Page 158 of The Order

It meets my ears like a gentle song. Nothing can match the joy it brings me.

“I think I could get used to carrying you around like this,” he says, moving us closer to the door.

He puts me down gently, and I grasp his collar, my fingers meeting the small chain wrapped around his neck. I tug it free from his shirt, the tiny gold ring catching the dim light of the room and illuminating its band, a wreath of gold vines holding a small white stone. Fallan carefully runs his fingertips over the ring, looking over it lovingly, the last piece of his mother he has left.

“She gave this to me before she passed away,” he whispers, pulling the chain free from his neck. He holds it out in the space between us so I can inspect it more closely. “She said my father gave it to her just a few days after meeting her,” he whispers, smiling at the fond memory his mother shared with him.

Touching the small band, I feel the memories the item holds, a small reminder of a life no longer with us. Helping him put the chain around his neck, I gently pat his chest, leaning my forehead into him.

“She would be so proud of the man you are now,” I say, his arms wrapping tightly around me.

“I hope you're right,” he mutters, pulling my chin up so that he can look at me.

“Now let's go see a proper Unfortunate social.”

Moving through the side streets, we follow the glow of the bonfire to guide us back to the party. Taking one of the longer routes back, he holds my hands, running his thumb over each of my knuckles. My legs are deliciously sore, and my core still aches from having to adjust to how big Fallan’s length is. I lean into him, not arguing once he pulls me closer to his back, urging me to hop on. Wrapping my arms around his neck, he grabs my thighs, pulling me onto him, supporting my weight effortlessly. Resting my head atop his own, we walk in blissful silence, the warmth from our connection warding off the chill.

“I wouldn't have gone all the way had I known how much it would be hurting you,” he says, my grasp tightening around his neck.

“I wanted everything that you did-”

A scream breaks through the air, our heads snapping down the alleyway. Men and women begin yelling. People pass the opening of the alleyway, frantically running in every direction. A figure looms ahead of us, grasping the wall, watching me and Fallan from the shadows. I see Xavier’s blonde curls in the crowd. Fallan slowly lowers me to the ground, keeping me behind him. Xavier sprints towards us, his face unreadable as he meets Fallan’s gaze. Xavier pants heavily, his eyes wide with concern.

“Xavier, what-”

“A Shifter breached the ward,” he says, giving us both a long look. “And it's come for blood.” He turns away, guiding us in a sprint down the alleyway.

Chapter fifty-one

Forest

Itthrashesviolentlythroughthe crowd, its ghostly face the same one from my backyard. Its long, talon-like fingers swipe violently at anyone within its line of sight. The Shifter is tall, with sharp teeth and sunken eyes that are enough to bring anyone nightmares. It tears into the figure of a flailing woman, her blood spilling out onto the street as she falls to the ground. In a flash of movement, the Shifter grabs the woman’s lifeless body, sinking its fangs into her neck, violently devouring her blood and leaving her an empty husk. Panicking, I search the crowd for familiar faces.

I see Mark and Jolie, a slight sense of relief passing over me as I see them standing behind Valerie and Aaron. Kai and Hunter are huddled together. Kai’s blade is unsheathed, held with a shaky grasp. Xavier quickly yanks his pistol free from its holster, pulling it out from under his coat, taking note of how many rounds he has left. Fallan is already grabbing his blade from his side, nudging Xavier’s gun down toward the ground.

“Bullets won’t kill it,” Fallan growls.

Xavier’s gaze is cold as he considers Fallan's words.

Sensing a growing danger, I grab them both, forcing them to step back as the body of the woman flies past us and into the nearest wall of one of the adjacent buildings. Freeing my blade from my side, I force it open, moving into the defensive stance Fallan had taught me. My eyes meet the unsettling gaze of the haunting creature.

Tapping the ground with its long finger, it cocks its head in our direction, smiling wickedly the longer it watches us.

“I smell Marked blood,” It hisses, both me and Fallan tensing up.

Giving it little thought, Kai surges forward, my body rigid while his blade slices the leg of the creature. Thrashing its arm, it narrowly misses his front. Fallan is quick to seize the opportunity to move forward.

In a whirlwind of blades and fury, Fallan swings his arm toward the creature, his aim calculated, delivering as much damage as he can with each swipe. I ready myself to join him. Xavier’s hand wraps around my arm, stopping me from taking another step.

“We need to go-”

“Let go of me,” I hiss angrily, forcing my arm away from him, letting my rage take over.

Moving towards the creature, I swipe my blade across its front, watching it recoil in pain. It tried to get away from us, only to meet the metal of Valerie’s weapon a few seconds later. Looking around the open area, I spot a group of Officials. They stand by, watching the scene unfold, some even holding drinks, sipping casually, as if nothing unusual is happening. Unfortunates beg for them to intervene, some getting kicked to the ground as they cry out for help. Shaking his head in frustration, Xavier finally joins us, grabbing my blade from my hand and swiping at the Shifter the next chance he gets.

Taking a step back, I observe the creature, feeling Fallan’s focus shift toward its mind, his hands clenched in concentration. The creature screams, clutching its head in pain. It stumbles back, doing its best to keep Fallan out. Narrowing his eyes, Fallan pushes harder, swarming the creature's mind with thoughts of ending its own life. Its claw rises to its neck.

“Die, you fucking monster!” Fallan yells. The creature seethes with rage.

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