Page 201 of Rite of Unity

Finally, his hands dropped from my shoulders.“Why?”

Think Maryn.Fucking think.

“I wanted… to see him again.”

Elias stared with utter disbelief.Around us, the soldiers shuffled their feet.

Helena rushed forward, wrapping a thin arm around my shoulder.“Of course you did, honey.He was your president.It’s natural to feel that sort of loss like a personal blow.”

She patted my arm, leading me out of the room and toward the kitchen.“Come, let’s have some tea.”

A pang of homesickness hit hard, making my knees buckle.Helena’s hold tightened, unnaturally strong for her, and she held me up.“Keep walking.”

Her tone was sharp.Nothing like the soft woman she always played.

In the kitchen, Elias stood behind me.I felt his eyes on my back.

I hunched my shoulders, accepting a cup from Helena.

He came around and stood beside me, taking the tea his mother offered.His gaze darted back to me.I was frozen, unable to look at him.No one would believe that lie.I didn’t believe it.

Helena sat across from us and smiled.“It must be so hard.”She patted my hand.

I lifted my cup to my lips, knuckles white.“What?”It was a little breathless, and I cursed myself for struggling so hard to keep my composure.

“I haven’t been able to sleep in this house either.”She glanced at Elias.

I exhaled into my cup instead of answering.

“Elias.Why did you make her sleep here, knowing the rebels can get in?”

He stiffened, gaze darting between us.“Are you scared?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to sound believable.I didn’t know why Helena was helping me, but I would give her anything she asked for after this.

I turned toward him, squeezing my cup handle.

His jaw worked.Then his expression settled.He touched my cheek, tracing a line under my chin and lifted it until our eyes met.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.I promise.”

Chapter 50

Maryn

Iclosedmyeyesandexhaled slowly.

I wasn’t convinced Elias believed Helena’s story.But we went back to bed, two guards outside the door, and he wrapped his arms around me and didn’t let go.There was no way out now.

I looked up, and Paul gave me a thumbs-up.“Good luck… Maryn.”

I wanted to laugh.I might have if my stomach wasn’t trying to exit my body.

I was never supposed to be here.I’d told Elias to let Sera do this so he’d believe I wasn’t performing.I’d kept myself alive, kept him calm, kept my head down through all of it.Somehow, every choice had led me here anyway.To the one place in the Covenant States designed to make sure only one woman walked out.

A buzzer sounded overhead, and I stepped through the door.

I glanced around at a room no bigger than Elias’s bedroom.In each corner, cameras were affixed to the wall.A set of drones also buzzed around my head.Theycouldn’t die.