Page 24 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire (Order #4)

Chapter twenty-three

Forest

G etting the guards to force the boys into their own quarters was no easy task.

Kicking and yelling, trying to figure out where I was located, Elyon saw it best to lock Xavier into the confines of his room until he had settled down.

Going to his space with less resistance, Fallan had settled in, doing so with little grief.

Creeping inside his room, I kick the door shut, watching as he runs his towel through his hair, nothing but a pair of leisure pants hugging his hips, his absent hand something I never get used to seeing.

Slowly turning his head toward me, we both lock eyes, his hand dropping the towel with annoyance.

"What the hell do you want, Forest?" he questions, clearly pissed off by all that has happened.

Good.

Anger keeps his defiance intact.

The last thing I need is either of them actually feeding into this act.

"I'm sorry you've been dragged along into all of this," I admit with full honesty, a scoff rolling off of his throat.

"Had you told me avenging Dove would lead to all of this, I would have left her grave flowers like a sane person, and dealt with the few years of alcoholism until I could land back on my feet," he whispers, taking a seat on his bed.

"You should have known never to get entwined with me. You were no fool. Playing the act of a loving Unfortunate was a death wish waiting to happen," I say, crossing my arms, his head snapping up to me.

"It wasn't an act. Not the whole tome," he snaps, diverting his focus to me. "I did love you. I do love you. Maybe it's not what most would consider traditional, but don't you think I would have run if I didn't care?" he questions, trying to get me to feed into his pain.

"You could have lived a life away from all of this," I snap, trying to rationalize. "Why the hell didn't you just run?" I question, his shoulders shrugging in defeat.

"That's an answer I have been trying to find myself," he sighs looking at his severed hand. "I clearly have paid the price for my poor judgement."

"Why the hell are you in here and not with Xavier?" he questions.

"I honestly don't know," I admit, taking a seat on the bed next to him, running my hands through my hair. "I don't ever know why I continue to give you grace you don't deserve."

"Don't you think I have suffered enough?" Fallan questions, holding his wound up in my face. "I have paid the price tenfold for my betrayal to you. I sometimes question why I have not let death claim me-"

"I truly did love you. The parts of myself closed off from my entire being loved you so much," I hiss, still pained by his betrayal. "I would have kept you safe, Fallan. I would have understood your need to come after me. But then, you came after the people I love. You came after my family," I snap, shaking with pain. "How does what I have done make me any worse than you?" I question, his mind stumped.

"I suppose it doesn't," he whispers, running his hand through his hair. "Maybe that's why I stay."

“You know, I did love you,” he starts. “I don't know how the hell I did, but I did, maybe still do.”

"I'm sorry I killed someone you cared about," I admit with full honesty, his eyes locking with mine. "I was doing what I thought was best for my family. I'm sure you can understand that much."

Saying nothing, he shakes his head.

"I think I understand it a little too well," he admits, resting his face in his hands. "Initially, I hated your guts. I wanted nothing more than to watch you suffer in the ways you had done to me and Dove. The closer I got to you, the harder it was to see you as the murderer who took the women I loved away from me. My hate for you changed into a love," he whispers, his hand landing in my own, his thumb rolling over my knuckles. "That day in the snow. The day you told me about a life we could have lived together, that was the moment I knew that the way I saw you had shifted," he whispers. "I was bound by promises I had made to Elyon, and thought following through with them would keep you safe," he admits, nothing but truth rolling off of his tongue.

Pulling my hand away from him, I shake my head.

"That was not love, Fallan," I hiss. "You loved me out of convenience. If my sister was alive, you would have gladly killed me and walked off into the sunset with her."

Narrowing his eyes, he shakes his head.

"You think when I touched you that was fake?"

Sliding his hand under my sweater, I can't stop him, his hand grazing over my bump as his lips go for my neck. Panicking, I grab his good wrist, forcing it down on the bed before backing away, my cheeks flustered from the heat of embarrassment.

Widening my eyes, he looks shocked. Standing up to become eye level with me, we both stare one another down.

"Is that-"

"I loved you when I only had memories of you,” I push. “I loved the ideas you forced into my mind and allowed me to hold onto. I do not love what stands before me now," I hiss, trying to divert his focus elsewhere.

"Does Xavier know?" Fallan questions, completely ignoring my words.

"Does he know what?" I question, doing my best to play dumb despite what Fallan had felt.

"You're still in denial then?" Fallan pushes, taking a step closer.

"In denial about what?" I question, not feeding into the man's game.

“If you're so keen on kidding yourself, perhaps you won't mind me giving you a poke for what you did to my hand-”

Winnowing toward me, he grabs one of his small blades, ready to drive it into my torso, my hand grabbing his wrist before he can get too far. Feeling a surge of energy within my stomach, I shove Fallan across the room, watching him collide with his nightstand. Widening his eyes, I clutch my stomach, staring the man down with feral rage.

"I will tear your head clean from your body if you get anywhere near me like that again," I snap, baring my teeth toward the man.

"How far along are you?" he questions, completely ignoring my threat.

"Nine months," I hiss. "I have another five to go," I admit, struggling to hide the growing bump.

"For fuck's sake, Forest," Fallan sighs. "Does Xavier know?" he questions.

"Why the hell do you think he's here?" I question. "Why do you think I am here?" I push, getting in the man's face.

