my father. His word is untrustworthy, distilled with spirits instead of wisdom. And with my grandad and the older women gone, there is no one to right the ship when he makes a blunder.

That’s why I’m here today, called home from Dublin to just south of Peel, on the Isle of Man. My father arranged a marriage for me. I’m going on twenty one, and I would’ve ignored him.

But there is Cass, my little sister. The person who I am closest to in the whole world; the only one who has visions that rival mine. We’re tight as can be. Or we were, until my father banished me. He has halfway figured out her secret, that she sees the future in her dreams. He wants Cass all for himself, wants to harness that energy for his own use.

But he’s too stupid to know that I have a similar gift. She dreams of the future; I have feelings about things, deep in my gut. My gift is no doubt less than Cass’s, but I make up for it by being my sister’s bulldog.

Or I did, until my father drove me away. Until today, when he needs me. He’s a gambler, and not a very good one at that. He has gambled away every last cent, no doubt.

And so it is that I am to be married to my father’s biggest creditor. Damen Aetós. The very name makes me feel ill.

Da made it perfectly clear that it was me or Cass who marries the Madman. The very idea of Cass in the grip of some man that Da owes money to gives me chills. Da knows that. He knows that I would do anything to protect her.

So I packed my few things and headed here, like a good girl. Inside, I’m a snarling, hateful jumble of emotions. But I try not to show it, for Cass.

I don’t see her very often. Da says that my rebellious nature could be catching, so he needs to shelter Cass from my influence. But today, my wedding day, I get all the Cass I can handle.

I try not to let my eyes tear up when I think of what Cass’s future might be without me around.

Can you stand still, Bianka? Cass scolds.

I look down, where she’s kneeling at my feet, trying to fix a tear in the hem of my dress. Her inky hair spills over her shoulders, her dark brows pull down over ice blue eyes. She’s very slender, like myself.

Cass and I are the spitting image of our Ma, god rest her wandering soul. At least, that’s what people tell us. There are only a few photos of her, and even in those she seems quiet and reserved.

Much more like Cass than me, in that respect.

Hey Cass? I say.

Cass looks up at me. Yeah?

I’ve missed you. It’s not the same in Dublin without you, you know that?

Her face goes warm and she grins. I’ve missed you too. Maybe you and Mr. Aetós will move close to us here.

My mouth pulls down into a frown. No way is Damen Aetós going to live here in Peel. There’s not even the slightest chance that he’s going to want