Page 93 of Rite of Unity

His lips tipped up.

I inhaled a deep breath and loosened my grip.“I’m okay.”

Elias kept his arm around my waist but released my hand and guided us toward the center of the rooftop.The farther we traveled from the elevator, the faster my pulse raced, but I focused on slow, steady breaths.

We stopped beside a table and chairs.

I craned my neck around, taking in the space.It was the opposite of our previous date in every way.Where the last had been densely populated with flora and fauna, a cocoon from our harsh world, this space was open and exposed.At any moment, a storm could roll in, forcing us to seek shelter.

“Did you… choose this place for me?”

Elias slid my chair back.“ I chose it for the view.”

His grin was the easy one I’d watched my whole life on television.But was it more?Genuine?

I let my gaze slide beyond the edges of the wall for the first time, wrapping my fingers around the bottom of my chair to still their trembling.

“The lake.”

Elias took his seat across from me.“I had no idea you were afraid of heights.I hope you can bear it?”

I nodded.“I can handle anything for this view.”

Now that I saw it, I couldn’t look away.I watched tiny waves roll over the surface of a sparkling blue backdrop.

“Good.I hoped this would please you.”

I glanced at his wide smile, then back at the expanse of navy rolling into an infinite distance.

For a moment, some of my terror eased.“I love it.”

My voice was a whisper; I wasn’t sure he’d heard, but his hand slid across the table, tugging my arm until I released the edge of my chair.The world rocked, and I squeezed his fingers.

His smile fell.“You really are terrified, aren’t you?We can go down.”

I tore my gaze from the lake, meeting his eyes.“No.I don’t run from my fears.”His hold on my hand slackened, and I looked down, lacing our fingers together.“And you’re here.”I looked up, meeting his steady blue stare.“You wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

He smiled again, and I grinned back.

He signaled to a man standing by the elevator door, and the man stepped inside, pressing the button to descend.

“I want to show you more.Do you think you can handle getting closer to the edge?”

I swallowed, pulse skyrocketing as I looked past him.“Promise not to let me go?”

He nodded, sliding back his chair.“I promise.”

True to his word, he held my hand as he moved around the table and I stood, forcing my fingers to relax.He wrapped an arm around my waist once more, but this time, he lifted me off my feet.The chaperone by the elevator doors stepped forward, but Elias held up our hands still clasped together, and she stopped.

Wrapping the hand still holding mine around my waist, he moved us toward the edge.

My ribs ached from the lack of air filtering into my lungs through clenched teeth.A tiny squeak escaped me, and he halted.

“Okay?”

I nodded, inhaling a slow breath.“Yes.Keep going.”

We approached the wall and my dizziness grew.