Page 129 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Chapter forty

Xavier

The blade protrudes from her chest, my body stuck in place from shock. Slumping forward and off the blade, Elyon's silver mask clatters to the ground, his body following pursuit moments later, slamming into the murky lake water.

"Xavier?" Forest raggedly gasps.

No.

"Xavier?" Forest cries, her voice broken as her lungs take shallow breaths.

No.

My daughters once staggered, strong breaths are now hoarse. Once hearing her strong heart beating for life, her chest has a dull heartbeat, her body growing colder in my arms.

No, no...

"Xavier?" Forest sobs. "I can't see."

"Momma's okay," I whisper. "Momma's just fine," I say in a hazy daze.

Watching Fallan pull the blade from my wife's chest, I Winnow to her before she can hit the ground. Grabbing her body, her figure melts into my arms, her mouth and wound spilling blood freely.

Keeping our little girl in my free arm, I frantically press my wrist to Forest's mouth. Too shaken to notice Fallan back away, a look of pure shock consumes his expression, keeping him frozen in place.

"Drink, baby," I whisper. Running my hand through her hair, her weak heartbeat is haunting.

"Come on, Forest, please, drink-"

"Let me hold h-her," Forest gasps. "Let me hold our girl-"

"Forest, baby, I need you to drink my blood-"

"It's t-too late for that, my love," she whispers. "Let me hold her."

Consumed with panic, I gravitate our girl toward her mother, helping her arms wrap around the frail figure bundled in the clothes.

Surrounding us in a wave of blades and cloaks, Revolutionists and Officials alike watch the sight with equal looks of empathy.

She's not dying.

They aren't dying.

This isn't happening.

"Shhh," Forest whispers. "This wasn't your fault," she chokes.

Wide-eyed and hazy, she stares up at the sky as she strokes our daughter's cold cheeks.

"Shes b-beautiful isn't she, Xavier?" Forest cries. "She looks just like her daddy."

Unable to stop my tears from slipping out of my eyes, I hold them as close as I can.

"So pretty, baby girl," I whisper. "So damn beautiful."

Reaching my hand out, I feel her strong little hand wrap around my pointer finger.

"I love you both so much," Forest whispers.

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