Page 76 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"Present your forearms. Or I plant it on your ass."

Not arguing with the man, both Fallan and I roll up our sleeves, biting back a scream once Elyon has planted the rods on our wrists. Watching our skin burn, he holds the prods until a scar can present itself, tugging the prods away, a fresh branding on both of our skin.

Glaring at Elyon, Fallan covers his brand.

"Your reign will not last forever, Elyon," Fallan hisses. "Power like yours was not meant to exist.

Laughing Elyon drops the prods on the floor, giving little attention to Fallan's words.

“You are a fool if you think that I am the only thing that can top this food chain. Even if I die, something much bigger lingers beneath the surface," Elyon whispers. "Now, get yourselves cleaned up and rested for the night. We have much bigger things to tackle tomorrow."

Both Winnowing away, Elyon and Forest leave Fallan and me to grovel, both of our eyes locked on our brands, fear rolling through both of our minds.

Chapter twenty-three

Forest

Getting the guards to force the boys into their own quarters was no easy task.

Kicking and yelling, trying to figure out where I was located, Elyon saw it best to lock Xavier into the confines of his room until he had settled down.

Going to his space with less resistance, Fallan had settled in, doing so with little grief.

Creeping inside his room, I kick the door shut, watching as he runs his towel through his hair, nothing but a pair of leisure pants hugging his hips, his absent hand something I never get used to seeing.

Slowly turning his head toward me, we both lock eyes, his hand dropping the towel with annoyance.

"What the hell do you want, Forest?" he questions, clearly pissed off by all that has happened.

Good.

Anger keeps his defiance intact.

The last thing I need is either of them actually feeding into this act.

"I'm sorry you've been dragged along into all of this," I admit with full honesty, a scoff rolling off of his throat.

"Had you told me avenging Dove would lead to all of this, I would have left her grave flowers like a sane person, and dealt with the few years of alcoholism until I could land back on my feet," he whispers, taking a seat on his bed.

"You should have known never to get entwined with me. You were no fool. Playing the act of a loving Unfortunate was a death wish waiting to happen," I say, crossing my arms, his head snapping up to me.

"It wasn't an act. Not the whole tome," he snaps, diverting his focus to me. "I did love you. I do love you. Maybe it's not what most would consider traditional, but don't you think I would have run if I didn't care?" he questions, trying to get me to feed into his pain.

"You could have lived a life away from all of this," I snap, trying to rationalize. "Why the hell didn't you just run?" I question, his shoulders shrugging in defeat.

"That's an answer I have been trying to find myself," he sighs looking at his severed hand. "I clearly have paid the price for my poor judgement."

"Why the hell are you in here and not with Xavier?" he questions.

"I honestly don't know," I admit, taking a seat on the bed next to him, running my hands through my hair. "I don't ever know why I continue to give you grace you don't deserve."

"Don't you think I have suffered enough?" Fallan questions, holding his wound up in my face. "I have paid the price tenfold for my betrayal to you. I sometimes question why I have not let death claim me-"

"I truly did love you. The parts of myself closed off from my entire being loved you so much," I hiss, still pained by his betrayal. "I would have kept you safe, Fallan. I would have understood your need to come after me. But then, you came after the people I love. You came after my family," I snap, shaking with pain. "How does what I have done make me any worse than you?" I question, his mind stumped.

"I suppose it doesn't," he whispers, running his hand through his hair. "Maybe that's why I stay."

“You know, I did love you,” he starts. “I don't know how the hell I did, but I did, maybe still do.”

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