Page 141 of Rite of Unity

The boat hummed, sliding forward, slicing through small lapping waves as we zipped out onto open water.In moments, the wind beat against the glass, and a spray of water splashed my cheek.

Calden turned the wheel, and the boat picked up speed.A wave crashed against the front of the boat.We jerked, but he only went faster.

He glanced at me, and I couldn’t hide the delight on my face as another spray of water sprinkled the deck.

“Are you good?”

I slid closer to him.“Can we go any faster?”

His lips quirked up, the hint of a smile creeping across his face.

“Come here.”

I did, wrapping an arm around him, and a yip of surprise escaped me as the boat lurched forward.In moments, we were skimming the surface, the world blurring by, and I tipped my head back, staring up at the vast sky.It was dotted with so many stars that a person might spend a lifetime counting them and still not know the final number.

The fresh scent of lake air wrapped around me, moisture clinging to my skin.

The Covenant States taught us that after this life, we would go to a world like ours once was, full of trees and flowers, animals, and blue skies.

If there were an afterlife, surely it would have a place like this.

"Do you see those?"Calden called.

I searched the shoreline, gaze skimming over the wall spanning the far edge of the shoreline.Then, I saw them.Great metal machines, spinning slowly."What are they?"

"Intake processors."

I frowned back at him.

"Do they not teach middle citizens about water purification?"

I looked at a row of machines then to Calden again."For the acid rain?"

He grinned."That's right."

***

The hours had blurred by, and my eyelids had begun to droop when Calden slowed the boat, and we eased toward land.

I blinked, releasing his arm, and rubbed my eyes.It was still at least an hour before morning, but a pre-dawn glow was burning along the horizon.

We slowed to a stop, and my pulse kicked into overdrive as a guard in all black appeared ahead.I slid away from Calden, giving us space.

“Give me your ribbon before we reach the dock.”

“What?”

His mouth fell into a flat line.“Hurry.A matched woman wouldn’t be on a media expedition with me.”

I tugged the sleeve of my jacket back, and ice slid down my veins.I looked up, eyes wide.

“It’s gone.”

Heat burned behind my eyes.I tried to take a deep breath, but it was trapped in my lungs.I sucked in another and another.

Calden was in front of me, arms wrapped around my shoulders.“Maryn.Breathe.”

I looked up, meeting his eyes and inhaling slowly.