Page 32 of Rite of Unity

Then, he was there.Standing across from us.The room went silent again, and Elias turned slowly, scanning the crowd.

“Thank you all for coming to my Rite.”

He smiled, and everyone burst into applause.Some of the girls clapped with them, but slashing motions from the producers along the wall had them stilling.

“I suppose some of you never thought you’d see me here.”He paused.“But those of you who know me knew it would be my top priority after I graduated.”

A drone dropped from the ceiling, leveling with his face, and he looked directly into it.

“There’s nothing more important to me than my sacred duty to marry and bring the next generation of strong, capable men into this world.”

He raised his glass.

“Under Covenant.One purpose.”

Around me, every voice answered without hesitation.“For the sons we carry forward.”

Loud, boisterous applause, and this time, producers waved their hands wildly until we were all clapping too.

“Enough speeches.This is a party!”

Elias stepped forward, holding out his hand to the first girl at the end of our row, number one.Sera Cannon.On cue, music burst to life.

We all took several steps back to clear the way, and the room watched, murmuring as Elias danced with his top choice.His first match.

Sera was everything I wasn’t.Tall, elegant, poised.A born Elite.She needed only to have a son of her own to maintain her status for life.They spun by, and my heart sped.

Had his eyes found mine?Just for a moment?

My fingers unclasped from behind my back, and I gasped, bringing my hand around to find a small piece of paper folded in my palm.I didn’t look around for who had put it there.Looking would have been a mistake.

I swallowed, tucking it away.

I could kiss Vera for giving me pockets.

The song ended, and Elias held out his hand to Lydia Cannon, Sera’s cousin.She took it, and one by one, each of the women had her turn with him.None of the other attendees joined him on the dance floor.Instead, we all watched as he danced with each of his twelve matches.

Finally, it was my turn.

Our eyes met as he held out his hand.Up close, the tiredness was visible, a slight heaviness around his eyes that the cameras wouldn’t catch from a distance.He’d done this eleven times tonight.

He’d stopped a little too far away, forcing me to come to him.

Had he done that with the others?

I stepped forward and heat rushed up my side as his hand settled on my waist.

We began to spin and I was suddenly aware of how little space there was between us.My arms stiffened and, I fixed my eyes somewhere over his shoulder, the way I’d watched the others do.Neutral but pleasant.

“Your speech was incredible.”

My eyes found his before I could stop them.“You watched?”

“Of course.”

I looked away.“I hope it was good enough.”

The hand at my waist tightened, and my breath caught.I felt his eyes on me.