Page 40 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire (Order #4)

Chapter thirty-nine

Forest

" R owan," I gasp, "Why isn't she crying?"

Holding her bloodied figure, her heart thumps triumphantly for life.

"Valerie?" I hiss, frantically looking her way. "What is going on?"

Bleeding furiously from the lesion spanning across my lower stomach, Fallan applies as much pressure as he can to the open wound.

"Forest, you have to stop moving," he whispers. "We have to get this bleeding under control"

"Why isn't she crying?!" I yell, feeling the cabin shake with my words.

Moving my way, Valerie grabs her, patting her back viciously.

"There is liquid in her lungs," Valerie whispers. "She is choking-"

"Hand her to me," Rowan snaps. "I can-"

Grabbing her wrist, I stop her from taking another step.

"If you hurt her-"

"I am saving her," Rowan hisses. "Now trust me."

Not having much of a choice, I release her wrist, watching as she grabs the bloodied bundle of cloth.

Crashing into the room, Mason staggers into the space, clutching his bloodied side.

"They are coming," Mason yells. "Is she out?"

Trailing off, he and Rowan exchange a long look.

"She's out," Rowan whispers. "Now, let's help her breathe."

Waving her hand over her small mouth, I marvel at the sight of her eyes glowing while she's hyper focused on her actions.

"W-What are you doing?" I whisper.

"Getting the liquid out of her lungs."

Watching the liquid find its way outside of her mouth, her stifled gasps suddenly become a vicious cry.

Never has anything in my life sounded as beautiful as the scream leaving her small throat.

"She's underweight and will need nourishment," Valerie smiles. "But she's perfect, Forest."

Bringing my girl back over to me, I run my fingers over her delicate face, memorizing each and every detail.

"Look at you," I whisper. "You're p-perfect."

Doing my best to stay alert, the one person I'd want to be here to see this is nowhere in sight.

Wanting to cry and smile all at once, the real reason I had to rip her out begins to settle.

Get her out. Keep her and everyone else safe.

Looking at Rowan, I motion her over.

"Take her," I whisper. "Take her and keep her far away from all of this," I hiss.

Hesitantly grabbing the bundle, Rowan finally shows her fear.

Shakily holding my girl, Valerie rubs Rowan's shoulder.

"Forest, we can find another way-" Valerie begins to cry.

"No," I snap. "We can't."

Forcing myself up and off the kitchen counter, Mason and Fallan give me all the support I need.

"Where is the clean cloak?" I hiss.

Grabbing it swiftly, Fallan hands it over.

Tugging off the bloodied clothes in front of everyone, Valerie's half-assed job at stitching me up makes everything that much more difficult. Turning away, everyone but Rowan avoids looking at my mangled body. Holding my girl close, she keeps on a cold front.

I would hate to know what kind of past she would have to have to be this closed off.

Maybe that's why I trust her to do what needs to be done.

Settled into the clean clothes, I grab Fallan a bit harder.

"The blade?" I hiss.

Revealing the handcrafted blade made from the metals of the water, he hides the weapon back under his cloak.

"Forest," he whispers. "I don't know if I can-"

"You can," I whisper. "You have to."

Staggering back over to my girl, I rub my hand along her soft head, taking in all of her little details. As if she was pulled from the heavens and delivered to me, she is perfect in every way possible. Landing one gentle kiss on her head, I enjoy the sweet embrace as if it is my very last.

"I love you, little one," I whisper. "I will always love you-"

"Forest!" his voice booms from outside, causing us all to gasp. "What the hell is going on?" Elyon yells.

Taking it all in, every primal instinct in my body takes over my want to stay with her.

Protect them.

Protect my family.

Grabbing the back of Fallan's neck, I give him a weary look.

"A-Are you ready?" I whisper.

Tensing his jaw, he nods.

Giving her one last look, I let my reality settle in.

She will have a life.

Just not one with me in it.

