Page 123 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Creasing his eyebrows, his head shakes.

"N-No, Forest. I meant it when I said I love you. I hate myself for so many reasons," he sobs. "I hate myself even more for not giving myself an opportunity to see you in a light that Dove hadn't shed."

Closing my eyes again, the pain is sickening.

"I'm sorry for what I did to her-"

"She would have hurt Xavier," Fallan snaps. "All you've ever done is protect the people you love. I didn't understand it then... I do now."

"I see her head!" Valerie yells. "We are so close, Forest."

"I don't resent you, Fallan," I whisper, weakly raising my hand to his cheek, my blood smearing his skin. "I don't hate you-"

"I've got her!" Rowan yells, forcing me to look up.

Holding her small, bloodied figure, Valerie cuts at the cord, Rowan quickly bundling my girl in the soft, clean cloths they had set aside.

Ready to embrace her in my arms, Rowan quickly places her on my chest.

Taking it all in, her beautiful face looks peaceful, her heart thundering with power. Smiling at the sight of her, one thing throws me into a state of panic.

She isn't crying.

My heart stops.

Why isn't she crying?

Chapter thirty-nine

Forest

"Rowan," I gasp, "Why isn't she crying?"

Holding her bloodied figure, her heart thumps triumphantly for life.

"Valerie?" I hiss, frantically looking her way. "What is going on?"

Bleeding furiously from the lesion spanning across my lower stomach, Fallan applies as much pressure as he can to the open wound.

"Forest, you have to stop moving," he whispers. "We have to get this bleeding under control"

"Why isn't she crying?!" I yell, feeling the cabin shake with my words.

Moving my way, Valerie grabs her, patting her back viciously.

"There is liquid in her lungs," Valerie whispers. "She is choking-"

"Hand her to me," Rowan snaps. "I can-"

Grabbing her wrist, I stop her from taking another step.

"If you hurt her-"

"I am saving her," Rowan hisses. "Now trust me."

Not having much of a choice, I release her wrist, watching as she grabs the bloodied bundle of cloth.

Crashing into the room, Mason staggers into the space, clutching his bloodied side.

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