Page 161 of Rite of Unity

Rich brown eyes met mine, and Elias’s aide searched my face.“If I release you, will you promise not to scream?”

My chest squeezed, making it impossible to breathe; another scream tried and failed to burst from me.

“I’m not here to arrest you.”

I grabbed his fingers, tearing at them, trying to free myself even as I knew the best course of action was to come up with a lie.

Then his words sank in.

I sucked in a noisy breath through my nose, releasing my grip on his hand.

“Okay?”His fingers loosened their death grip on my face.

I nodded, and he let go as I sat back on my heels.

Wiping my mouth, I searched behind him for the army of guards that should be right on his heels.Nothing.The room was eerily silent now that my heart wasn’t working overtime.Some of the tightness squeezing my ribs lifted, and I inhaled sharply.

He backed up, and I climbed out from under the desk, never taking my eyes off the door.Nothing.I straightened, smoothing my dress with shaking hands.

“Now, tell me how you plan to kill him.”

Chapter 39

Elias

Islammedthedoortomy bathroom, leaning down to splash cold water over my face.Dozens of drones were present in our home—for the first time in years—and August chose now to make a scene.

He was more than furious; he was livid.He would remove Maryn from the party bodily.My not-so-subtle reminders of the eyes of the nation on us weren’t enough to stop him.The fury in his eyes was something I’d grown used to over the years.

He would do it.He would ensure she was eliminated tonight regardless of the results of this trial.His first plan had failed.Because of me.He would ensure he didn’t fail twice.

Not if I had anything to say about it.

Another splash of cold water shocked my senses, and I reined the murderous thoughts in.

I looked up, forcing a smile.It wasn’t as hard as it should have been.

Years of practice had made me an expert at showing the world what a perfect family we were.I wondered now if that was all we’d ever been.A performance.The perfectmanufacturedfamily, complete with amanufacturedson.

Tonight should have been everything I dreamed of.Maryn’s results would have solidified her place by my side for all the world, and in only a few more trials, she would be mine.

If my father didn’t get in the way.

I turned, yanking the door open and stormed out.

I paused at the edge of the hall to my father’s office.The guard was missing even though he’d been instructed to remain outside the door all night.Odd.

I stepped into the hall and quirked a brow at the door standing partially ajar.

Stepping into the room, I froze.

“Maryn?”My gaze swiveled from her to my aide.“Micah?”

The pair looked at me as though they’d been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.“What’s going on?”

Micah stepped toward me.“Your guest wandered into a room she shouldn’t have.I’m handling it.”

I laid a hand on his arm.“No need to make any arrests tonight, Micah.I’m sure she was lost.”