Page 79 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Stepping aside, I leave the conversation in the air between us.

"Oh, and speak of any of this to anyone, and I'll ensure you have gouged your own eyes out."

Slipping free from the room, the key is like hot iron in my hand. Blending into the shadows of the hallway, I move past Xavier's room, horrified by the way his screams sound on the other side of the door.

Chapter twenty-four

Forest

Hour after hour, the feeling of his nightmares infiltrating his mind pulls me from my sleep, making it impossible to close my eyes without feeling both mine and her heart race. Trying to cover my ears with a pillow, I stare at the key on my nightstand, unsure how much strength I can carry in his presence.

Starting with Lily and ending with me, his mind is a tormented mess, each dream more horrid than the last.

Knowing damn well he is shaking, barely able to hold it together, I bite my inner cheek, nearly losing my breath once her tiny foot collides with my ribcage, urging me to go to her father the only way she knows how.

Grabbing my stomach, I let out a sharp breath, shaking uncontrollably.

"And what if I can't leave his side? What if I give Elyon a reason to be suspicious of me?" I question to the dark void of my room, knowing all she can do is listen.

Not getting a response, I roll my hand over the skin of my stomach, only stopping once she has settled down.

"I'm trying," I whisper. "I'm trying to keep you both safe."

Now hearing Xavier's yells roll through the hallway, the dreams have turned on him, making it impossible for him to pull himself from his nightmarish hell.

Damnit.

Swiping the key from my nightstand, I Winnow in front of his door, shakily holding his key as I force its way into his lock, turning until I hear the click.

Feeling that familiar growth of warmth in my stomach, I can't help but smile.

Urging his door open, I quickly slip inside, relocking the handle, letting my eyes adjust to the dark space, his room a mangled mess.

Laying on his bed, he wears no shirt, his hands covering his head, his body curled into fetal position.

Pulled deep into sleep, he yells as if a rope is around his neck, clawing at his skin, his voice filled with enough pain to almost break my heart into a million pieces.

Carefully moving closer, the bottom of my silk gown drags across the floor, my bump more visible in material this confining.

Creeping closer to his bed, I try and rationalize what I am doing, tapping my fingers against my thighs.

"What am I doing?" I whisper, trying to think of a good reason for coming in here.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Reaching my hand out toward the man, I brace myself to run my fingers through his curls-

Feeling his hand wrap around my wrist, I am tugged forward, his eyes snapping open.

"You can convince the whole world your act is real," he whispers. "Not me."

Unable to stop him, Xavier's power is at an all-time high, his hand pulling me toward the mattress with little to no resistance. Feeling my back graze the soft sheets, he moves over me, being extra cautious of the bump, his lips latching onto my neck.

Planting gentle kisses up my neck, the way he handles me is far less aggressive, his touch meant to make me feel pleasure rather than pain.

Trailing his kisses up my neck, he travels to my jaw, then up to my lips, only stopping once we have been forced to make eye contact.

"You want me to stop?" he questions, genuinely seeking answer.

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