Page 23 of Rite of Unity

“The Rite doesn’t excuse you from your duty.I want three more arrests this month.Televised.”

“Should I make up crimes?Or do you want me to troll the Lowers looking for people poor enough?Desperate en—”

The crack sounded moments before I doubled over.A second blow to the ribs made me gag.Not on my face, though.Never my face.

He backed up, and I struggled to straighten, letting my arms hang loose at my sides.

“Do you think this is a joke?They outnumber us one hundred to one.What happens when they stop fearing us?What happens when they think their future leader is weak?”

“This is about Maryn.”

“Number twelve.”

“She’s from the Middle sector.I chose four, just like you asked.”

“You made yourself look like a lovesick fool, swooning over a girl on one knee.”

My fists loosened at my sides.Her face had made it all worth it.The shock, the moment behind the curtain.I had replayed it a dozen times.That was the part August could never know.Not the knee.That I had chosen her because I wanted her.

“Ratings, Dad.The nation swallowed it whole.”

He spun around, reaching for a new glass and pouring amber liquid to the rim.

“It starts small.”He lifted it to his lips, taking a slow sip.“Now men all over the nation will be getting down on a knee for women.”

He spat the words.

“You wouldn’t have gone down on a knee for Mom?”

His brows shot up, and he set his cup down, grabbing a second and pouring it half full.

I stepped forward, and he handed me the second glass, raising his first.“To the Rite.”I clinked our glasses and took a sip, relishing the numbness that followed.

August’s eyes met mine as he set the cup down.“Just get rid of her quick.”

Chapter 7

Maryn

Iopenedmyeyes,staringup at the crack in my bedroom ceiling.It was comforting, a reminder I was in my home.I rubbed my eyes, my gaze catching on blue silk, and held my arm up to the beam of light peeking between the blinds.

I turned my wrist left and right.A flash of Elias’s soft fingers trailing my wrist after he tied the bow assaulted me, forcing me to sit up.

I needed tea.

I stopped in the doorway of our small living room, frozen as the screen replayed the moment again and again.

“That’s right, our most eligible bachelor is officially off the market.Sorry ladies.Elias Hale is taken.”

My mom spun to stare at me.Her face said everything she was thinking.She had never been good at hiding anything.

“Mama.”

Behind her, the TV continued to blare.

“What does it mean?”

“You know Elias, he never does the bare minimum.Watch out, bachelors, your matches are going to expect you to take a knee from here on out.”