Page 73 of Rite of Unity

We pulled to a stop outside an oval-shaped building whose surface reflected its surroundings, so that it blended into them rather than standing out.I stared at it for a beat, wondering at why something so architecturally beautiful would choose to camouflage itself among its peers.

My door opened, and Elias stretched a hand toward me.I took it, letting him tug me out into the biting cold.

He hung his coat around my shoulders, and I smiled up at him.

“Come on,” Elias said, pulling me toward the door.

Inside, my head tipped back as I stared up at the massive domed ceiling.I’d assumed the building would be several stories.Instead, it stretched up toward a glass ceiling, crowded with plants of all sizes and shapes.

A small winged insect drifted lazily down on my shoulder, and I twisted my head to get a better look at it.

“What… is this place?”

Elias slid his coat off my shoulders.The humidity in the air clung to my bare skin, making my hair sag.“This is The Eden.”

We moved through low-hanging branches.I inhaled the misty, floral air, and let out a long sigh as my gaze landed on bright blooms and more floating insects in shades of orange, blue, white and black.

I stopped, stretching a tentative gloved hand toward a bug with round eyes and long branch-like legs that blended into the reed it perched on.

Elias pressed into my back.“He’s called a walking stick.”

The tiny creature froze as I stroked a finger along his back.

“He’s magnificent.”

“This place was built to replicate rainforests.”

I lifted my hand, eyes widening when his stick legs lifted slowly, inching forward on his perch.I had heard of them, great forests around the world, destroyed by acid rain.Most of the plant life and creatures in them hadn’t been strong enough to build a tolerance to the deadly water that rained from the sky in broken intervals.

I turned, gazing up at Elias.“It’s perfect.”

His tentative grin widened.“I saw how much you loved the flowers at Greg’s social ball.”

My brows furrowed.I hadn’t seen Elias that night until he made his grand entrance.But it was clear he’d seen me.

“Come.There’s more.”

He ushered me through the room to a wide table nestled between low-hanging plants and vines.

Pulling back a chair, he motioned me toward it, and I sat, gaze spinning around the room once more.Overhead, a bird swooped low and landed on a nearby branch.Its bright feathers folded tightly against its body, and its head tilted to the side, a large black eye studying me.

I looked to Elias, sitting across from me, watching me with a wide grin.

“This is…”

He leaned back in his chair.“I’m so glad you like it.”

“Like it.”I laughed.“Can I move here?I would be happy sleeping on the floor, honestly.”

Elias’s grin turned serious.“If you lived with me, you could have your own greenhouse.Grow whatever you want.I would deny you nothing.”

His elbows met the table, and his hand stretched toward me.

My heart hammered as I scooted closer, sliding a gloved hand into his.

His stare scalded me.I looked down.

“Maryn.”