Page 122 of The Order

“I want you to be the person I turn to, which is why I need to be honest with you,” I settle on saying, feeling his curls brush my hands as he gives me a slow nod.

“I saw a Shifter in the Unfortunate sector, which is why I was with Fallan in the first place. It's why I had bruises around my neck,” I say, watching the man's face pull into a look of confusion.

“A Shifter? One got past their ward? How is that possible? An Official would have shot it on sight,” he says, leaning against the wall again.

“It didn't look like the monsters I was told about. It looked… human. Well, before it peeled off its own skin. It's like it was hunting me. It wanted my blood,”

He paused, considering my theory.

“I’m assuming he’s part of the reason you're still standing here,” he says, throwing Fallan back into the conversation.

“I tried to get it off of me. It was stronger than I expected.” I say, watching Xavier’s head gently shake.

“They can alter their DNA. That's why we call them Shifters to begin with. They are humans who are far beyond saving. They hunt a... specific group of people,” he clarifies.

He does know about Marked.

“The Marked are the people our chips were meant to snuff out.”

“Your people,” Xavier finally says, apparently airing out one more truth for us to share. “You're one of them. Right?” he questions, waiting for me to confirm something I can no longer avoid.

“I don't know-”

“Don't lie,” he stops me before I can start.

I run my hand along my mark, drawing in a deep breath.

“Is this the part where you drag me out and expose me to the other Officials?” I question, watching his frown grow.

He takes a step toward me, touching beneath my shirt. I shudder, tensing up as his fingers pass over my mark.

“I saw this a long time ago,” he states. “I was just waiting for you to tell me.”

His hands dip into my pocket, pulling the necklace free. He gently places the pendant around my neck, smiling at the sight.

“There is so much going on behind the scenes, Forest. So much they won't tell me,” he says, dropping his hands away from my neck.

“Where are you from? I mean, how are you not from here?” I question, seeing a sense of loss pass in his eyes.

“That's a story for another time… is what you said true? About Fallan being a slip-up?” he questions, genuinely wanting an answer.

“Yes,” I lie, unsure how convincing I am.

He gives me a gentle smile, running his fingers along the scrapes on my arms.

“I hope that's true,” he whispers. “For the sake of my selfish soul,” he says, pausing to meet my eyes once more.

“Quite a web of lies you’re starting to weave,”It whispers, my head slightly turning to the mirror.

I half expect to see Its vindictive reflection, but it’s only me.

At what point did both sides of me become so hard to understand?

Chapter forty

Forest

Anunsettlingsilencestillencapsulates the house. By some miracle, my mother had managed to calm Kai down to a level that made his anger manageable.

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