Page 65 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"If I had to assume," Niverna interjects. "Wherever the hell they came from. The trucks they came in on were packed, ready to make a new voyage-"

"New Haven," we all spit.

At some point, the place was a home to all of us.

Now?

Hell would probably be more appealing.

"What use are Xavier and Fallan in New Haven? What the hell kind of use do they have there?" I question.

"I suppose that's what we need to find out," Valerie sighs. "I'm going to walkie Mason. Maybe he and a few others can try and keep tabs in New Haven while we migrate back to base and try and make a plan. Clearly, we have no idea what we're doing. It was idiotic to show up here thinking Forest would just come home," Valerie hisses, her fear of loss most prominent at times like these.

"And if my sister doesn't come home?" Kai pushes, asking the one question no one has dared to. "What then?"

Growing silent, I am the first to speak.

"She'll come home, Kai," I say, doing my best to reassure the man.

Picking up static, Valerie finally gets a connection, Mason's voice carrying through the walkie only moments later.

Looking petrified, Kai eyes Valerie, his hands wrapped around his body.

"Hey," I force a smile. "We will figure it out, Kai."

"And if we don't?" he questions. "What then?"

Moving away from me, Kai hauls himself into the vehicles bed, leaning over his knees, his face resting in his hands.

As much as I hate to think about it, Kai poses a valid question.

What the hell do we do if Forest is not willing to take our side?

Do we stop her?

Or let the world burn keeping her safe?

I saw the rage scathing Xaviers face when he looked at Atticus.

It was unlike anything I had seen before.

One thing's for sure.

Whatever Xavier saw in that brothel has changed the trajectory of all of this more than anyone is willing to admit.

Chapter twenty

Forest

Thrashing like wild animals, Xavier and Fallan's wrists are rubbed raw from their binds, their mouths gagged, forcing them into silence. Loading our vehicles with a plethora of supplies provided by Atticus to aid in New Haven's growth, boxes of Veils are carefully packaged and slid into the backs of the trucks, guards holding them in place for travel.

Shoving Xavier and Fallan into the back of one of the armored cars, Xavier tries to catch my attention, his eyes shifting from my eyes to my torso, a look of fear eating away at his expression.

Keeping on a cold front, Elyon's men move past me, each one on edge in my presence.

Good.

Power is the only thing keeping the people I love safe.

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