Page 135 of Rite of Unity

Reaching for the door handle, I gripped it hard.

“Maryn.”

I swiveled to face him.

“I’m trying.”

His eyes were pleading, begging me to see him as the hero he thought he was.I scoffed, twisting toward the door and shoving it open, stumbling out onto the street.

My feet were moving before my brain could catch up.

Elias’s door swung open behind me.

I moved faster, running.

“Maryn!”

I ducked into an alley, breathing hard and pressed my back to the wall.

“Maryn!”Elias’s voice was quieter as he ran in the wrong direction.

I exhaled a long breath.

A hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my scream as another arm wrapped around my middle, pulling me farther into the darkness.

I opened my mouth and bit down hard on meaty fingers.

“Mother Damn,” Lucen hissed in my ear, and I let out a small sob.

He released me, shaking out his hand.

“Lucen.”My voice came out smaller than I intended.My hands were shaking.I pressed them flat against my sides.

He peered around me before meeting my eyes.“What are you doing out here?”

“Elias brought me.”I glanced back toward the street."How did you know I'd be here?"

“Why aren’t you with him?”he asked, ignoring my question.

I shook my head.“It’s awful.I can’t—”

Lucen’s jaw tightened.He looked away.

“I have information.”

His frown morphed into a scowl.“That’s not your job.”

“But I know about a secret building.I think I cou—”

“You have one mission,” he cut me off.

My gaze dropped to my shoes.“I messed up.”

Lucen’s rough fingers found my chin, lifting it.“What happened?”

“I said something I shouldn’t have.”

“Are you out?”