Page 165 of Rite of Unity

A collective gasp cut through the room, and Lydia’s hold on my hand loosened a fraction.

I looked at her, reading her expression.Relief, as I had expected, and underneath it, something sharper.Her chin lifted a fraction.She understood what I had done for her and would carry this debt like a blade.

I dipped my chin in silent request, and she nodded.

Facing the crowd once more, I held up our hands.“Please welcome Rite Assistant Lydia Cannon.”

When Lydia had returned to her cousin, not glancing back once, I found Maryn the way I always found her—without meaning to.

I wanted to fold her in my arms and not let go.

I held out a hand, and she took it.Warmth rushed up my fingers, lending me strength.We moved onto the dance floor, and I watched her carefully.She was relieved, some of the color back in her cheeks, but an undercurrent of fear clung to her.

I leaned closer, pressing my mouth to her hair.“You don’t have to worry about him.Whatever you saw.He’s gone now.”

A tremor shot through her, and she leaned back, meeting my eyes.“What happened to him?”

My lips fell into a flat line.“Not here.”

Wisely, she didn’t look around.To those encircling us, she was focused solely on me, on this dance.

Some of the tension left me.Without even knowing it, Maryn understood what was expected of this life.She was born to be a president’s wife.

Chapter 41

Maryn

Thehallstretchedlongerthan it ever had.

The poison was in the glass.August should be dead by now.A man like that, with his nightly ritual, his favorite glass; it was only a matter of time.

But Elias’s words picked at my nerves.He's gone now.

I turned the corner, stepping lightly.I wasn’t prepared to face Sera or Lydia tonight.

If Micah was caught, would he talk?His sister was in that facility.Rotting.Waiting for someone to save her.

Would he trade me for Jemmi?

I would.Mother above, I would trade anything for my family.

My chest tightened, and I forced my feet to keep moving.Elias couldn’t be that good of an actor.The way he’d looked at me across that dancefloor, that wasn’t performance.Was it?

And Calden.Why had he still not come?Was he okay?

I shoved the thought down and reached for my door.

The room was dark.I didn’t bother with the light, crossing straight to the closet and yanking it open.My bag was at the back, behind the pressed dresses I’d never chosen for myself.I dragged it out, dropping it onto the bed.

My fingers found the ribbon at my wrist.I worked the knot loose, the silk sliding free, and set it on the nightstand.

A soft clap sounded from the corner.

A tiny gasp escaped me, and I was moving before I could stop myself.In a moment, everything else fell away.

“Where were you?”

Calden’s hands stilled.