Page 136 of Rite of Unity

I looked away.

“Are you?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, meeting his eyes.“How did you find me?”

“We have eyes, don’t we?”

“Has the inside man revealed himself yet?I could send you information if—”

Lucen growled, spitting beside my feet, and I stilled.“Get yourself back inside the wall.You’re almost there.”He shoved a small pouch at my chest.My fingers curled around it and I stuffed it into my pocket.

I nodded, my lower lip beginning to quiver.“I’ll try.”

“No.”

“Dad.”

Lucen’s shoulders went rigid, eyes widening, and he looked around the dark.His eyes met mine, cold as steel.“Never.Say that.”

I blinked several times.“I’m sorry.”

“Go.”

He melted back into the shadows, and I gave myself a moment, one breath, before straightening and stepping out of the alley.

I walked back the way I’d come, touching the bulge in my pocket.

His car sat in the middle of the street right where we’d stopped.I marched toward it, chin high.

My chaperone darted for me, grabbing my shoulders and shaking them.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, shame washing through me.She would have been severely punished if anyone knew.I lifted a hand, touching her arm.

She shook me again, eyes wild.

“Maryn!”

Elias jogged toward us, and she dropped her hands, stepping back.

He stopped half a foot away.“I was so worried.”

I nodded.“I shouldn’t have run from you.”

“I shouldn’t have brought you out here.”

I looked up, meeting his eyes.“You wanted to share something with me and I… wasn’t receptive to it.”

Elias closed the distance between us, wrapping an arm around me.I willed myself to relax, to melt into him.

He dipped his head to the top of mine, stroking a hand over my hair.“Just promise me you won’t run from me again.”

Chapter 33

Elias

IglancedatMarynaswe stopped at the wall.She was silent, but it wasn’t the judgmental silence that sat with us as we left the facility.Maryn had been more real with me tonight than in any of the weeks since I’d known her.

I was reminded of her mother, performing for her alcoholic father.

Maryn had learned to hold the emotion inside early.