"You say you understand protecting family, Fallan, well, that's all I've been doing."

Placing his hands on my stomach, he jumps back at the feeling of her energy, my hands holding him in place.

"That's my little girl," I whisper. "That's Xavier's little girl, and I'm terrified. I'm fucking terrified of what would happen if Elyon knew she survived that horrid concoction. Throwing it up was a long shot, but she's a fighter," I smile, dumping all of my pain on Fallan.

"I'm trying to keep her, Xavier, and my family safe. That includes you, as much as you don't deserve it."

Dropping his hands, we both pick up on approaching voices, staring at his door as it slowly creaks open.

Standing in the doorway, Elyon looks confused, crossing his arms with amusement.

"Doing your rounds with your boy toys?" Elyon questions, clearly getting a thrill from what he has stumbled upon.

Straightening up, I pull my sweater over my bump, keeping my back to Elyon.

Staring at Fallan, the power he holds right now is unprecedented.

He could blow the lid on my secret and finally gain some favor from the man.

"Forest was just laying out the rules one more time for me," Fallan whispers, looking me up and down. "It would seem she was scared my Unfortunate roots would hinder my ability to appreciate the hospitality you both have offered," Fallan lies, my lungs finally taking in air.

"A fair assumption," Elyon scoffs. "Xavier's door is still locked," he sighs, tossing something through the air.

Grabbing the key, I look it over, throwing the man a look of question.

"Xavier nearly broke down the door trying to get to you. I explained from the other side once he had calmed down, then you would be seeing him. Don't take this as an opportunity to explore all of your sexual urges and cloud your mind with foolish emotion," Elyon scoffs, glancing down at my torso. "I would hate to kill off two children caught in the crossfire of your inability to close your legs."

Clutching the key, Elyon is satisfied with my silence.

"You two enjoy your night."

Slamming the door shut, I stare forward, nausea churning in my stomach.

"Forest-"

Doubling over with a gag, I hold Fallan back, doing my best to stomach all the vile actions I have allowed myself to do over the past several days. Taking shallow breaths, Fallan hesitantly rubs my back, my mind racing with a million thoughts.

"She doesn't like the blood," I sob, covering my mouth. "It's all Elyon has been forcing me to consume for months. It's why my face is so hollow," I whisper, touching my deep cheekbones. "I'm allowing her to take all the nutrients I can."

Looking me over, his hand cups my cheek, his thumb rolling over my skin.

"You did all of this for her?" he questions, glancing down at his arm.

"Elyon asked me to kill you or prove I was willing to harm you. Your hand was the only thing I could think of that wouldn't make you bleed out on the spot. I had to show force I was willing to exert," I sniffle, trying to hold it together. "I knew about her at conception. A few days after me and Xavier had..." I trail off, letting Fallan put together what I am suggesting. "It was like a new energy flooded my system, growing as the weeks went by. Initially, I thought it was just a result of Xavier's absence, but when I still felt a part of him with me, and felt her presence grow, I knew that the deal Elyon had offered me all the way back at the compound was something I'd have to take in order to keep her, Xavier, and Kai safe."

Staying still, his hand drops from my face.

"She's why Xavier has been losing it ever since you gave him the surprise visit?"

"Xavier didn't know for sure, not until his deceptive ass snuck into that brothel. She feels her father's presence, it lights her up. She is not whole unless he is around. What strength she carries increases tenfold when he is around. What the hell do you think Elyon will do if he knows a child conceived from such power might have a chance to walk the planes of this Earth?" I question, Fallan's head dropping.

"The concoction you were speaking about-"

"Elyon had suspicions and killed them with the drink. Any traditional Marked fetus would have died moments after consumption. The worst effect I got was nausea and a brutal headache. She rejected his poison. Any child strong enough for that before they are even born, will be a threat to Elyon in ways only those closest to him can see coming. I'd much rather her father be in the loop when it comes time to protect my family."

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Fallan questions, the scary truth breathing down my neck.

"I have to wait until she is strong enough to be taken from my uterus. Then, when the time is right, I need you to do something for me," I whisper, taking a step closer. "Mason did not find that metal by accident, nor did he pick up the thought pattern on his own to create the blade. I slipped into his mind while I spoke to you, seeing the metals while I was below the water's surface bleeding out."

"Then after she is out?" Fallan questions, his eyes wide as I speak.

"Do you feel remorse for what you allowed to happen to me?" I question, his head slowly nodding.

"Can you see I am sorry for what I have done to you?" I question. Once more, his head nods.

"Then we will be killing two birds with one stone. Once my girl is out and safe, and my family is out of the crossfire, you may do the one thing you have always wanted to do," I whisper, taking a step closer to the man.

"And what's that, Forest?" he questions quietly.

"You're going to take the blade from Mason, and, when the time is right, you are going to drive it through mine and Elyon's hearts, ending the reign of the Marked once and for all."

Saying nothing, his body shakes.

"It is my birth right," I whisper touching the man's throat. "And you, Fallan Markswood, have no choice," I whisper, dragging my finger down his throat. "Why else do you think I gave you a bind?"

Stepping aside, I leave the conversation in the air between us.

"Oh, and speak of any of this to anyone, and I'll ensure you have gouged your own eyes out."

Slipping free from the room, the key is like hot iron in my hand. Blending into the shadows of the hallway, I move past Xavier's room, horrified by the way his screams sound on the other side of the door.