Page 148 of Rite of Unity

“Maryn.”He took a step toward me.“I control the cameras.No one sees what I don’t want them to.”

I stilled.“It’s how you get out of your house on Mondays.”

He nodded, stepping closer.

I looked up into eyes that searched my face for any sign that I believed him.Trusted him.

“What about the guards?”

His lips quirked.“They get leave from the island once a year.By the time anyone who saw us told someone, you would be long married to your prince.”

I didn’t miss the bite in his words, but the hardness in his face melted away as he lifted a hand, sliding my hood down.

I leaned into the touch.

No cameras.The thought was freeing in a way I never dared to be.What would it be like to do something just for me?Just once.

His hand rested on my shoulder, fingers twisting around a lock of my hair and he tugged it up to his nose, eyes sliding closed as he inhaled.

“I—” I backed up, shoulders bumping the trunk behind me.“Can’t.”

He hid nothing from me, the disappointment plain as he let his hand drop, stepping back.

The bark dug into my back.

He was quiet for a moment.Then he moved, closing the distance once more, fingers wrapping lightly around the side of my neck.

I didn’t move, my heart tripping over itself.

“Here.”His thumb pressed a point just below my ear.“If you’re ever trapped.”

I breathed in his scent, whiskey and lake air, and forgot for a moment what I was supposed to want.He was close enough that all my senses came alive.I should have backed into the tree, ripped his fingers from my throat.His thumb slid lower, tracing a line along my neck.

“A blade across tender flesh, or a quick, deep jab.A man doesn’t get back up.”

His eyes found mine.

He dropped his hand, taking several steps back, moving onto the path.“The field Nami works is just over the hill.”

A chill swept through me, and I inhaled two deep breaths.Her name was the bucket of ice I needed.Now wasn’t the time.I was here for Nami.

I followed, drawing my hood up.

As we marched over the next hill, lines of yellow painted the landscape in tidy rows, swaying lazily in a light breeze.Surrounding the stalks were massive walls stacked in layers.

Calden looked back, meeting my eyes for the first time since our near kiss.

“The domes are raised before acid rainstorms.”

Ahead, women in tan tunics spilled down long rows carrying baskets.They chopped the tops of stalks, continuing along their paths.I searched their faces, gaze roving over heads covered by tan bonnets.

I inhaled sharply when I spotted thick brown curls spilling down the back of one of the women, unwilling to be tamed.

“Nami!”I rushed forward, Calden tight on my heels.

She looked up, shielding her eyes, and a wide grin broke over her face.

I crashed into her, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist and burying my head in her shoulder.“I thought something terrible had happened to you.”