Page 191 of Rite of Unity

He paced his father’s office, glancing up at me every few seconds.

I had been glued to his side from the moment we arrived back at the house.If anyone noticed, they didn’t comment.He dragged me with him into the council meeting, a meeting with security, a meeting with Gideon Charles, who confirmed all the cameras in the area had been scrubbed clean.

He had his best men on it, trying to find out how the rebels had gotten in.Calden Charles among them.

My heart gave a tiny jolt at hearing his name.Safe.Alive.For now.

Elias stopped on the other side of the desk.“I don’t care what we promised Sera.I’m not sending you into Trial Eleven.”

“It’s filmed,” I reminded him.

I had no intention of being in that room tomorrow.But the longer he believed I would be, the safer I was tonight.The moment he closed his eyes, I would disappear from Elias Hale’s life forever.

He slammed his palm on the table.“I don’t care.”

I jumped, leaning back.

“I’m sorry.I’m….”He ran a hand over his face.“I’m freaking out a little here, and I can’t even fathom what I’d do if you weren’t by my side through all of this.”

Guilt twisted through me, there and gone.I schooled my face into neutral passivity and reached for his hand on the desk.My ungloved hand trembled once, the raw corners of my nails exposed.

I let it drop into my lap.

Elias’s brows dipped.“Maryn.This is too much to put on you.Forgive me.”

“Don’t worry about me.I’m not the one going on national television in a moment.”

He laughed, running a hand through his hair.“A speech is the least of my worries.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Paul stepped through the door, darting glances between Elias and me.He wiped a cloth over his sweaty forehead.“Excuse me, Mr.President.”He grimaced.“We need Maryn for touch-ups.”

Elias waved a hand, and Paul motioned me frantically from the room.

I stood, moving toward the door, but stopped and turned back.“I’ll be right back.”

He nodded, and I turned for the door.

This was the first time he’d let me go.I’d begun to wonder if I could make my escape with the way he panicked any time I was out of sight.

“You won’t hold it against me that I called you Twelve, will you, Ms.Veil?”

I swallowed, following him through a door where Vera was already holding up a puffy white gown.

She glanced at Paul.“Get out.”

He backed up, knocked into me, and darted through the door.

Vera pinned me with a hard stare.“I have three minutes.Three.”

I shrugged helplessly.“I don’t look that bad.”

She rolled her eyes.“I don’t have time for hair.Strip.”

I peeled my clothes off, sliding my dress to the floor.