Page 167 of Rite of Unity

I didn’t want this.Any of this.But what I wanted had never mattered.

The hurt morphed to anger, and his eyes were black with accusation.“Why did they take you?”

I swallowed, stepping backward.Lie, Maryn.

He moved with me, closing the space between us.“Why did they drug and question you?”

“For leaving Elias the night he took me outside the wall.”I closed my mouth.Too late.

A wild laugh choked out of him.“So they punished you for leaving him, and you love him.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I never said I loved him.”

“Your eyes did.”He prowled toward me.“Your body.”

I backed up, the backs of my thighs hitting the bed.

“Your throaty little laugh at his absurd jokes.”

I sank down, but he didn’t follow, running a hand over his pants again and again.“What was your toast?”His fingers curled into a fist.“I remember.For better or worse.”

I glared up at him, the ribbon fisted tightly in my hand.I slid my legs up and pushed back to give us more space, no longer trusting myself to stand.My thumb traced the outline of rough nails that I’d freed from their gloves on the car ride back.

Calden’s gaze darted down, tracking the movement.His eyes widened, the dark malevolence in them evaporating.He took a step back, then another.

“I didn’t mean to—” He inhaled sharply.“I couldn’t stand it.”

My grip loosened on the ribbon.

“When he kissed you that first time… on the front step.”He swallowed.“I wanted to kill him.”

His gaze shot between me and the empty space beside me, almost pleading.

Something in my chest cracked at the hollowness in his words.Slowly, I dipped my chin.

He sank onto the bed.“I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you.”

A beat of silence.Then he slid closer.“Maryn.”

My name in his mouth, instead of that silly nickname, made some of the numbness recede.

His hand stretched toward my knee slowly, as though I would bolt from the room at any moment.

I watched as long fingers drew circles on the fabric and tiny shocks sizzled through me.

“I need to tell you…” His circles stopped, and he searched my face.

“I’m the spy.”

Ice flooded my veins, my limbs locking.I said nothing, staring at him.Outside, the wind gusted loudly, but my whole focus was on his lips as they moved again.

“No one knows.Not even Lucen.You can’t tell him.”

I should run, laugh, seem confused.This was a trap.

“You were meant to entermyRite.To work with me, inside the wall, to take down August and the other council members.”He laughed bitterly.“But perfect Elias Hale came along and fucked it all up.Even tonight.He saved his father from the poison.”