Page 41 of Rite of Unity

I moved to the center of the room, finding the ten other contestants already gathered there.Turning toward the end, I was stopped when sharp nails dug into my arm, holding me in place.

I looked up, stiffening.

“I saw your community service.Teaching girls from the Lower to read.Cute.”Sera’s rich brown eyes narrowed on me.“But it won’t win you any points with Elias.”

I glanced down at the hand gripping my biceps.Her blue nails, the same shade as our ribbons, were uncovered, her cream gloves cut off at the fingertips.

“Take your hand off me.”I backed up, tearing my arm from her grasp.

She watched me, saying nothing as I took my place beside Phoebe.

I darted a glance at the wall, searching for a cue from Paul, or whoever was producing tonight’s Rite, as I smoothed my skirts, tugging my glove back up my arm, but they were all suspiciously absent.

The energy shifted, and my gaze moved before I knew it would, finding the tallest man in the room.As if we felt each other, his eyes found mine, and he strode straight to the center.I watched him, forgetting to breathe as he didn’t stop.

In moments, he was in front of me, holding out his hand.

A small gasp broke my focus, and I stared at the faces around the room.Watching me.

Elias nodded encouragingly, and I slid my hand in his.He turned, pulling me to the middle and spun to face this audience.

“You might have noticed the lack of cameras tonight.”

Around the room, people murmured and nodded.

“Last week was the first Rite ceremony I’ve attended.”

Silence.

“I wasn’t aware of just how daunting this could be for the ladies of the Rite.”He paused, looking at me.“Until someone brought it to my attention.”

He smiled.

“You all know Maryn, right?”

Laughs and a few claps.

“Yes.She’s special.”

My cheeks warmed and my grip tightened on his hand.

“We’ll do these a little differently from now on.I’m not going to make my matches wait through a night of dancing and cameras to learn who has been eliminated.From now on, we’ll start with the hardest part so the ladies can enjoy the evening.What do you say?”

The room erupted in cheers and clapping.

Elias turned us around so we could see the delighted faces of our crowd.

“We’ll invite the cameras to join us after the worst is over.”He stopped, pulling me closer.“And, to that end, I have some sad news to share with you all.”

He paused long enough that my pulse sped as I waited with the others.

“One of our most treasured daughters, Mara Ruin, lost her life in service to her country.”

My breath caught as my gaze traveled over the nine other women glaring daggers at me.Nine.She’d disappeared and I hadn’t even noticed.It seemed no one had.

Gasps from the audience had me squinting to make sense of their blurry faces.Elias’s hand squeezed mine.“And that’s why I won’t be eliminating anyone tonight.”

I tensed, looking at Elias for the first time since he’d shared this news.A slow exhale slid through my lips as I forced my features to remain neutral, not to betray the relief rushing through me.