Page 21 of The Order

“Forest, Kai!” my dad says in a cheerful tone. His hand draws Xavier closer, clapping his upper back with gentle pats. Max and Rae join us. Max’s arm finds its way around my shoulder much quicker than it has before. I shoot him a questioning look, but his eyes only stare forward.

“This is Xavier Hayes, one of our youngest and most talented Officials I’ve had the honor of overseeing,” my dad chirps. He admires the man like he is a prized trophy.

“The pleasure is mine. I have heard many good things about the Vega twins,” Xavier says, shaking Raegan’s gentle hand before eyeing Max up and down. I move Max forward, feeling his hand drop away from me. He accepts Xavier’s handshake, doing his best to observe the man up and down similarly. The two men hold each other's hands longer than most would consider comfortable. Even my father looks confused at the brief exchange.

“And, of course, these are my two kids, Kai,” Kai shakes the man's hand with glee. “And my dear daughter, Forest.”

“We've met, but I don’t mind introducing myself again,” Xavier says, grabbing my hand and letting his lips meet the soft skin at the top of my hand. The brief touch warms me, filling my cheeks with heat, my pulse picking up rapidly.

I wish his lips would explore more than just my hand.I silently whisper in my mind.

It’s a brief thought I shove away, only adding to the red hue of my cheeks once I notice his smirk at my sudden fluster.

I see how Xavier watches me. Unlike Fallan’s hate and my family's disapproval, he shows only curiosity when he looks at me. He watches me as if I’m the only person in the room. Everything I do sparks his interest. Even as my father speaks, he keeps his eyes on me as much as he can, and I do the same to him. It's as if I expect him to change at any moment and be an entirely different person. He watches me as if I am someone worth figuring out.

“So, where is this new Commander everyone has been talking about?” Kai questions eagerly.

Not too long ago, New Haven's Elder Commander stepped down to enjoy his restful years peacefully. Rumors spread that a young and very strategic Commander was appointed, taking on many responsibilities governing our people that used to take multiple Council members. As far as we know, things have only been better since they stepped up, but they hardly show face due to their strenuous schedule. Markets that once struggled to support New Haven now have full shelves. High crime rates in the Unfortunate sector dwindled to nothing after their first month in leadership. They have spoken once and only once, using mediators like my father to communicate his words. Even my father has never seen the Commander in person. Only people with ranks a peg below the man, like Josh’s Father, have been invited to the Commander's private meetings.

“I can’t say I care enough to keep track of them,” Xavier blurts.

Kai’s mouth drops, hanging open at the Official’s blunt statement. My father clears his throat, awkwardly adjusting his collar, glancing around to his mutuals, who may have heard the crude comment. I cover my mouth, hiding the massive smile working its way across my face.

“But who cares what I think,” Xavier finishes.

In this fleeting moment, I realize why my smile has not left my face. Xavier’s thoughts are entirely his own, filled with defiance and challenge in ways I’ve never seen anyone dare to express.

At that moment, for the first time in a long time, my defiant mind suddenly felt a little lesslonely.

Chapter six

Forest

Kaifumbleswithhisblade, wrapping the hilt higher while programming better mechanics into the small hard drive of data linked to his chip. His fingers fly across the keyboard of his computer, inputting a series of codes I don’t even want to begin to try and decipher. His chip blinks slowly behind his ear, pairing with the new set of commands written into his blade’s mechanical structure.

I place my blade next to his, waiting for him to work his magic so I can pass this class with no grief from the teacher. Although not the best at physical activities like Max, Kai prevails in anything academically based. Programming code for their own blade would be delusional for most students. Each blade is assigned to everyone in the middle of their third year once the design process is complete.

Kai designed and built his blade his first year, creating mine shortly after in stolen moments of the night. We sit huddled in the back of the classroom, taking up two computers while only utilizing one. I spin my closed blade on the table, fidgeting with its hard drive in an anxious twirl between my fingers.

“Why the sudden need to re-wrap your hilt?” I question, breaking my brother's extreme focus.

“It keeps coming loose and someone suggested wrapping it higher up on the hilt to have more tension. So far, it's been holding together better.”

His brown curls fall into his face, covering his focused gaze.

“Max seriously had a suggestion like that?” I question, wondering how Max could do anything remotely strategic regarding craftsmanship.

“Not him.”

Kai's head is lowered, clouded with a shame I only see now.

“Then … who?” I question.

Kai avoids my gaze as best he can.

“I briefly allowed an Unfortunate to speak to me today. The blonde one who is always hanging aroundyourUnfortunate.”

The vivid image of the blonde all over Fallan reaches my mind.

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