Chapter 12
Maryn
Istared at the flowers lining the entry, real ones. Each petal unique.
“Maryn,” Ruth hissed. “They’ll know we’re from the Middle.”
I laughed. “Everyone knows exactly where I’m from.”
Ruth’s cheeks flamed, but she tugged me through the foyer and into the ballroom. My second Rite ball. Striated white marble, streaked with gray, coated the floors, the walls, even the fireplace set against the far wall.
Somewhere near the center of the room, the host raised his glass. The room answered without ceremony.
Once again, the lighting was something new. Two massive trees stretched overhead, bracketed to the walls by some feat of architecture. From their branches, lanterns hung above our heads.
“Beautiful,” I breathed, tipping my head back.
“Yes. You are.”
My head snapped forward, meeting black eyes, crinkled at the corner. Something like a genuine smile spread across the man from the last ball’s lips.
Ruth gawked at him. I realized I didn’t even know his name.
His gaze shifted reluctantly from me, and he dipped his chin to Ruth. “Calden Charles. You must be Maryn’s confidant.”
Her already pink cheeks blazed crimson.
“Well I…”
He turned to me. “I apologize for our last meeting.”
It was my turn to sputter. “That’s alright.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up, and I tracked the movement, unable to look away.
“May I?” He held out his hand.
I stared at it.
An elbow in my back shoved me forward. and I grabbed his fingers to keep from tripping. I swiveled to glare at Ruth, but she stared at the wall, refusing to look at me.
I turned back, facing the man who was already leading us to the dance floor. “We only have one or two dances at these things before you’re made to stand like a statue for all the world to admire.”
His arm came around my back, and as the music began, we stepped into motion. He was a very different dancer from Elias. No less skilled, but all feline grace and fluidity, where Elias led like a man determined to carry you through the steps.
“Mr. Charles.”
He smiled. A true smile. “I like it when you say my name.”
My cheeks heated. I felt like a girl in her initial year of eligibility, being asked to dance again for the first time. “Your father is the Mayor of Michigan City.”
He nodded. “I did say my father was producing the Rite.”
Of course. Why had I not realized? The man responsible for all our television programming would be asked to personally oversee the Rite of the president’s son. This man wasn’t just Elite, his father was second only in power to August Hale, President of the Covenant States.
Why was he so interested in me?
“So this is part of your job? Getting to know the matches?”
He spun us, dipping me back, and I let out a breathy laugh as he pulled me up, entirely too close.
Remembering myself, I lengthened my arm, giving us the proper amount of space.
We twirled again, but this time he didn’t dip me and my arm loosened.
His eyes met mine, all mirth gone. “No.”
The song ended, and he released me, stepping back.
I watched him as he turned away. He was taller than most of the guests. Not as tall as Elias, but his dark hair was visible even as he wove through the crowd.
“Maryn Veil.”
A producer whose name I didn’t remember snapped his fingers.
“Excuse me.”
I shook my head. “Yes?”
“It’s time to line up.”
Right.
I moved to the center of the room, finding the ten other contestants already gathered there. Turning toward the end, I was stopped when sharp nails dug into my arm, holding me in place.
I looked up, stiffening.
“I saw your community service. Teaching girls from the Lower to read. Cute.” Sera’s rich brown eyes narrowed on me. “But it won’t win you any points with Elias.”
I glanced down at the hand gripping my biceps. Her blue nails, the same shade as our ribbons, were uncovered, her cream gloves cut off at the fingertips.
“Take your hand off me.” I backed up, tearing my arm from her grasp.
She watched me, saying nothing as I took my place beside Phoebe.
I darted a glance at the wall, searching for a cue from Paul, or whoever was producing tonight’s Rite, as I smoothed my skirts, tugging my glove back up my arm, but they were all suspiciously absent.
The energy shifted, and my gaze moved before I knew it would, finding the tallest man in the room. As if we felt each other, his eyes found mine, and he strode straight to the center. I watched him, forgetting to breathe as he didn’t stop.
