Page 12 of Rite of Unity

Josh's cheeks darkened, and he faced the dance floor once more, silent.We stood like that until Ruth was delivered back to me, flushed and radiant.

“Thank you!”she called after Elias as he disappeared into the crowd, Josh on his heels.

“Oh, Maryn, he’s so handsome.”

I hugged my friend, tucking her arm in mine.

I found his head of golden hair, glinting in the candlelight.He was taller than the screen made him look.Broader.The kind of handsome that made you forget to breathe for a moment.He worked the room like a man born for an audience.

He was polite, asking several more women to dance, but never dancing with anyone twice.

Even if I hadn’t followed his life on the Monday recaps, it would have been obvious to anyone watching that he was looking for number twelve.

An hour passed.Maybe more.

“Ruth.”I patted her shoulder, and we both gawked as Elias held out his hand to Corrine.Corrine, my twenty-seven-year-old boss, had donned her finest dress tonight and held her head high.

She was the picture of elegance.Posture perfect.Her smile glowed.I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her so confident.I could imagine her as a girl of eighteen, joining the social circuit, heart full of hope, steps light, and I knew she had mustered every ounce of that naive girl for this moment.Something in my chest pulled tight watching her.I wondered who she'd been before the years of waiting had worn her down to this.

I unlaced my arm from Ruth’s.“I’m going to get something to drink.”

“No, Maryn, you can’t.No one can bring you a drink if your hand is full.”

I waved her off.“It’s practically the end of the night.If I don’t get it for myself, I’ll go home dreaming of the punch I missed out on.”I raised an eyebrow at her, and she frowned, dipping her chin.“Do you want one?”

“No.”

At the punch table tucked beside the terrace doors, I slid my sleeve up my arm, securing it in place, and reached for a ladle.

“Miss Veil.”

I spun around, nearly splashing punch across his shoes.I looked up and up.He was so tall.

“Mr.Hale.”I dipped into a curtsey, composing myself before meeting his gaze.

“Would you dance with me?”

The ask was less formal than I’d imagined.Almost vulnerable.As if he expected me to refuse him.As if Icouldrefuse Elias Hale.

“Yes.”I set the ladle and my empty cup down.“Of course.”

He held out his hand, and I took it.Even through my gloves, I felt his fingers wrapped around mine.

He led us to the dance floor, and the music pulled me in.His scent, his nearness—I let myself have a moment of it before remembering where I was.

His eyes met mine.

“I realize what I said earlier may have come off as rude.”

My feet continued, but my breath caught.

“What?”

“About visiting the Middle.”

“I don’t…” My grip relaxed.“That is… You don’t owe me an explanation.”

His gaze was hot on my face even as I looked away, staring at the crowd watching us, calculating.Hoping I’d fail.My back straightened as I met his eyes again.