Page 75 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"I didn't feel like scaring you," Elyon clarifies.

Clearly Forest was just as much in the dark about this as we were.

"While you work to give us an upper hand, you both will remain in my home as guests, no binds necessary," Elyon smiles, giving us both an up and down look. "Though, your looks will need to remain presentable so long as you both walk in my shadow."

Saying nothing, Forest slowly nods her head, not arguing with the man whatsoever.

She's shocked.

She didn't know Mason had a weapon of that magnitude.

Running her hand over her stomach beneath her sweater, I know she only fears for one life right now.

The same life I fear for.

"You want us to swear fealty to you?" Fallan snaps, standing up with accusation.

Getting in both of our faces, Forest shoves Fallan back down in his chair, touching both of our chins.

"Fealty to me," she hisses, unamused by Fallan's need to complain. "You will swear fealty to me and do so with a smile. I'm sure you can play the part just fine."

Scoffing, she looks Fallan up and down.

"I mean, you have done it before."

Cutting her hand with the blade she had used to make the drink,she holds it out to Fallan, waiting for him to latch on.

"What?" Fallan questions, eyeing the pool of blood with confusion.

"Though you may roam freely in our home, you may not roam without one thing," she whispers, gravitating her mouth toward the man's ear. "A bind."

Shocked, Fallan looks unnerved.

"A bind to you?" he questions, shaking.

'Who else?" she questions, pressing her palm to his lips, her eyes flooding with a tinge of light. "Now, drink. Try and run away or turn your back on us, and your bind will kill you faster than my hand could."

Watching his throat force down the drink, his veins glow like the members of a fire, his throat gasping for air, his eyes filling with a similar glow like hers.

Trying to pull her hand away from his mouth, he flails like a wild animal.

"Drink up, traitor," she hisses, only stopping once the glow has died down in both of them.

Tearing her hand away from his mouth, he gasps, rubbing his throat in discomfort.

Moving toward me, I embrace the taste of her blood, letting it settle in my throat, feeling her energy work through me.

"Just trust me, love,"she whispers, her eyes glowing, my skin burning hot."I offer no bind to you; your love will always be more than enough fealty."

Mimicking the discomfort I watched Fallan display, I feel nothing but her energy, something different in the way her blood rolls through me, the power of what is nestled in her belly adding a new sense of comfort in her energy.

Giving me as much time as Fallan, Elyon focuses his attention on the embers of the fire, pulling free two hot prods, making his way over to us once she is complete.

She did not bind me.

She has allowed me to keep my free will.

Burning hot and searing, Elyon holds to branding prods, Sanctum's logo tethered to the end of each one.

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