Page 79 of Rite of Unity

“The point is to keep them in suspense.If we recap what’s happening now, they’ll be bored by the time Trial Nine comes around.”

His cup hit the desk.

“If you have a better idea, let’s hear it.”

He turned toward the far wall, and I followed his gaze to the row of photos.He said nothing.

Pictures of August beside the war hero who took this city back from the infected lined the entire back wall.The man who gathered the last desperate people in a dying world and constructed the first wall—thrown together from salvaged concrete and reinforced steel—in under a year.Who later brought the world’s sharpest men together to build the central wall, and then the outer one.

The man who should have been our leader.

If he’d survived.

“I’ll host a charity ball.”

“Another ball,” August scoffed.

“If you and mother attend—”

“Leave your mother out of this.”

I straightened.“If not a ball, then a day with me.”

“They’ve been on your charity trips one too many times.”August lifted his glass to his mouth again.He had shot down my ideas, but his rage had simmered.

“They were beside themselves over the Middle girl who got to come inside the wall.”

He eyed me.

“Raffle a chance for someone from the Middle to spend a day inside the wall.”He stroked his chin.

I straightened.

He sipped again.“Yes.You’ll be their guide.Show them a good time.”

I dipped my chin.

“Make sure she’s pretty.”

He looked over my shoulder, lost in thought for a moment.

“Why are you still here?”he snapped.“Go see your mother.She wants to hear about your dates.”

I turned, marching from the room.

Mom was sitting on the couch, staring out into the dark.I wanted to sit beside her, but there was something I had to do first.

I shut the door to my room, pulling the files out of my desk drawer, sliding them aside until I found the one marked: Maryn Veil.I opened it, jotting a quick note.

Loves the water.Wants to see Lake Michigan.

My gaze slid to the stack of metal disks I’d never returned to Charles.Until I got to the bottom of that nagging edit, I didn’t plan to.

Chapter 20

Maryn

Verawasgentlertonightas she rested soft curls on my bare shoulders.