Page 78 of Rite of Unity

I nodded.

Tears welled in her eyes, sliding down her cheeks.

“Can I see him?”she whispered.

My jaw flexed.“It’s not generally…” I cleared my throat.“Once you move into the house, contact with family and friends outside the Rite isn't permitted.”

Abi dabbed her cheek with a napkin.“I understand.”

I rubbed my sweaty palms together in my lap.

“Abi.”

“May I go home?”

Her eyes met mine—a rich brown.It had been my favorite thing about her when we met.So warm and innocent.Now, I saw that innocence slipping away, the truth of her situation sinking in.If her baby brother, not yet four months old, didn’t survive, her family would lose their home and their place in the center.

But she was expected to go on as if nothing had happened.

I dipped my chin, signaling our waiter.“Box up our order.Thank you.”

We sat in silence.

Two boxes were set between us and Abi pushed back her chair.I did the same.

She marched ahead of me, and I searched for a consoling word, something to offer, but nothing I said could help her family in this moment.I was certain her safety as one of my matches was little consolation for her seven sisters, mother and father.

In the car, her leg bounced the entire way back to the Rite house.

My finger tapped the steering wheel.

I pulled to a stop outside, and before I could open my door, hers slid open, both boxes in hand.I raced around the car to beat her to the door, but she flung it open and was across the foyer before I reached it.

“Night, Abi,” I called.

She didn’t look back.

I stood at the door for a moment before returning to my car.

***

I pressed my thumb to the door, and pulled it open, Blight barked once before resting his head on his paws when I stepped into the foyer.

“This isn’t the kind of thing you fuck up!”my father shouted.I stopped outside his office.I should keep walking, let whoever was receiving his wrath be his punching bag.But I had been on the wrong end of those fists too many times to walk away.

I pushed the door open, and a man with more hair on the sides of his head than on top rushed past me.

“Get in here,” August yelled, and I stepped inside.

“Father.”

“We need good press.This shit with Jonath is bad.”His eyes narrowed on me.“Your next dates will be public.Give the people something to be hopeful about.They’re all worked up about the boy this Rite has cost them.”

My jaw tightened.

“You have something to say?”

He picked up a glass, pressing it to his lips.