Page 67 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

I had one of our men keep tabs on their vehicle, reporting back to me once they all left the Precipice safely.

A woman helped them escape.

A Revolutionist if whispers choose to be true.

How much farther can my cause spread with no leader?

"Kai is collateral damage that is better left alone," I smile. "Clearly that was not the case for Dove-"

"You want an answer?" Fallan questions, stopping me before I have even started. "You want to know why I never left?" he asks, shaking his head. "That's why you continue to bring her up. You want to know why I never hurt you."

Staying silent, feeding into this mindset is best.

Though I could give two shits why he decided not to kill me, I can't say I've never been curious about his true motives.

Deceit or not, he did things he did not have to in the name of his act.

"You were the closest thing I had to her, Forest," he sighs, shaking his head. "It was almost frustrating how different you and her were, but, eventually, I pieced something together," alook of dread spans across his face. "Dove and you were not the same because you genuinely did care about me. That is what isolated you from her. You may have shared blood, but, beyond that, you were willing to die for me. I was wrong. I made a mess of everything, and I tried to fix it. I tried to find a way to throw off Elyon's trail," he pleads, something else lingering in his mind. "I did love you, Forest. I do love you-"

"Fallan," I snap, looking over the man. "Humor me for a moment."

Unfastening my seat belt, I move across the space, standing in front of the man, ignoring Xavier's muffled pleas. Regrettably taking a seat on Fallan's lap, his eyes grow wide, Xavier's anger growing. Chained behind his back and to the side of the car, his arms hold him still, my knees straddling his seat, planting myself on his lap. Cupping his face in my hands, he looks as if he is seeing me for the first time, my thumbs rolling over his cheeks.

"I did all of this to keep you safe, Forest," he sobs, emotion breaching the surface.

"Would that still apply if Dove were alive?" I question, forcing emotion to touch my face.

"The love I have for you, Forest, was created despite every single disadvantage we had," he whispers, my Call creeping into his mind in ways touch can only create. Trying not to throw up at the feeling of blood flow between his legs, I move closer to the man, his nose grazing mine.

"You love me, Fallan?" I question, flooding through every single one of his thoughts, deceit hiding behind every locked door.

"Until my-"

Cupping my hand over his mouth, I shake my head.

"Your blood runs cold when you lie, Fallan," I hiss. "Shouldn't have suspected I'd actually fall for that."

Slamming his head into the wall behind him, I knock the man out cold, pulling myself off of his lap, doubling over with a gag at the feeling of his touch, barely holding back vomit, Xavier grows silent, his eyes panning from Fallan's slumped state to my nauseous figure.

Lowering my eyes, I move over to Xavier, tearing free his gag, his voice a trembling mess.

"I-"

"Don't speak."

Crawling into his lap, his hands remain bound, my self control if he were to be unbound unpredictable. Kissing the man like I never have before, I slam my lips into his, smiling once he feeds into it, the connection running through us burning hot, filling my body with serenity beneath my small bump. Coiling my fingers in his hair, I kiss the man until we have no air, letting our tongues collide, hungrily kissing his neck once he is gasping for air. Kissing the side of my face as I plant his skin in warm affection, I pull my hands to his face, cupping his warm cheeks, satisfied at the feeling of his body reacting to me on him like this.

God, how I love this man.

"Fallan-"

"Needed to shut up," I sob. "I needed to be alone with you," I cry, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Xavier-"

Kissing me again, he does all that he can with arms behind his back, my hands wrapping around the back of his neck, pulling myself as close to the man as it may allow.

"Untie my hands, love," he whispers. "Let me feel her energy-"

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