Page 8 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Does he think he can stand here and speak to her as if there will be no consequences for his defiance-

"Her past memories may be filled with false images of you,"Xavier's mind whispers in my own. My fingers dig into Valerie's thighs at the sudden noise."But you are a damn fool if you think her reality will be void of my presence. Give me your worst, Markswood, and I will give you mine. Game fucking on."

Unable to find a retort to his mental intrusion, every camera in this room is already focused on their direction. The Prophet's watchful eye is aware of the game Xavier is playing here.

So long as he carries out his duties, speaking to Forest is not out of the picture.

He is playing a dangerous game, walking the line, seeing how close he may get to the woman before the Prophet steps in.

She needs to find trust in me.

I must allow her to have trust in me.

So long as Xavier is creeping in the shadows, the only way I am getting near Forest is with my own mental game.

She must think that the connection we share is one that has derived from a part of herself that Xavier has no grasp over.

The part of herself showing face now.

He fell in love with the woman ready to lead the rebellion.

Can he swoon the empty shell he stands before now?

"Look who it is," Valerie whispers, my focus finally diverging someplace other than Forest.

Glancing at the stage, our eyes lock. His body goes rigid at the sight of me in his presence.

Against all better judgment, I manipulated my way into my placement at the Academy, bribing every single other candidate ahead of me with contraband goods stolen from the Untouchable sector. So long as Andrew remained in his position with the Officials, getting the board to boost my credibility up enough to get placed into the program would have been a red flag for Andrew or, even worse, Xavier. I would not have made it five feet into the Academy.

Looking at the man now, I feel a wave of satisfaction at the fear rolling through him.

He knows what he did to me.

He knows what he did to my family.

I was only a boy when my father's life was taken before my eyes, and my mother's body gave out from a disease that infiltrated our sector soon after.

Now, he parades a vile demon in disguise around as his daughter, blatantly unaware of the damage she has inflicted on his family and many others in her years.

He clothes her, feeds her, andloves her.

I used to think it was impossible for Forest Evermoore to feel any form of love.

Would she scold herself now for how pathetic all of this really is?

Catching a glimpse at Xavier still speaking to Forest, something vile infiltrates my mind. The true nature of my hatred toward the Blackburn family.

I suppose it really wasn't their fault.

Xavier was the one who sent the hit on my family.

He had no reason to execute my father, rather than orders the Prophet swears to not have made.

Xavier is impulsive and explosive, almost as much as Forest.

Maybe that's why they went so well together.

Even now, he looks at her with love, parading around as if he can keep up this sweet Official act.

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