Page 77 of Rite of Unity

Maryn was always guarded.Careful.Tonight, she had been more honest with me than in any of our other interactions.

Not her truth about the steak.I was still kicking myself over that small detail.I made a mental note to never offer it again.But I was beginning to understand that everything Maryn said and did had purpose.

She chose her community service act knowing it would shed light on an issue the public probably wasn’t aware of.My fingers tugged at the button on my coat sleeve.A girl from the Middle, who hadn’t been coached all her life on what it meant to have the eye of the people on you, knew the power it gave her.Perhaps understood that strength better than I had.

Suddenly, I wanted to know what her loyalty test revealed.

The door clicked open, and I looked up.

Abi Hymn stepped out of the front door, a dove-white coat pulled tightly around her shoulders.

I straightened, stepping forward.“Good evening, Abi.”

She peeked up from under her lashes, offering a shy smile.

I smiled back and hoped she couldn’t read me as well as Maryn had.

“Are you hungry?I have a surprise for you.”

She nodded, holding out her hand.I took it, leading her to the passenger side and holding the door.She slid in without hesitation.

I moved around the front of the car, shaking out my hands and retraining my focus on what came next.

We drove in silence, Abi glancing at me several times, but try as I might to produce a kind word, a compliment, my thoughts were elsewhere.

Abi’s file had said she had a fondness for coffee.I’d chosen our date with exactly that in mind.I hadn’t known at the time I’d be delivering bad news today.But this was better than a message on her tablet.Better than finding out alone in her room.

We pulled up outside my favorite bistro and parked.The silent chaperone who had been with me all afternoon slid out of the back seat and trailed us.I felt her eyes on me.Judging.

“Oh Elias!I found this cafe only a few weeks ago!”

I painted a smile on my face.I’d hoped she wouldn’t know the place, being so new to the center.I should have had Micah do better research.

Moving in front of her, I held the door.The chaperone slipped through behind her and I released it, tugging at my collar as I caught up.

She spun in a slow circle, admiring the empty space, the twinkling lights I’d had strung for our private date.

“It’s magical.”

I pulled out her chair, then took my place across from her, sliding my hand over the table.

She laid her fingers in mine and stared up at me.

I swallowed around the lump forming in my throat.“Before we begin—” I gave her hand a squeeze.“I have something to tell you.”

Her eyes widened, but her smile held.

The twinge of discomfort I’d felt from the moment she stepped outside grew; I was thankful she wore gloves so she wouldn’t feel how sweaty my palms were.

“Your brother—”

She released my hand.“My brother?”

I folded my hands in my lap.Her composure crumpled, and my chest tightened.

I’d wanted to do this right.“He’s ill.”

She covered her mouth.“Is it serious?”