Page 20 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Saying nothing else, he continues guiding us down the street. The ache in my stomach grows that much more uncomfortable.

Just another stressor to shove into the depths of my mind and lock away, along with the hope I will ever make it back to the one person I can call home.

Who knew the sky could become a reminder of those deep blue eyes that paint my dreams every night?

No wonder the night has become my ally.

Chapter five

Aaron

Skipping rocks across the surface of the reflecting pools, Kai takes a seat on its edge, his feet avoiding touching the water given his traumatic experience within its depths.

Tuning out of the other's conversation on the deck revolved around Mason's discovery, I keep my focus on Kai.

I can always ask Xavier for information later.

Whatever the hell is happening with Kai right now is more important.

For months, he has been biting at any opportunity for information on his sister, and now that he has it, he sits in isolation, filled to the brim with nothing but pain.

Taking a seat next to him, he barely glances up at me, tossing yet another rock with as much force as he possibly has.

Despite the interaction we shared in the cabin, Kai's avoidance of talking about the touch we had shared has been at an all-time high. Most of his free time is spent with Xavier or absolved in his own theories and thought patterns.

Forest's absence has driven the man mad. His last bit of hope for family was caught up in the woman, given the love he has for her is stronger than most biological siblings.

Watching the rock skid across the surface of the water, he lets out a large sigh, keeping his focus on the ripples working through the water each time he tosses.

"Your form is getting weak," I joke, nudging him in the shoulder. A frown paints his expression.

"I want to kill Fallan," Kai hisses.

The hatred Kai harbors for Fallan has only escalated over the past several months.

Taking a sharp breath, he resorts to chucking the rocks, watching them drive into the water, months of hate settled in each toss.

"I'm sure Xavier would help you," I sigh, glancing at the group. All of their eyes are wide.

Perhaps I don't want to be a part of that conversation.

"Why aren't you up there with the others?" I question, knowing his answer well before he has said it.

"So I can hear more bad news about Forest when all I can do is almost get myself killed in every given situation that can help her? All while Fallan's cocky ass gets to stay in her home, sleeping in her sheets as if he isn't the very reason my sister," he grabs a new rock, turning his body, chucking it toward the balcony. Narrowly missing Fallan's face, he glares, giving him a sideways expression. Kai's mouth pulls into a grin. "Is doing god knows what with Elyon."

Initially, all Kai felt was pain.

Pain is his default, something that keeps his soul kind. Despite all of his loss, the one thing that has stayed true to the man is his ability to find the good in most situations. No matter how much death the man has faced, the way he chooses to hold himselfin this ruthless world has always been derived from love, not revenge.

Now?

Now, all he feels is revenge.

Coated in scars from his incident with Josh, Kai hides away each time he changes, having a panic attack the one-time Fallan tried to get a good look at his torso one morning at breakfast.

That was the first time I had seen Kai's rage.

Grabbing a butter knife, Kai slammed the cutlery into Fallan's leg, screaming in a frantic frenzy, ready to tear Fallan's face off.

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