Page 81 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"Your mom, little one, is one of the strongest women I know," he whispers. "But don't tell her I said that," he grins. "It might go to her head."

Nudging him away, he kisses my hand, both of us a smiling mess.

"But you should know, we will love you so deeply, you will never question what it means to feel true love," he mutters, another kick hitting my lower stomach.

Hissing, I glare at him.

"Be nice to your mother," he scolds. "She can still feel that," he laughs, pressing the side of his head to my stomach.

"Your momma will teach you how to paint, and I can teach you how to cook," he smiles.

"Pancakes," I reiterate, his nose scrunching as he looks up at me.

"The best damn pancakes in the world."

"You will never know what it means to feel pain," I whisper, rubbing both my stomach, and the side of Xavier's face. "You will never feel the pain your father and I endured."

Kissing my stomach again, Xavier moves away from my stomach, gathering me in his arms, pulling a blanket over the both of us.

Pressing my head to his chest, I listen to his strong heart mix with the sound of her own.

Kissing the top of my head, he sighs.

"My whole family is with me now," he whispers. "Both my girls."

Nuzzling into his chest, the conversation I shared with Fallan eats me alive.

"No matter what happens, Xavier, we keep her safe, even if it means-"

"Whatever you are about to suggest, Forest, it better not involve you in harm's way," he whispers, holding me a bit tighter. "We always find a way."

I have found a way.

One that ensures they live even if I don't.

Kicking again, we both smile, our hands gravitating toward my stomach.

"I've been thinking," I whisper, tears slipping past my eyes as I turn to look at the man I love so dearly.

"Her name, it should be Lily," I smile, his eyes lighting to life.

"Lily Katiana Drew Evermoore," I reiterate, the lives lost to make it here all bound to the name.

Seeing his own tears slip from his eyes, I wipe them away, kissing his salty cheeks.

"Lily?" he questions, her kick one of the strongest I have felt.

Slumping into his chest, I take a sharp breath, both of us letting out a laugh.

"I think your baby girl likes that," I whisper, his lips pressing to my temple.

"She changes everything," Xavier whispers, keeping us close. "You girls change everything I have deemed important in my life. If anything were to happen to you both-"

"Nothing will happen to our girl," I whisper, covering his mouth before he can spiral.

"We are both safe. We are both here. You will always have her, and she will always have you."

Looking me over, he shakes his head. Yanking my wrist away from his mouth, he presses his forehead to mine.

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