Page 62 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

You've been around my flower.

You've been around my girls.

And did so with lust in your mind.

Time to make this asshole feel some real fear.

Here goes everything.

Raising my hood and lowering my head, I dart in between civilians, creeping closer to the bloodied authoritative figures, some sense of relief filling me once I glance down the alleyway, my companion's faces looking back at me as they shakily exit the building.

Led by an unfamiliar woman, she urges them to move quickly, Kai the only one to notice me, his body held back by Aaron as he readies himself to drag me along with them.

Giving him one look, I shake my head, watching his face fill with a sense of confusion.

"Sorry, Kaiden," I whisper, turning away from the man. "I have other priorities now."

Looking to the open gap in the crowd, Atticus's back faces me, his guards too focused on the crowd to truly keep the man concealed. Rolling back my shoulders, I take several seconds to debate my actions, ultimately coming back to one place.

If anyone knows where Forest is hiding, it would sure as hell be the one source of power in this dreadful hub.

Charging forward, I shove past anyone I can, breaching the wall of observant civilians, my arms wrapping around the young man's frame, his voice startled as he attempts to bury his Call in my mind. Already one step ahead of him, I coax him withthoughts of submission, driving my fist down on his face before he can even consider utilizing his Hold. Flipping him onto his stomach, his guards run toward me, my head craning as I slip into their minds.

"Take your damn pistols and do us all a favor."

"Wait!" Atticus yells, the men moving too quickly, both of them pressing the barrels to the side of their heads, the loud shots singing through the air. Hitting the ground, Fallan flails violently, doing his best to get his hands and legs free from the set of binds.

Looking Atticus in the eyes, a grin spans across the man's face.

"You're-"

"Your damn nightmare," I hiss, not allowing the man to finish, my fist slamming down on his face, his Hold starting to take effect. Grabbing his neck before he can get me off of him, his thoughts stay buried in my mind, her face constantly painting his mind.

"You must be the lover boy she left behind," Atticus sputters, shoving me as hard as he can, his Hold doing all of the work.

Getting me off of him, the man's instincts for fight are depleted, his ability to transition far from seamless.

Grabbing a blade strapped to my leg, I force it toward him, his body barely able to roll away before getting a taste of my metal down his arm.

Yelling out in pain, Atticus yells, our friends hesitantly observing from a vantage point that keeps them best concealed.

"You mother fucker," Atticus yells. "Do you have any idea how much-"

Yelling at the man, the need to add a plethora of scars to his face is enticing. Grabbing his ankle, I drag him toward me, pressing my knee to his chest, ready to drive this blade straight through his chest-

"If you wanted my attention, Xavier, you've gained it," his cold voice snaps, my arms stuck in the air, Atticus's nose leaking blood.

Feeling his wretched hand touch my shoulder, my hands shake with adrenaline, nothing but the need to hunt all of those standing in my way guiding my actions.

"Stand up," Elyon urges, his Hold forcing me to rise, some of New Haven's guards stopping Fallan from his sorry excuse for an escape.

Scrambling to stand up, Atticus slowly begins to heal, his livid eyes narrowed behind me.

"This is the one she has asked me to be allies with?" Atticus yells, my throat closed, Elyon doing all that he can to silence me.

"Him and the man behind you-"

"Why the hell would I allow anyone who tried to kill me to be anywhere near me-"

---