Page 12 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

A scoff rumbles from his throat.

"I'm not-"

Grabbing his bloodied stump, I pry at the skin, watching his eyes grow wide as the burning hot pain of his own flesh ripping comes over him.

Driving his foot down on Fallan's, Mason throws the man a stern look, waiting for Fallan to oblige.

"W-Who the hell even are you?" Fallan yells. A smirk pulls along Mason's lips.

"Just a dirty Shifter," Mason smiles. "With a taste for Marked blood, pretty boy, so-"

Without many other words, Fallan nods his head, gathering who he can in his arms. His body is shaking from the pain.

Joining the group, Bekah aims her weapon toward the oncoming Officials. All of their weapons are raised, their focus dead set on us.

Sinking in my arms, tears coat Kai's face. His voice is on the edge of bawling.

Grabbing the side of his face, I get him to focus on me the way he had me, our foreheads pressing together, the last bit of Forest left standing right before me.

"I'm not leaving without my sister," he sobs.

"Forest is gone, Kai," I hiss, the bite in my words unbearable for both of us.

Can I stand to look at him now?

What will I see when he looks at me?

The best parts of Forest or the worst?

Holding it together, all he gives me is a nod.

"Time to go."

Winnowing away from the gun fire, I ease into the movement, watching the world around me fade. Her ring is tucked into the depths of my pocket as my heart settles into a million different pieces.

Chapter three

Xavier- 9 Months Later

Inever thought the days could feel so long.

It has been nine months since Forest locked hands with the Prophet, leaving all that she knew in the dust behind her.

Nine months of waiting.

Nine months of pain.

Nine months of complete and utter silence.

Growing up, I always assumed I'd find comfort in being alone.

The idea of giving my heart to anyone after my family's death always seemed like an unrealistic ideology.

Giving anyone a glimpse into the parts of myself I hold closest was one of the few things I still had control over.

She came into my life with no warning, taking over every single one of my waking thoughts. I did all that I could to avoid falling in love with her, letting the poisonous thoughts Elyon had instilled in my mind settle. I always kept her at arm's length.

But then, she saw me as something other than a monster.

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