Page 58 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"It is because I love you, Xavier, that I have to do this," I sob, feeling his grasp grow. "It's not just you anymore."

"Wait, Forest-"

Winnowing before he can find a way to keep me confined, I stumble into the hallway, grabbing one of the robes meant for the staff, slamming my hand down on the lock to our room, hearing him jiggle it on the other side.

Running down the hallway, shoving past patrons and workers, I grasp my torso, feeling nothing but dread as the unbearable nausea and unease fills my body once more.

Winnowing out of the brothel, I make my way back to mine and Elyon's lodging, moving quicker than I had before, a small kick hitting my ribs.

Doubling over, I hiss, grasping my aching torso.

Running my hand over my stomach, I coax the skin, working until all pain has died down.

How can I blame her for being angry?

I want her father too.

Chapter seventeen

Kaiden

"It really is the same everywhere," Aaron whispers, his hand loosely grasping mine for comfort.

Weaving through the streets of the Unfortunate sector, though less run down than the shops back home, Unfortunates are still nothing more than civil servants wasting their lives away for reasons beyond their understanding.

Taking berating remarks and slaps from Untouchables, the superiority the divide in society has created is inevitable.

"I suppose it's a little easier to swallow when your living conditions are not miserable," Aaron sighs, taking his time looking over the sector.

"It's the first time you've seen this sector from the outside looking in," Fallan says, his eyes narrowing each time an Untouchable screams at an Unfortunate.

"Shouldn't you see all things from an outside perspective?" I question, shoving the man forward. "Given you betrayed us all-"

Whipping around, the man looks ready to hit, my hand the first to reach out, grabbing his one good wrist. Curling my fingers around his wrist, the urge to break it is enticing, feeding a part of myself I once thought best to keep buried.

"What are you going to do?" I question, holding the man's arm in the air between us. "Are you going to hit me?" I push. "Do you not like how it feels to have your deceit thrown back into your face? You want someone on your side for what you did, pretty boy?" I question.

"Of course you'd be the one to call me that-"

"Is that all you have?" I question, taking a step further. "You want to throw my preferences in my face? Be my fucking guest! How do you think it will feel hurling insults when your nose is broken and you're missing your front teeth?" I question, getting in the man's face.

"You fucked my sister and destroyed my family. I don't think I've properly acknowledged how much that makes me want to fucking kill you."

"Then do it," Fallan hisses. "You want to stand here and hurl threats, be my fucking guest, Kaiden. At least your sister is capable of living up to-"

Seeing red, I drive my fist forward, landing it straight on his nose, watching the man stumble backward, blood dragging down his face. Working on instinct, I pull my hand away from Aaron's, forcing my hands into Fallan's chest, watching the man plummet to the ground, my body quickly following him, pinning him with my knees. Raising my fist once more, I hit the man as hard as I can in the side, feeling a great wave of relief, some eyes gravitating our way.

"Is this what you want, mother fucker?" I yell, hitting the man again. "Fuck you! Fuck you for everything you fucking did to my family-"

Grabbing my arm, Aaron yanks me off the man, his eyes wide with surprise.

"I-"

Pulling me into his chest, he wraps his arms around me, letting me calm down in his grasp, his hand running through my hair as Fallan sputters.

Struggling to stand up, he touches his bleeding nose, his head shaking with disappointment.

"Just as feral as her. I suppose her influence has extended to others," Fallan mocks, the need to continue pummeling the man escalating.

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