Page 119 of Rite of Unity

His gaze ran the length of me, halting on my arms crossed over my stomach.

“Lay your hands at your sides, please.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, flexing my fingers as I pressed them against my sides.

His gaze continued south.

“Good,” he said when he reached my thighs.“Two perfectly functioning ovaries, more than one ripe egg.Very good.”He touched his tablet and typed, then looked up, pushing the glasses on top of his head.“I’ll need to collect a blood and follicle sample, then you’ll be on your way.”

I nodded.

He sat, rolling toward me.“Spread ‘em.”

My head tingled as the color drained from my face.

“I’m just kidding.”The doctor laughed, slapping a hand on the table.“Can you imagine?”He leaned closer.“That’s how they did it before the war, though.”He made a face.“No, thank you.”

I inhaled a slow breath through my nose as he rolled to my side and held a long needle.“Finger.”

His tone was light.

I raised my pointer finger, and the tube punctured it just under the nail.I bit down on a cry.A line of crimson tracked under the nail and into the needle.He lifted a glass tube, screwing it onto the end of the needle and began filling it with my blood.

When it was full, his gaze met mine.“Not too bad, right?”

I shook my head slowly.

“Now just a bit of the underside of your nail.”

I couldn’t stop the whimper as he rotated the needle and something rough scraped my nail, dragging a bit of skin with it.

He set the needle down on the tray beside him.“All done.”

I pinched my lips together and nodded.

Standing, he spun toward the door, but stopped before he reached it.“Don’t forget to rate your experience here today.”He winked.“I’m just kidding.”He shook his head, pressing a hand to the door.“Can you imagine?”

His laugh was loud enough that I heard it even after the door closed.

I sat up, wrapping my right hand around my left finger.A single tear slid down my cheek.I sat, holding my finger far longer than I should have.Another tear fell, and another.

No one asked me to leave; the chaperone never looked my way.

In the car, I tucked my abused finger under my armpit.Two functioning ovaries.More than one ripe egg.I turned the words over in my mind.It was something.But something might not be enough.The Covenant didn’t just want women who could have children.They wanted women who could havesons.

I exited the car, glancing back at the chaperone as we pulled away, wondering fleetingly where she lived.Where all the chaperones lived.

Inside, the Rite house was eerily quiet.

I trudged up the stairs, glancing at Nami’s room.Shower first.

Hot water scalded my skin as I pressed my forehead to the tile wall.In twenty-four hours, I would either be continuing this competition or my mission would have failed.What would Lucen do?I shook the thought from my head.

Padding to my closet, I pulled out a house dress and slid it over my head.I had never looked forward to Monday as much as I did now.A full day to rest and do nothing.

Would Calden come?

I ground my teeth together.Thinking of him had nearly gotten me eliminated in Trial Seven.I couldn’t imagine what Beth had revealed that had been worse.I couldn’t afford to make another mistake like that.