Standing by the edge of the water, he holds his broken mask in his hand, keeping his guard dogs on high alert. Officials of varying ranks surround the area, each one locked and loaded, ready to take down any opposing force. Lingering in the tree line, Revolutionists and Shifters alike wait for Mason's word, everyone on the brink of creating catastrophic bloodshed.

"Darling," Elyon hisses. "Care to explain to me why you decided to run off?"

Dragging Fallan by the neck over to Elyon, I force on my bravest front despite the blood soaking through my clothes. Ripping apart, Valerie's stitches are moments away from giving out.

"I decided to follow a lead back here," I hiss. "Turns out Fallan is a rat in more ways than just one."

Tossing him at the feet of Elyon, Elyon places his boot on his hand.

"I could have told you that," Elyon hisses. "I'm talking about the secret you and Xavier have been hiding in your belly," Elyon Winnows in front of me. "Right here-"

Finding nothing, his finger pokes into an empty stomach.

Not a single heartbeat for him to hear.

Raising his brows, he snaps his focus to me.

"What-"

"Where is Xavier?" I whisper. "Are we done entertaining your foolish games? You are the one who ensured if anything was there, it would have died long ago. Now you stand here, questioning me as if I am the enemy when I have brought you a mole for your disposal."

Feeding into his ego, he shifts in place.

"Fallan?" Elyon sneers. "Care to speak on the matter."

Letting his foot off of his hand, Fallan forces himself to his feet.

"I won't blindly follow a leader that knows nothing but bloodshed," Fallan hisses. "I was wrong about Dove. I was wrong about so much," Fallan gasps. "A future where the silver mask lives will be the downfall to what mankind has left."

Driving his hand across Fallan's face, the slap sounds off through the air.

"Foolish fucking bastard," Elyon hisses. "I have given you so much."

Falling to the ground behind Elyon, Fallan lets out a shudder. Grabbing my cloak's hood, Elyon tugs me backward, wrapping his arms around my front, his chest plastered to my back.

Lingering his lips by my ear, his faint whisper caresses the side of my face.

"I know Fallan is not the reason you came here." Forcing his hand under my cloak, his fingers collide with the rich blood seeping from my wounds. "I know you think I didn't know," he hisses. "You think I had no idea what you were hiding in your belly, and now you have ripped the cancer straight from your womb, as if you can hide her from me."

"You were never going to let her live," I hiss.

"A power like that in my empire?" Elyon sneers. "Never."

Closing my eyes, I sense both Xavier and her energy, both of them nestled in the comforts of the cabin.

He's here.

He has our girl.

Taking one final look at the place that was supposed to be our home, I grab Elyon's forearm, using what energy I have left to keep him behind me with my Hold.

"You're right," I whisper. "Power, like we have, should not exist." Bracing myself, I look up toward the sky. Watching Xavier swing open the cabin door, his eyes go wide.

Holding our girl, his face is filled with pure shock.

"This is the end of our family's reign."

Taking a deep breath, I slip into Fallan's mind.

"Now."

I don't know what I expected it to feel like.

I'm unsure when the blade went through his heart, and straight into mine.

Growing up, I had always thought the line between life and death would be painful, a torture that I could not bear.

Hearing screams ensue around me, Elyon's hand drops his mask, and the first real sound of pain leaving his throat as his body goes rigid around me. Locking eyes with Xavier, I hold onto the visual of him, until the spotting in my vision has become unbearable.

Feeling a searing pain in my chest, my hand faintly feels the blade protruding through my chest before falling to my side. Like light switches are being turned off for every part of my body, my legs begin to shake as my body becomes useless.

Sweet, dark death.

They are safe.

Elyon gasps, his life slowly leaving him.

They are all safe.

Feeling a smile tug at my lips, a wave of peace comes over me.

This is the end.

But something tells me, it might also be the beginning.

Xavier

It was all a distraction.

Forest wanted me distracted by the battle.

I should have kept a closer eye on her.

