Page 128 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Taken aback, I force myself back to my feet.

"What?" I question, gripping my girl just a bit tighter. "What do you mean one or the other."

Grabbing my forearm, Rowan snaps.

"You're gripping her too tight, Xavier-"

"Stay the fuck away from us!" I snap, shoving her as far away as I can. Hitting the wall closest to her, Rowan lets out a heave.

"Where is she?" I yell again, wrapping my arms around my girl just a bit tighter.

I can keep her safe.

I will keep her and her mother safe.

"Xavier, you're holding her too tight!" Valerie yells. "She's still very weak-"

"Where is she?!" I yell again, keeping anyone and everyone away from my daughter.

They know nothing.

They do not care what happens to us.

I am the only one who can keep us all safe.

I am the only one-

Hearing a crack, a small gasp touches my ears, forcing me to look down.

No longer rising and falling properly, our girl gasps for air, her body smothered by my effort to keep her close.

Covering her mouth, Rowan forces herself back to her feet.

"Xavier," she whispers. "Her lungs.... You-"

"I did nothing!" I yell. "She and her mother are safe," I sob. "Safe with me!"

Staggering backward, I move toward the front door.

"You are all vermin. You never cared about my family. All you wanted was to keep yourselves safe!" I scream.

Shoving past the front door, Mason tries to stop me.

"Xavier, don't-"

Frozen in place, my eyes lock with hers as the world moves in slow motion.

Seeing the blade slice through his and her skin, her body jolts as it pierces through her heart.

Opening my mouth to scream, the noise is gone, the world around me closing in.

Giving me a faint smile as if it will reassure me, Elyon's body goes limp.

Feeling the tether to our connection snap, it is like the very light inside of me has been burnt out, leaving an empty pit filled with monsters I thought I had drowned long ago.

"Live for me,"her voice whispers.

That was the last thing I remember hearing before seeing nothing but red.

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