Page 25 of Rite of Unity

“Excuse me, you can’t—”

“This has to be a joke.”A second voice cut me off as a woman stepped through the door, looking me over.“I’m so screwed.”

The man’s sharp gaze shot to the woman.“Vera!I’m filming.Keep your commentary to yourself.”

“I’m sorry.But—”

“Twelve, can you get in here?I need a few stills.”The man looked me up and down.“Actually, no.Vera, fix this.”He waved in my general direction.

“Come on.”Vera, the woman who had followed the first stranger in, grabbed my hand and dragged me through the living room.“Where is your powder room?”

I raised a brow.“Who are you?”

Her responding smile was painfully fake, and I tugged my hand from her grip.“I have work in an hour.”

She let out a bellowing laugh.“Honey, your only job now is to win.”

“What?No.I have files.Cases.”

Vera spun around, her long ponytail whipping me in the face.“I’m not your handler.My job is to make you look good for the camera.A task I’m sure I’ll fail miserably at, but I’ll try.If you have an issue with the schedule, take it up with Paul.”

“Paul?”

The man in the living room waved a hand.“Paul.”He typed furiously on his tablet again before looking up.“I’m your producer.I’m going to be watching you from every angle.My job is to ensure the nation loves you.Trust me?”He winked.

I crossed my arms over my chest.“I know people who have been through the Rite.They don’t have to quit their jobs this soon.”

Paul and Vera laughed in unison this time.“Do you know people who matched with an Elite?”

Vera slapped Paul’s arm.“Wait, maybe she doesn’t remember that Elias Hale, the only son of the President of the Covenant States, matched with her last night.”She looked me over again.“She’s still in shock.Paul.Get her a shot.”

Paul reached into his fanny pack and pulled out a water bottle.“Here, Babe.Drink this.”

The drones in the room went dark, tiny red lights flicking off.

I watched the trio that no longer watched me back.

“Better safe than sorry,” Paul said, shrugging.

I tipped the water bottle to my lips and gulped.Sour liquid hit my tongue and burned all the way down my throat.The buzz was heady, and I sank into it.Lifting it to my lips, I drank again.

“Okay, Bubbles, that’s enough of that.”

He yanked the bottle from my hand.

“That wasn’t water.”

“Shit,” Vera swore.Paul arched a brow at her.“She’s an idiot.We’re fucked.”

I laced my hands together.

“Oh no no no.These won’t do.”Vera yanked my hands apart and stared at my rough nails.“She’s a biter.”

“Just fix her, Vera.You have thirty minutes.”

Vera rolled her eyes and dragged me into my tiny, cramped bathroom.She glanced around, grimacing.“I hate your life.”

“Thanks.”