Page 117 of Rite of Unity

“Can I help?”

He shook his head again.

I stared at him, waiting, but his eyes were fixed on some distant point.

The silence was a heavy, smothering thing.

“Let me know if there’s anything…”

His brows drew down, his mouth flattening into a thin line.

I touched my device, and we rolled forward.

I had considered Micah a friend—divulged some of my deepest secrets to him—but as I stared, I realized I knew almost nothing about him.If he sensed my eyes on him, he gave no indication.

When I was thirteen, he’d saved my life for the first time and became the older brother I’d always wanted.It hurt more than I cared to admit that my feelings might have been one-sided.

We stopped outside Charles Media’s Centrum headquarters, and my hand rested on the handle.I turned back to Micah.“I hope you know I’ll help any way I can.”

He nodded, silent.

I pushed the door open and stepped out.

In the lobby, a man stood.“Good afternoon, Mr.Hale.”

“I’m here to see Calden Charles.”

“I’m sorry, sir.He hasn’t returned.”

“From where?”

“I’m not sure, sir.”

I pressed my lips together.Pulling out my tablet.He may be the son of Michigan City’s leader, but he wasn’t above me.If I demanded a meeting, he would be forced to comply.I scrolled to my messages and paused on the most recent one.

Another from Josh.

On second thought, there was someone else I could ask.

Chapter 28

Maryn

Myheadpounded.Iblinked, light searing my eyes just before I squeezed them shut.

The buzz of my tablet made me groan.

I flung out a hand, sliding it along the sheets until I felt my sleek, cold tablet and dragged it toward me.Holding it up, I squinted, trying to make sense of the letters.

Report downstairs for testing in nine minutes.

I sat up, and the world cracked in two.

The room tilted, but I pressed my palm firmly into the mattress and pushed myself out of bed.

At the bottom of the stairs, a chaperone in gray waited.Her sharp eyes trailed the length of me; I wrapped a self-conscious hand over my middle.

I trudged to the door, hissing as the full weight of the sun scalded me.Sinking into the car, I leaned my head against cool metal, eyes sliding closed.In moments, we were rolling forward, and my stomach lurched.