Page 33 of Rite of Unity

“No matter what happens.”His voice dropped low enough that only I could hear it.“You were always good enough, Maryn.”

Something pulled tight in my chest, and I had to work not to show it.

I opened my mouth.

The song ended.

He released me, stepping back.

I dipped my chin, and returned to my place at the end of the line.

Elias faced the room.“As most of you know, we typically share the details of the rankings at these parties, but it doesn’t feel celebratory to me.Instead, I’ll make this part quick.”

His gaze shot my way, and my stomach dropped.

“Deena, step forward.”

The words were hardly out of his mouth before her wail erupted.

He moved to take her hand, but I didn’t hear any of it.My head was spinning.Why had his words felt like a warning?He’d looked my way, and I’d been certain for a moment that my callous retorts from before had pushed him too far.

There was too much at stake for that to happen.I couldn’t afford to be the reason I failed.

She was escorted out.Music filled the space she left behind.

A dark shape solidified in front of me.

He was dressed entirely in black, short dark hair, eyes darker still.I placed him before he spoke—the man who had watched me from a corner at the Middle ball.A man who screamed Elite from his velvet loafers to the exquisite tailoring of his slacks.He'd had no business being there that night.

Here, he was in his element.

Something charged the air as he closed the distance, his attention fixed on me in a room full of preening peacocks.The hair on my arms rose.

"Dance with me?"

Every instinct told me to step back.I took his hand instead.

His gaze never wavered as we moved to the dance floor, and I cleared my throat.Get it together, Maryn.

“Your speech was quite impassioned.”

His accent was strange.“Are you a friend of Elias?”

He laughed dryly.“No.”

“My father is producing the Rite.I’m here to assist him.”He sucked on a tooth.“Learn the business.”

We spun in a circle, and I stared at his black eyes, so dark I could nearly see my reflection in them.“I see.”

“Do you?”

“What?”

He tugged me closer.

I pushed back.

“I'm matched.”