Page 21 of Rite of Unity

Gasps erupted around the room.A click sounded, then another.

“Eyes on me,” he whispered.

My gaze met his and locked on.

“Maryn Veil, I select you as my twelfth and final match for my Rite of Unity.”

Cheers rose, drowning out the sound of my pounding heart.

I smiled.

***

The night air was cool against my flushed cheeks.Ahead, the street was empty and dark, the noise from all the well-wishers already swallowed behind us.Ruth had linked her arm through mine, chattering softly about the look on Josh’s face when Elias went down on one knee.

I heard none of it, turning my wrist and rubbing the ribbon between my fingers.

Mr.Finch walked several paces behind us, giving us the illusion of privacy.

A woman burst from the darkness between two buildings.

She moved fast, hands already outstretched, and I halted as she grabbed Ruth’s father’s lapels."Please."Her voice was raw, scraped hollow."I have nothing.We're starving."

His hands shot up, gripping her wrists as his eyes cut left, then right."Let go."

She didn't.“I'll do anything.Try again.Please—”

He knocked her hands away and shoved hard enough that she went down.

I was already moving.

He caught my arm before I'd taken a full step, fingers digging in through the fabric.He pulled me close, and when he spoke, his voice was low and even, meant only for me.

"Touch her and even your new match won’t be able to keep you out of the Lower."

I looked down, vision blurring.She hadn't gotten up.

His grip tightened, but he never spared the woman a second glance.“Everything you just earned.Gone.”

I stilled, looking away.

He released me and I backed into Ruth.Her arm locked around mine, and we walked.

I didn’t look back, running the silk between my fingers all the way home.

Chapter 6

Elias

Abeadofsweattrickleddown my forehead, but I made no move to swipe it away, standing at attention as the cameras panned lower.

“It’s thanks to you we apprehended so many rebels this week.”

My father’s booming voice carried over the open expanse.Apart from soft whimpering, and the sounds of scraping feet, nothing broke the silence that followed.

A camera dropped lower, buzzing in my face.I stared straight ahead, at my father’s rigid back.

Execution day was his favorite.His chance to prove to the citizens of Centrum that the rebels were easily dealt with.And a reminder to any considering joining them of what awaited if they did.