Page 197 of Rite of Unity

They continued, and I exhaled softly.

I reached the door, and panic zinged through me.A red bar was lit overhead.Locked.It must be biometric, but only at night.It was why no one guarded it.

Stupid, Maryn.

I chewed my nail, tearing off the corner.The front door was the only option.

I dropped my hand, retracing my steps and slipped into the hall at the entrance to President Hale’s office.The former president.No need to guard it now.

In the foyer, voices carried over the expansive space.

“Did you see him begging?”a man said.

Another man snorted.“Please!Please, it wasn’t me!”

Heat flared to life in my veins, racing up my arms and plunging into my chest.

“Yeah.Like we’d buy that.President Hale wouldn’t make shit up.”

I glanced through the half-open door, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon, cursing myself for not bringing the trophy with me.

“What about Maureen, though?”

I paused, leaning toward their conversation.

“She’s got nice tits.I’ll take care of her.”

I fisted my hands at my side.There was no need to hear more.

I stepped into the office.I needed something that wouldn’t look like a weapon if I were caught before I had a chance to use it.I skipped over pictures and old maps, books and letters under glass from the pre-war era.

My gaze landed on a tiny flag proudly displayed on the desk.I picked it up, touching the tip.Not sharp exactly, but the pole was solid metal with a pointed end.I tore the flag off the metal and slid it up my wrist.

Turning, I grabbed a bottle of amber liquid from the shelf along the wall.

Moving down the hall, I stopped at the corner.

“Hey, man.I gotta take a number two.”

“You’re sick, Marsh.”

I pressed flat against the wall, my heart thundering in my chest.A pair of boots thumped loudly as one man, Marsh, marched by.When he was gone, I pushed off the wall, rounding the corner.

The remaining guard straightened to attention, weapon at the ready.

I lifted the hand with the flagpole hidden up the sleeve and tugged Elias’s collar apart, revealing more skin.

“Hey.”My voice came out thick, less sultry than I’d tried for.

His eyebrows rose as his gaze swept over me.“Miss.”

“What are you doing out here by yourself?”I sauntered toward him, the whiskey bottle sloshing in my left hand.

“Keeping you safe, miss.”

I laughed, stopping a few feet away.“Have a drink with me?”

He glanced around.“I shouldn’t.”