Following Elyon after he had left the fight, we followed the lead that she might be at the cabin.

The question is why?

Why wouldn't she tell me her plan to slip away?

Something is going on, something that has given me chills since Elyon mentioned our child.

Now that he knows, I need to keep Forest far away from all of this.

She thought she was keeping Elyon away, when in reality, he was always lurking, staying one step ahead.

We have to find a way out of this.

Winnowing into our bedroom, a piercing cry floods my ears.

The cry of new life.

Barely able to retain what is happening, I collide my shoulder with our bedroom door, greeted with eyes of our friends, all bloodied and worn.

Glancing at the kitchen counter, a massive pool of blood has settled on its surface. Picking up on the scent of Forest's blood from a mile away, the surgical tools next to the counter throw me into hyperdrive. Locking eyes with Mason, it would seem he knew more than he was willing to let on.

"Where the fuck is she?" I snap, looking over the group. "Where is Forest and-"

The cry tears through the air again.

A cry I could never forget.

Shakily holding a bundle of cloth, Rowan watches me with lowered eyes.

Staying silent, Valerie, Mason, and Bekah all look guilty.

"I-Is that," I gasp. "I-Is that my daughter?" I sob.

Holding my child with a death grip, Rowan takes a step back as I take one forward.

"Rowan," Mason snaps. "Let him see her."

"No way in hell-"

"Rowan," Valerie snaps. "Let him."

Warily walking toward me, I reach my hands out toward the small bundle.

Hesitantly handing her off to me, the minute I see her face, it is like the stars have aligned for the first time ever.

Beautiful and peaceful, her eyes are closed, her body small and frail. Gifted with a strong heart, I fall to my knees once I get a good look at her.

"Look at you," I whisper. "God, you're perfect."

Feeling the tears try and escape my eyes, I look around for Forest.

"Where is her mom?" I whisper. "Where is Forest?"

As if her name is the last one that should be spoken, the whole room looks guilty.

"Mason?" I hiss. "Where is Forest?"

"Xavier," Mason whispers. "It was one or the other."

Taken aback, I force myself back to my feet.

"What?" I question, gripping my girl just a bit tighter. "What do you mean one or the other."

Grabbing my forearm, Rowan snaps.

"You're gripping her too tight, Xavier-"

"Stay the fuck away from us!" I snap, shoving her as far away as I can. Hitting the wall closest to her, Rowan lets out a heave.

"Where is she?" I yell again, wrapping my arms around my girl just a bit tighter.

I can keep her safe.

I will keep her and her mother safe.

"Xavier, you're holding her too tight!" Valerie yells. "She's still very weak-"

"Where is she?!" I yell again, keeping anyone and everyone away from my daughter.

They know nothing.

They do not care what happens to us.

I am the only one who can keep us all safe.

I am the only one-

Hearing a crack, a small gasp touches my ears, forcing me to look down.

No longer rising and falling properly, our girl gasps for air, her body smothered by my effort to keep her close.

Covering her mouth, Rowan forces herself back to her feet.

"Xavier," she whispers. "Her lungs.... You-"

"I did nothing!" I yell. "She and her mother are safe," I sob. "Safe with me!"

Staggering backward, I move toward the front door.

"You are all vermin. You never cared about my family. All you wanted was to keep yourselves safe!" I scream.

Shoving past the front door, Mason tries to stop me.

"Xavier, don't-"

Frozen in place, my eyes lock with hers as the world moves in slow motion.

Seeing the blade slice through his and her skin, her body jolts as it pierces through her heart.

Opening my mouth to scream, the noise is gone, the world around me closing in.

Giving me a faint smile as if it will reassure me, Elyon's body goes limp.

Feeling the tether to our connection snap, it is like the very light inside of me has been burnt out, leaving an empty pit filled with monsters I thought I had drowned long ago.

"Live for me," her voice whispers.

That was the last thing I remember hearing before seeing nothing but red.