In moments, he was in front of me, holding out his hand.
A small gasp broke my focus, and I stared at the faces around the room. Watching me.
Elias nodded encouragingly, and I slid my hand in his. He turned, pulling me to the middle and spun to face this audience.
“You might have noticed the lack of cameras tonight.”
Around the room, people murmured and nodded.
“Last week was the first Rite ceremony I’ve attended.”
Silence.
“I wasn’t aware of just how daunting this could be for the ladies of the Rite.” He paused, looking at me. “Until someone brought it to my attention.”
He smiled.
“You all know Maryn, right?”
Laughs and a few claps.
“Yes. She’s special.”
My cheeks warmed and my grip tightened on his hand.
“We’ll do these a little differently from now on. I’m not going to make my matches wait through a night of dancing and cameras to learn who has been eliminated. From now on, we’ll start with the hardest part so the ladies can enjoy the evening. What do you say?”
The room erupted in cheers and clapping.
Elias turned us around so we could see the delighted faces of our crowd.
“We’ll invite the cameras to join us after the worst is over.” He stopped, pulling me closer. “And, to that end, I have some sad news to share with you all.”
He paused long enough that my pulse sped as I waited with the others.
“One of our most treasured daughters, Mara Ruin, lost her life in service to her country.”
My breath caught as my gaze traveled over the nine other women glaring daggers at me. Nine. She’d disappeared and I hadn’t even noticed. It seemed no one had.
Gasps from the audience had me squinting to make sense of their blurry faces. Elias’s hand squeezed mine. “And that’s why I won’t be eliminating anyone tonight.”
I tensed, looking at Elias for the first time since he’d shared this news. A slow exhale slid through my lips as I forced my features to remain neutral, not to betray the relief rushing through me.
He watched me, nodding gravely. “But I want you all to know, we had a clear winner among our candidates. One who showed great forethought and, as far as we know, was the first ever to create a community service act exclusively serving our little girls.”
Warmth spread through my chest, and my vision grew blurry.
Elias looked at me again. “Maryn. You are our Trial Two winner. Your act of service displayed all the virtues of a Covenant woman.”
Elias spun me as the room cheered.
“Now.” He grinned. “This is a party. Let’s dance!”
Music blared to life, and Elias tugged me into his arms, moving us effortlessly.
I didn’t have time to consider the woman who lost her life to this Rite. The music had swallowed her name completely. It had taken less than a minute.
“I’m proud of you,” Elias said as he leaned closer.
I nodded, unable to find the words.
“And we’re going to make your act a regular community service rotation.”
I stepped back. “What?”
A smile split his face. “I thought you would be happy.”
“Happy. I’m... I’m...” I blinked rapidly.
“Shhh. It’s okay. See what good you can do when the camera is on?”
I nodded, letting him lead as my chest heaved.
When the song ended, Elias didn’t release me, pulling me with him to Ruth. I looked to her right, at the man standing beside her. “Mr. Silva. It’s good to see you.”
He beamed with barely contained joy, but he wasn’t looking at me. He dipped his chin to Elias, who returned the gesture, and cleared his throat.
“Can I have all of your attention?”
My gaze moved to Elias, who squeezed my hand but said nothing. My fingers twitched with the urge to pull free, but I stilled them.
Then Josh was kneeling, tugging a blue ribbon from his pocket, and Ruth burst into tears.
I looked to Elias. He caught my eye, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Ruth. I’d like you to be my first match.”
Tears rolled down Ruth’s cheeks as she held out a shaky hand, and Josh moved unsteadily, tying a neat bow around her slender wrist.
Elias released my hand, slapping Josh on the back. “Great work, man. Come. Let’s celebrate.”
Josh stood, a grin splitting his face as Elias dragged him away.
I swallowed hard. “Ruth.”
She faced me, tracks running down her face. “I can’t believe it.” She threw her arms around me and squeezed.