Page 133 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"We have to go," I whisper.

Leaning his head on the ground, Xavier's vicious cry seems to shake the very earth we stand on.

"Let me through!" Kai yells as she shoves past the group of people surrounding the gruesome sight.

Holding Aaron back from comforting Kai, Valerie keeps her arms wrapped around her cousin.

Lingering in the tree line, the Shifters slowly begin to retreat.

Something is coming.

Something bad.

Still holding the bloodied blade, Fallan stares at Xavier with teary eyes.

"X-Xavier," Kai sobs.

Falling to his knees before Xavier, he grabs the man's face, doing his best to get him to look at him.

"Xavier, what's wrong?" Kai gasps. "What's-"

Looking down at his sister and niece's lifeless bodies, shock overcomes his expression. With a gaping mouth and soulless look in his eyes, Kai falls to the ground, seated at the feet of his fallen family. Covering his face with his hands, his screams are no match for the sobs tearing free from Xavier's throat.

Taking a step forward, Fallan clears his throat.

Oh.

God, no.

"X-Xavier?" Fallan whispers. "I-It will be alright."

Glaring at Mason, we lock eyes, both of us sharing a mutual look of understanding.

"We need to get our people to the Underground. Right fucking now."

Shifting the bodies in Kai's lap, Xavier places one light kiss on both of their foreheads. Taking yet another step back, I grip Elias tighter.

Standing up, the look Xavier wears is straight out of a nightmare.

I used to think the look of rage in Elyon's eyes was the worst I had seen.

Now? His look doesn't compare to what has taken residency in Xavier's eyes.

Holding his torso, Atticus lingers in the tree line, watching the exchange with a look of curiosity.

Fuck, I thought I had put him down.

Meeting my gaze, Atticus throws me a malicious grin, one that holds more weight than what meets the surface. Creeping back into the tree line, his cold look consumes me.

Looking at Xavier now, the vision I had shown Forest begins to finally register.

It wasn't Elyon I saw.

Filled to the brim with revenge, the monster that has been created has finally made its appearance.

The silver mask I saw was never Elyon... it was Xavier.

"Is that the blade?" Xavier whispers coldly. "Were you the one wielding the blade that... that killed my wife after she ripped our child from her womb to save her?"

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