Page 106 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Now the one with wide eyes, I look at him in disbelief.

"I think our souls were once together in another lifetime. Maybe before the wars," he continues.

False hope is a damn painful thing.

"Maybe we had a house like this and worked normal jobs in a society that was never divided," he smiles. "Maybe we had little ones, ones that would run up to me after work and greet me with wide grins."

It hurts.

It hurts so damn bad.

"I'd look up and see you smiling on the porch and give you a kiss like I just did," moving his lips to my ear, he kisses my neck. "Then, I'd hold you like I am now and tell you how much I love you and the life we have."

Tensing up, I wrap around him tighter.

"Because I do love you, Forest Evermoore," he whispers, using the name I had happily put down at the tattoo shop. "I love you now, and well after my heart has stopped beating. Until my last breath, and even then, death itself will never take you away from me."

Pressing his forehead to mine, I glance at the bedroom.

"Take me to the bedroom" I whisper. "I don't feel like kissing you on the floor anymore."

Not arguing with me, he stands up, keeping me wrapped around his waist. Kissing him more aggressively, I mentally prepare myself for the restraint it will take not to pursue things further.

"I'll never let anything bad happen to you, Forest," he whispers.

"Trust me. The feeling is mutual."

Smiling, he swings open the door.

As much as I would like to enjoy what is about to happen, something nags at my mind.

Who will be there to keep him safe once I am gone?

Looking at his smile now, dread overcomes me.

I really hope he is right about our souls.

There is no way in hell that I don't search for him in the next lifetime.

Chapter thirty-three

Mason

"Iwant as many as you can spare," I snap at the Shifter, staring into the empty pockets of their eyes.

"Sir, we don't know-"

"I said as many as you can spare. We make our move today. The last thing I need is lip from any of you," I hiss, looking the creature up and down.

Loading vehicles and strapping on gear, those of us who are not humanoid creatures get our resources ready to raid the Precipice.

For far too long, we have sat back and allowed Xavier to make his moves from the inside.

And now, with Kaiden's absence, it has become clear what hold Forest has over those she values most.

The rest of us are just sitting ducks, waiting for the worst to happen.

I cannot afford to continue losing valuable allies.

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