Page 193 of Rite of Unity

Gideon Charles had personally overseen this live broadcast.It would be shared with the nation on a day other than Monday.The last time they’d broken that rule was the day the infected had breached the outer wall on the northern side of Centrum, pushing hard for Lake Michigan.

The nation watched in horror as President Hale and five hundred armed guards, along with Gideon’s entire drone force, rushed to meet them.

Less than six hundred feet from the only fresh water they would ever taste, Covenant forces had pushed them back.

“Last night, my father, President August Hale, was killed in his own home.”

My hair flew back from my face as half a dozen drones swiveled to the audience, then back to Elias’s matches to record their reactions.

A single tear slid down my cheek.

“Rebels breached the wall and my home, slitting my father’s throat.”

I let another tear fall as gasps erupted.

Elias held up a hand.“The rebels responsible for this act have been found and dealt with.”He pointed a finger, a drone projecting an image onto the wall beside him.

I’d known it was coming, had been in the meeting when the council decided this was the only way to stem panic, but my stomach lurched when five men, hands bound behind their backs, were kicked over the outer wall.

The camera fell with them, panning wide as a horde of beastly creatures dove on fresh meat.I didn’t look away, couldn’t, as half the drones in the room captured all our faces.

Screams died in moments.The only solace I could take was that it had been quick.Those people had been selected at random.I was the one who should have been on that wall, and Calden would have been beside me if he weren’t so good at covering his tracks.

The screen went dark.Silence blanketed us.

“Never, in fifty years, have rebels breached the inner wall.”

Elias’s gaze darted left, and I had to cover my mouth to hide my horror as three guards turned on one of the men alongside the stage and wrestled him to his knees.

“With the help of our mayor to the east, we captured footage of the guard who was bribed to allow these traitors inside our city.”

Boos and angry slurs were shouted at the man on his knees.

A shiver rolled through me as I laced my hands together, my thumb running over the tips of my gloved fingers.

Sera glanced at me, and I stilled.

Calm, Maryn.

The drone in front of Elias shot up, and he faced the crowd once more.“I had hoped this day wouldn’t come for many years.”He wiped a tear from his eye.“I expected to kneel beside my father’s bed and hold his hand, my sons by my side, when he was old and gray.”

Hot tears dripped onto my gown.The fabric darkened everywhere they fell.Vera had been clever again.

“But…” He paused, eyes meeting mine.“Today, I come with a heavy heart and humbly offer myself as your next president.”He bowed his head, letting the silence fill the room.He didn’t need their approval.He was telling them he did, which was smarter.

He looked up, gaze lingering on several people in the crowd.

“Elias is my president!”Sera shouted beside me.

“President Hale.”Then another.Then the room was roaring his name.

I stood, clapping.Sera jumped to her feet beside me.

Chapter 48

Elias

Imarchedfromthestage,yanking my tie aside and stopped when Maryn’s glistening eyes met mine.She sat in the corner of the room, unobtrusive.