Page 194 of Rite of Unity

I strode past council members, past my mother, past Gideon and his reporter drones, and sank to my knees, resting my head in Maryn’s lap.

She laid her hand on my head, stroking my hair back from my face.I wrapped my arms around her waist, needing her touch, her comfort.I had ended the lives of six people to quell greater loss in the days to come.

His symbol had been painted in August’s blood on his forehead—the rebel leader, the man my father chased day and night.Always ten steps ahead.

In the end, he had won.

Images of the men being ripped limb from limb, an arm flying high before an infected caught it, flashed in my mind; I squeezed Maryn tighter.At least she was here.I could endure anything as long as she didn’t hate me for what I’d done.

Six men.I hadn’t let myself count them until now.

I already had blood on my hands.What was a little more if it meant no one could ever take Maryn from me?

The door pushed open, but I didn’t look up.

“Mother above.Could the two of you at least pretend you’re not obsessed with each other?”

Sera’s words grated against my nerves, but I ignored her.She wouldn’t be my problem soon enough.

I looked up, searching Maryn’s tear-stained face.She’d performed as well as Sera, and I hadn’t even had to tell her.Her ability to find her way among the Elite, even under such circumstances, never ceased to amaze me.

“I need a minute, okay?”

She nodded, and I released her, standing and wiping my eyes.

I glanced back, and our eyes met.She watched me leave, the same fear in her eyes that I felt at the prospect of losing her today.

I marched across the foyer and out the front door, pulling my tablet from my pocket.I typed a quick message and stuffed it back inside.Gideon had already sworn he would delete the evidence later.

I had told Sera to leave, to go home, but she hadn’t listened.I couldn’t be held responsible for her fate any longer.

***

Inside, I grabbed Maryn’s hand, tugging her up from her seat.

Council members called my name, shouted questions at me.I ignored them, pulling Maryn down the hall to my room.She went, gaze unfocused, letting me drag her along.She was tired, exhausted from everything she’d been forced to endure.

Because of me.Because of the laws in the Covenant States.

But I was president now.I could change things.Make life better for her.Safer.

I pushed open the door to my room and sank down onto the bed, bringing Maryn down with me.

She touched my face, tracing a phantom tear.

“I’m sorry you had to watch that.”

“I’m sorry you had to do it.”

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if we were talking about the men I’d killed or the performance.

I brushed her hair back from her face, wiping my thumb over her painted lips.“I don’t like it when you cover up the evidence of our lovemaking.”

She smiled.“Neither do I.”

She leaned toward me and slid her tongue between my teeth.I accepted it greedily, devouring the taste of her.

I rolled over her, caging her in.“I want you.”