Page 169 of Rite of Unity

Calden’s jaw tightened.“You have no idea what I’ve done inside the wall.”

“What could be more important than taking down the president?”

He sat up, sliding back until he was pressed against the headboard.Something shifted in his face.Not anger anymore.Fear.

“You.”

I said nothing.

“If you’re caught—”

“I won’t be.”

He bit down on whatever he was about to say.

“I’m going ahead with Trial Ten.It’s the perfect chance to complete the mission.”

My tablet buzzed on the nightstand.I reached for it.

Trial Ten.Report to your match’s residence on Wednesday at six p.m.Overnight arrangements have been confirmed.

The darkness in Calden’s eyes was back, a barely contained fire, threatening to consume everything in its wake.“I won’t let you.”

I scoffed.“You can’t stop me.”

He ground his teeth, shoulders straightening.

“Going back to that house is suicide.And—” He looked away, a flash of something I couldn’t name, there and gone in a moment.

I stood, exhaling through my nose and climbing off the bed to face him.“You misunderstand.I don’t take orders from you.”

“You won’t go through with Trial Ten,” Calden snarled, following me to the window as I moved to stand beside it.He grabbed my arms.“You don’t understand.You’ll have to sleep with him.”

I looked down.After tonight, there was only one way back into that house.I’d known what it would cost me the moment I read the notification.

“I know.”

He released me, taking a step back, eyes widening.

I lifted an arm, pointing to the window.

“Get out of my room.”

Calden’s hands fisted at his sides, but he made no move toward the window.He shook with rage he'd always been so good at containing.Not anymore.He looked at me as though this was an impossible sacrifice.

"Men will never understand fear the way a woman does.It lives with us, no matter what choice we make.I refuse to give in to mine."I held his gaze."I said get out."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

The cool, collected man I’d come to know was gone.That undid me more than the anger.

His anger shattered, replaced by something far more devastating.He moved, and it took everything inside me not to flinch as his shoulder brushed mine on his way out.

I waited for a breath, two, three, then sagged, exhaling raggedly.

I reached for my discarded nightdress, crumpled on the corner of the bed, and moved toward the bathroom, hands trembling.Tomorrow, I would be back in the president’s house.Tomorrow, I would finish this.

Behind me, my door creaked open, and I spun around.