Page 26 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire (Order #4)

Chapter twenty-five

Kaiden

R otting flesh and razor-sharp talons all surround us.

Sniffing the ground on which we walk on, the Shifters surround us all in a swarm, just waiting to rip into all of us the first chance they get.

Glaring at those he used to consider family, Mason impatiently taps his foot, peering down the largest Shifter in the group.

"Why have you come home, Mason Veron?" the Shifter asks, getting in the man's face.

"That's one way to welcome me back," he scoffs, looking around the space. "Tell me, how long do you plan on hiding out here, hoping Xavier is able to keep you all safe for the next twenty years?" Mason questions, the creature's eyes creasing with frustration.

Having dragged Aaron and me here moments ago, Bekah keeps her hand near her blade, ready to use it at any given moment.

"Your human friends are no friends to us," the Shifter hisses. "We did our job providing the Apparatus's mother the information she needed. Our work is complete."

"On the contrary," Mason snaps. "Our work here is far from over. Sanctum has more resources than we could have ever imagined. We are approaching a war that we will all have to take part in, you all included. How the hell do any of you expect to go back to your true form with Forest Evermoore shackled to the other side-"

"Forest Evermoore has chosen her path. It is not any of our right to interfere with how this all plays out. You've heard the stories of the Prophet as well. You know the way this all will need to end-"

"No one is harming my sister," I yell, all of the Shifter's heads turning my way.

"She is not your blood, boy-"

"No need to remind me," I snap, taking a step toward the creatures. "As long as I am alive, no one is harming Forest. Blood or not, she is my fucking sister."

Looking me up and down, the Shifter speaking to Mason clicks their tongue.

"His mind has been tainted by the need to protect his sister-"

"I'm aware," Mason hisses. "There's always more moving parts than what lingers on the surface."

Snapping my attention to Mason, I get a bit closer.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I question, getting in Mason's face.

"It means you are no longer neutral in the situation. Your sister is an ally we no longer have. Facing the truth at some point-"

"What truth, Mason?" I bark, grabbing the man's collar.

"Hey, not here!" Bekah yells, shoving us both apart from one another. "We are not doing this shit here-"

"Oh, go to hell, Bekah!" I yell, turning my attention toward her. "The person you love is safe and sound in some fucking underground community that you are too fearful to tell me or Xavier about. I don't want to fucking hear it-"

"Kai," Aaron whispers, wrapping his arm around me, his head settling on the crook of my neck. "Calm down. Everyone here is trying to find a way to help your sister," Aaron whispers, the accelerated beat of my heart slowly dwindling. "Take a breather and let Mason speak."

Letting Aaron pull me away from the conversation, I lean into him, taking paced, shallow breaths.

"As you can see, many of us are reaching our limit-"

"The boy spoke of an underground community," the Shifter hisses. "What did he mean?"

"We're calling it the Underground," Bekah sighs, running her hand through her short hair. "A place to keep Marked and Shifters alike safe, training the youth to utilize their abilities to their full potential."

"A safe haven for both of our kinds?" the Shifter questions, Mason's head slowly nodding.

"Had you let me get to that part, I would have explained many of the Marked down there right now have been willing to sacrifice blood to satiate all of you if you choose to take refuge with us. All we ask is that when the time comes, you aid in our fight. Are you willing to stand with the Marked?" Mason pushes, all of the Shifters looking at one another, waiting for the largest one's response.

"What do you need from us, Mason?"

"We are going to infiltrate New Haven and the Precipice, grabbing as many Marked as we can. Once we make our way into the cities, that's when we grab those confined behind their wards. This will kick off a battle that we will need as many people as we can possibly have for. You back us, and we give you a home that isn't a murky cave. Once we have Forest, and we know she is no longer a threat, we can begin to use her in aiding in all of your transitions," Mason smirks, the whispers in the room ramping up.

"And if she doesn't choose our side?" one of the Shifters yells, Aaron's grasp tightening.

Glancing my way, Mason's eyebrows crease.

"Then we will find another solution," he mutters. "We always have another solution."

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"So, you want us to infiltrate the cities?" the Shifter questions, silencing the whispers in the group.

"It will be a simple in and out. We have all the tools you might need. You'd have at least four hundred people, many Marked on your side-"

Tuning Mason out, Aaron's lips graze my ear.

"I know this is all a lot, but I promise it is all going to be okay, Kaiden," Aaron whispers, my head leaning further into his chest.

"This is a war no one will be able to come back from, Mason," the Shifter warns, his head cocking.

"Do you think any of us make it out of this? You think this cave is enough to protect all of you if Forest decides it is lights out for everyone?"

Ready to tackle the man for the way he is speaking about my sister, it takes all of my strength not to go over there and drag him to the ground.

"So, either we get her back, and she joins our side, or we exterminate the problem from the source?"

"Wait, no-"

Clamping his hand over my mouth before I can shout in protest, Aaron holds me still, my body thrashing against him, doing its best to get away.

"That's exactly what I am insinuating," Mason whispers, holding out his hand.

Hesitantly looking over Mason's offer, the Shifter shakily raises its hand, their hands curling around one another, embracing in a firm grasp.

Screaming into Aarons hand, he gets Bekah's attention, her hand fidgeting in her bag.

"I'm sorry, Kaiden," she whispers. "It's Forest or the survival of the Marked. I'm not willing to let all my people die just to keep her out of the crossfire."

Feeling the sharp point of a needle slam into my thigh, I look at the clear syringe, feeling my legs give out, the sedative quickly flooding through my veins.

Picking up the entirety of my weight in his arms, Aaron holds me close, my eyes glaring at him with anger.

"You said you'd keep my sister safe-"

"And we are," Aaron whispers. "Everything will be fine, so long as Forest truly stays on our side."

Moving over to me, Mason peers at the sight in front of him.

"I told you he shouldn't have come. What the hell do you think would have happened if knew where the Underground is?" he questions, both Aaron and Bekah bowing their heads.

Unable to stop the sedative from pumping through my veins, I feel my arms and legs sway as Aaron carries me out of the cave.

Closing my eyes, I hold onto one thought pattern.

All of these people are willing to sacrifice Forest for the future of the Marked.

I'm willing to watch them all burn to keep her safe.

It would seem the side I'm standing on will always be my sister's.