Page 113 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"I think that is our warning," I hiss. "Time to move."

Narrowly avoiding a Shifter mistakenly swiping at me, Elias slips on the blood pouring from the ripped neck of an Official gasping for air.

Trying to make sense of all that is happening around me, my eyes catch a glimpse of Xavier's gray hair as he wrestles with one of our own in a cloak.

"Rowan!" Silas yells. "Watch ou-"

Winnowing before he can finish his statement, the sound of a blade clattering with the concrete wall behind me throws all of my senses into hyperdrive. Snapping my head toward theOfficial who shamelessly tried to decapitate me, my hand is raised and twisted, breaking his neck clean, rotating it in the other direction.

Staring in horror, Elias hides his vomit.

Great. The perfect person to bring to a fight.

Now, if I can just find Forest-

"There you are, you little bitch," his vile voice hisses.

Glaring at me, Atticus cocks his head at me with disdain. Wearing the deep scar I gave him, a smile toys with my lips.

"Elias, find Forest," I whisper.

Slowly backing away, Atticus narrows his eyes at Elias.

Cracking my head to the side, Atticus stumbles to the ground, easily submitting to the whim of my Hold.

Useless poster child.

Giving Elias the opportunity to slip away, Atticus brushes his suit as he stands.

"I was wondering when you would finally show up."

"It really is so embarrassing, Atticus," I smile. "So much hatred for a child who was able to kick your pathetic ass. Tell me, what did it feel like knowing that someone half your age could make you weep like a baby?"

Pushing him to the point of snapping, his eyes darken with rage.

There we go.

Surging toward me, the blade he had hidden in his waistband finds its way toward me. Barely slicing the skin of my forearm, I roll to the ground, grabbing my own blade from the side of my thigh. Slicing it clean across the front of his leg, he lets out a yelp. Kicking me in my side a millisecond later, I grunt.

Taking a sharp breath, I Winnow a few feet away from him, both of us cut by one another.

"Shouldn't you be focused on going after someone a bit closer to your age?" I snap.

"No one else my age has pissed me off as much as you have. I'm going to have fun slitting your damn throat."

Fighting words?

I might as well make him regret it.

Tossing my blade aside, the energy within me surges through my body. Starting at my feet and ending at my fingertips, years of abuse at the hands of Elyon add kindling to the fire burning within me.

The war has begun and I'm going to make damn sure I am left standing.

Slamming my hand into the ground, the Earth cracks open, forcing Atticus to step aside. Taking down a few other Officials and followers in cloaks in the process, the gaping hole provides an easy fix for tossing bodies aside.

"Nice parlor trick," Atticus hisses. "My turn?"

Winnowing away from my line of sight, I turn around, startled to see more than one of him.

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