Page 66 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

The only way I keep anyone safe is playing Elyon's game.

Running my hand over the slight bump on my stomach, the heartbeat Xavier and I heard replays in my mind.

Sometimes at night, I hear the soft heartbeat, listening to its rhythmic tune until sleep has claimed me. At first, I had convinced myself it was my own heart, fueled by fear.

Now, I know it's a heart fueled by strength.

Fueled by love.

A love Xavier would give the little creation with no hesitation.

Yet, here I am, hiding her away from him, all to keep them both safe-

"Forest," one of the men silently utters, breaking my train of thought. "Your father says it's time to go-"

"I can tell her myself," Elyon scolds, Atticus's dirtied self trailing behind the man. Beaten and bruised, even the man's healing properties struggle to compensate for what Xavier did to him.

"I don't trust them to be alone," Elyon hisses, ready to implement any detainment measures he can on the two.

"Might I suggest ripping their fingers off and watching them bleed out-"

"I'll ride with them," I say coldly, cocking my head at Atticus, stopping the man from continuing his tangent.

"You'll ride in the back?" Elyon questions, his eyes narrowing with confusion.

"Fallan is still alive. Alive because he chose to make a poor deal and hunt me like prey. Union or not, do you not think I might find a little satisfaction in his discomfort?" I question, both men silent.

"And Xavier?" Atticus pushes, the authority in his tone making me question why I have not torn into him.

"Xavier needs to conform," I smile. "My father's ways did not work. Why not give me a chance?" I question, thoughts of torture rolling through my mind, already crowded with Elyon's presence.

Watching Elyon's mouth curl into a smile, he gives me a simple nod.

"You think you can handle them?" Atticus questions, two of his men creeping up behind him, ready to cleanse his skin of dried blood. "Don't you think-"

Watching the men's necks twist so far backwards, they are now facing the opposite direction, they become dead weight, slumping toward their Commander, his voice silenced in the presence of sudden death. Snapping his head up to me, Elyon hides his wide smile.

"I do not like being questioned, Atticus," I hiss, clicking my tongue. "Mind to remember who is in your presence next time you choose to open that mouth."

Stepping over the bodies of his men, I leave the conversation behind me, making my way to what might be a detrimental isolation.

Watching the doors to the armored truck close, both men watch me with wide eyes, their mouths gagged. Taking a seat across from them, I double check to make sure my cloak is closed, ignoring Xavier's searing gaze. Thrashing toward me, Fallan looks bewildered, my mouth creeping into a smile at his absent hand.

"I do question how I could not pick up on your deceit sooner," I snap, feeling the wheels of the vehicle roll into motion. "Though, when there is only part of me, I suppose I, too, would be able to be manipulated with ease."

Dragging down my finger in the air, the gag pulls free form Fallan's mouth, his lungs gasping for air.

"Choose to speak?" I question, cocking my head at the man. "How is the land of the living after all?"

"Don't bullshit me right now, Forest. What the hell is your plan here?" Fallan questions, trying to get insight Xavier barely even has.

Primal instinct drives Xavier right now, my Hold forcing him back, keeping him from tearing his own hands off just to get over to me.

"Plan?" I question. "I needed allies. I needed both of you. Loose ends are not anything my father and I want to entertain cleaning up-"

"What about Kai and the others? We could have been murdered by that crazy Commander. You now consider your family loose ends?" Fallan questions, my nose scrunching at the mention of my brother.

He is fine.

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