Page 205 of Rite of Unity

The rebel slogan, whispered fiercely in my mother’s voice, had never sounded more natural.

I tried to pull away, but her fingers dug into my back.

“We deserve better.”

Her grip loosened, and I jerked free.I blinked rapidly, trying and failing to clear the tears.

“But… I’m your daughter.”I tried to bury the hurt.She saw it anyway.

“They took something precious from me.”

I laced my hands together to still their trembling.Her gaze was critical, searching for the cracks.They were glaring under the eye of the woman who had made me what I was.

“More precious than a daughter?”

She barked a dry laugh, and it was nothing like the soft one she’d pretended with all my life.

“What is a daughter in a world that only wants sons?”

The words were a slap, and I stiffened, lifting my chin.

“Why not let me die then?”

Elaine smiled, and a chill slid down my spine as the coldness she’d always reserved for strangers crept over her face.“You’ll help me get my friend back.Now that you’re in her home.”

She leaned close, pretending to kiss my cheek.“When you move inside, so do we.”

I backed up, eyes widening.

“Elias’s mom?”

She nodded.The blood drained from my face.

“That can’t be what this is about.”

“I’m not doing this for one woman.I’m doing this for all of us.”

She smoothed my hair.As she drew back, something cold slid against my palm.Her fingers folded mine around it.

I glanced down.

Venom.

“Keep this close.”Her voice was calm.“You’ll need it soon.”

She touched my cheek once, pride shining in her eyes.

“Collect yourself.You’re about to marry the president.”

She spun, wrenching open the door and stepping through, leaving me alone.

The door clicked shut.

For a moment, I heard nothing.Just the blank void of my silent mind.

My knees gave.I caught the wall, pressing my palm flat against it until the room stopped spinning.One breath.Two.

Mom’s words the day Lucen had paid her a visit, came to mind: