Page 65 of Rite of Unity

I held it without looking at it.“How did you get out of your house on a Monday?”

He searched my face before looking away.

“A man is allowed his secrets.”

I blew out a breath.

My tablet lit up again.

“You should get that.”

I frowned, but touched the screen, reading the message.

Trial Five begins in three days.

I looked up.

Calden stood.“Back to real life.”

He climbed over the edge of the sill, but paused on the ledge.“You're not safe in the center without your father to protect you.Men may presume to take liberties.”His eyes found mine.“An elbow is sharper than your fist.”

He dropped from view before I could respond.

I hopped up, crossing the room to slide the window closed.

An elbow is sharper than your fist.The words settled over me slowly.No one had ever said anything like that to me.No one was supposed to.

I stood at the window for a long moment after he disappeared.He was younger than I’d first thought.No less pretentious.He carried himself like a man who had never heard the word no.

I was certain of one thing, though.He was dangerous.

Turning, my gaze darted around the room, and I exhaled.At least I’d already swept it.No one would ever know he'd been here.

I bit the edge of my nail, reached for my table, and read my instructions.

***

Tuesday arrived in a blink.For the first time, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself.I had two days until my next trial, but no chores, no parents to help around the house.

Making my way downstairs, I paused when I heard the front door open and heavy feet shuffling inside the foyer.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”Nami jogged past me on the stairs in stretchy leggings and a loose, flowing top that fell to her knees.She bounded to the bottom step and swung around the banister, disappearing into the receiving room.

I followed hesitantly, wrapping my robe tightly around my waist.

In the doorway, I narrowed my eyes at the line of matches, in order of selection, Sera at the front.She stepped up onto a scale as a woman in pink touched her tablet, swiping furiously.She jammed a square object into its port and held it up.

“Raise your arms.”

Sera complied, and the fertility nurse looked up.“Very nice, Miss Cannon.”

Sera’s grin was overconfident as she stepped down.“I know.”

The nurse touched her tablet again.“Your regimen has been messaged to you.I expect to see the same numbers next week.”

Sera rolled her eyes, marching past our line, ignoring the rest of us.

Lydia climbed onto the scale, and I moved to stand behind Phoebe.