Page 7 of Rite of Unity

“No.We’re requesting an agent.”

Corrine eyed me over the rim of her glasses, crossing her arms.“We don’t have enough field agents to handle the workload, Maryn.”She leaned back, looking over her shoulder before lowering her voice.“Seriously, we don’t have to investigate them all.”

Grace was watching us both closely now.

My brow pinched together.“If it’s a matter of resources, send me.I’m happy to do it.”

The light in Corrine’s eyes winked out, and I knew it was the wrong thing to say before she opened her mouth.“Stay in your lane, third year.”She uncrossed her arms.“Field work is for senior agents.”She huffed, spinning on her heel.Her next words were quiet, but I didn’t miss them.“You probably won’t be here long enough to get there anyway.”

She wasn’t wrong.But not for the reason she meant.

I watched her go, then turned back to Grace.“Don’t worry about her.She’s anxious about leaving us soon.”

Grace nodded, but she looked unconvinced.

Purple rain began to beat against the glass, and a collective groan rose around the room.I stared at the corrosive water streaking over thin glass, searching for a crack, any way in.I envied the water its freedom and its indifference to walls.

Exhaling a long breath, I set the report down and pushed my chair back, the legs scraping loudly against cement.

“Going to lunch?”

I turned around, smiling.“Starving.Let’s go.”

Ruth, my best friend, linked her arm through mine and blinked between Grace and me.

“This is Grace.It’s her first day.”

Grace waved shyly.

“I hope Maryn went over the Religious Affairs handbook with you?”Ruth smiled.

Grace’s grin fell, and she looked to me.

I groaned.“She’s been here less than a day.”

Ruth raised an eyebrow at me.“She can’t review reports if she doesn’t know Covenant laws.”She frowned.“Steps to request an agent.”

I faced my best friend.“First day, Ruth.First.Day.”

She rolled her eyes and admitted defeat, tugging me out of the office with Grace trailing behind us.We took the stairs down to the basement, joining the tail end of the lunch line.

In line, Ruth glanced over her shoulder at me.“Did you see?Elias chose his eleventh match.”

I nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.“Didyousee how Elias and Rakel met?”

She giggled.“Scandalous.”

“It’s not like he’ll choose her.Girls from the Middle never make it to the end of an Elite’s rite.”I snapped my mouth shut, glancing around.

Ruth’s eyes widened, but she dipped her head toward me.“It’s better than the alternative.”

A spoonful of mash dropped onto my plate, and I slid forward, accepting a roll and a small square of butter.My stomach grumbled loudly, and I silently wished it were Friday.On Friday, we got meat.

“Potato, Maryn?”

I shook my head.“No thanks.”

Ruth took a potato from the woman serving us and slid her tray off the line, carrying it to a cafeteria table at the center of the room.I followed, sitting across from her and glancing around the mostly empty space.