Page 144 of The Order

I rack my brain, trying to think of the best response to Fallan’s outburst. All scenarios lead back to him only shutting me out more than he already has. Shoving open the doors, I go outside, ready to face him anyway.

I have to stop myself from bumping into another body, my eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the darkness. Hunter stands dressed in his work attire, looking at Fallan's angry figure before pulling his focus back to me.

“You came back?” Hunter questions, my annoyance with Fallan off the charts at this point.

“He asked me to,” I reply, avoiding Fallan’s searing gaze that could burn a hole through me.

“I thought her being here was just a 'coincidence?'” Hunter says, throwing up air quotes when he says the word coincidence like he knew better than to believe Fallan.

“Where's your brother?” Hunter asks me, ignoring Fallan impatiently tapping his foot.

“No doubt being carried home by Xavier right about now.”

Hunter’s expression falters at the mention of Xavier, but he makes a quick recovery.

“So, you're both here? To-”

“Train,” Fallan and I say in unison. Hunter nods his head, only half believing the validity of our statement.

“Right,” he starts, looking down the poorly lit street. “Well, I was planning to go home tonight, but seeing as I’m across the sector right now,” he turns to Fallan. “Do you care if I stay with you tonight?”

“Will there be enough room for him Fallan? Your late-night company is still there.” Hunter's eyes quickly move to Fallan.

“Late-night company?”

“Valerie’s having another one of her… episodes,” Fallan explains to him while his stays focused on me.

Hunter looks displeased, throwing Fallan a scathing look of disapproval.

“Well, I’ll leave you both to it,” I start, pulling my bag over my shoulders. “I should get going before they switch out to more attentive Officials.” A hand closes around my wrist.

Fallan watches me closely, his grasp light.

“I can walk you out of the sector-”

“Don’t bother,” I say, yanking my wrist from him. “I’m sure someone will be waiting for me,” I lie, throwing him yet another image of Xavier.

He frowns, unable to hide his disdain.

I turn on my heels, ready to spend the walk home reflecting on what the fuck I was thinking for coming here tonight.

“There is a function tomorrow night, here, in the Unfortunate sector. Come if you want to see what the people here are really like. Tell your brother to come too,” Hunter says, breaking the silence between us.

Fallan stays silent.

“Can I bring a friend?” I ask, unsure if I want his response.

“As long as you trust them,” Hunter responds, ignoring the shake of Fallan’s head. “Then yes.”

“Then I'll consider it.” My legs move for me on the path back to the sector's entrance.

“Goodnight, you two,” I mutter, unable to be around Fallan any longer.

The night pulls me into its grasp, taking me far away from the Unfortunate sector and even farther away from the man who has the ability to hate me and want me all in one night.

The question is, why can’t I let him go?

Chapter forty-five

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