Page 140 of Rite of Unity

I glanced around the massive empty space as we pulled to a stop inside.

“There’s a coat in the back.Put it on.You’ll need it.”

In a moment, Calden was out of the car.The green lights illuminating the space winked out, leaving me in darkness.

“Calden?”My whisper was loud against my ears, and I glanced around, waiting for my eyes to adjust.“Calden.”

A click sounded at my waist, and a hand slid back, the heat of it brushing over the tops of my thighs.I jumped, hissing as he leaned out of the passenger door, low light filtering in behind him.

“Get the coat.”

I leaned over my seat, grabbed the thick jacket, and climbed out of the car.

The warehouse was empty except for a long slip of dark, placid water and the boat resting atop it.I hadn’t seen it until my eyes adjusted.When Calden pulled the doors open at the far end, the air changed first, a dampness pressing against my skin, and then the darkness beyond spread farther than I could see.

“We’re going out on the lake?”

“We’re going to the farm.”

The boat was security-grade, black and sleek.The kind we’d all watched on Monday recaps as they patrolled our greatest resource.How did Calden have access to one?

“Are we stealing this?”I hissed.

He stepped up onto its deck and turned.“This is mine.”

My mouth fell open, and I stopped, taking in the long vessel.

“This is the way to the farm?”

The location of the farm was the most heavily guarded secret in the Covenant States.Only transporters, security and… the media… knew where it was.

Calden held out a hand, and I hesitated only a moment before grabbing it and letting him pull me aboard.

He took the coat from my hands without asking.“Turn.”

I did.He slid it over my shoulders quickly, coming around to face me.His fingers worked the buttons upward.The space between us narrowed until I was aware of nothing but his scent and the sound of water.

He reached my collar, his knuckles grazing my throat.

Neither of us moved.

He finished the last button and stepped back, exhaling.

I willed him to look at me.

To say something.He turned, moving to the front of the boat.

Behind a pane of thick glass, a seat that could easily hold four was bolted to the floor.

“It’s going to get windy.Stay behind the glass.”

I nodded, sliding onto the bench.

Calden sat beside me, touching his tablet, and the engine flared to life.

“If the water turns choppy, hang on to me.Got it?”

This was nothing like the view Elias had shown me of the lake.Tonight I would beonthe water, not an observer at its fringes; I was diving headfirst into the belly of the beast.