Page 143 of Rite of Unity

I’d told Micah I was only going to the gym, and he hadn’t questioned it.A few weeks ago, he would have double checked my story, but whatever was bothering him consumed him.

Josh met me at the door, throwing it open before I rang the bell.He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

“It’s good to see you.”He released me, and I stepped inside.“Everything okay?”

Josh moved through the living room to his dad’s office, and I followed, glancing around the space.He sat, rolling back in his chair.

“Close the door.”

I did, sitting across from him on the other side of his dad’s desk.“What’s up?”

“I know you’re here because of my text, but can I just be real with you for a sec?”

I took in the dark circles under Josh’s eyes, his stiff posture.“What’s wrong?”

He slapped a hand on the desk and chuckled darkly.I watched my easy-going friend as he looked up once more, his composure fraying at the edges.

He exhaled, looking up.“It’s Leila.”He laughed hollowly.“She’s pregnant.”

The words landed hard, and I tensed.“What?”

Leila had entered Josh’s Rite.That made her his—his responsibility, his to protect.Her purity wasn’t hers alone to guard anymore.It belonged to the Rite.To him.

If he didn’t claim her, she was finished.The child, too.If it was a girl.

“How?”

He stood, pacing the room, stopping beside the decanter in the corner.He looked up.“Drink?”

I opened my mouth.

“I need a drink.”He poured dark liquid nearly to the rim and took a long sip before returning to the desk.“It was one time.”His eyes met mine.“One fucking time.”

My hands fisted in my lap.“How do you know?”

He set his glass down on the desk.“She told me.”

“When did it happen?”

“It was our third date.I didn’t…” He took another drink.“I mean, we were just fooling around over the clothes stuff.”He sipped again.“But then…”

I leaned forward, elbows pressing into my thighs.I had the sudden urge to punch him.To swing my fists and listen to the satisfying crunch of cartilage.He could have waited a few more trials and sated his lust legally.Now, she’d never pass a purity test, and if he didn’t claim responsibility, Leila was as good as dead.Unless the baby was a boy.

“You know what will happen to her if you eliminate her.”

He set the glass down.“The thing is… I love Ruth.”He dropped his head into his hands.“I was going to eliminate Leila in Trial Six.”

His fingers rubbed his forehead mercilessly.

“Josh.”I sat up.“You can’t.”

He closed his eyes.“Please don’t spout Covenant bullshit at me right now.This is the rest of my life we’re talking about.”

“Covenant bullshit?”

He stilled, eyes widening.“I didn’t mean it.I just meant—”

“I know what you meant.”My jaw ground together.“But you made a choice.It’s your responsibility to see it through.”