Labyrinth of Twisted Games (The Order #2)

by Katerina St. Clair

“I marked you so that vile bastard who touches you so

often has to remind himself every tim...

so vulnerable what's waitin...

“We were once like him. He sees the value in protecting his own,

as well as those who have no chance at winning.”

“On the surface level, a coward behind a mask. Deep down,

the one that started it all. The original Marked.”

"How did they survive all this ti...

The very thing coursing through your veins. The thing that has kept your "...

"Forest is only twenty," I snap, watching their grin ...

The Prophet has bound many voices, including your father-in-law's.

Speak your truth and face dire consequences.

promised Andrew I would never utter the truth to you or Forest after the Prophet bound

Andrew and I. "Mark whispers, wincing at the comment.

“Your daughter died immediately after childbirth.

Andrew was no longer fertile after Kaiden.

"She will save us all, Katiana. The Apparatus will save us all.

I'm sorry I must do this to you and Kaiden, but we must protect her,

Helping Andrew carry in bags, a boy- No, not just any boy.

boy from that night of the Untouchable suicide. The one who jumped.

"Whatever it takes?" Forest questions, looking over the men with a stern gaze.

"You will find your peace with her. I will safeguard our future."

"She has no clue, at least not yet. She sacrificed her memories in order

keep the people she loves safe. That includes all of you.

"No... he doesn't. His bloodlust for Forest was real after Andrew killed his family.

“Xavier sent me to watch over Forest when he could not.

That is until he found himself in the compound.”

“I'm still human, even if I don't look it. We are as trapped as the people behind that ward.

You and Andrew will execute the father and do so in front of the woman and child."

Even with a re-regulation device, he is still Marked. The effects might only be temporary."

"A false bond," I blurt out. If

"What is a false bond?" “Like how we have a connection,

Xavier now has one through you, only it's been fabricated by the blood you both now share.

The link between marked and their blood is almost a craft.

It only works if your body wants the power it's taking in. You wanted retribution,

"Don't let what this world has pushed you to do determine what you become."

I promise I have something that could occupy that pretty little mouth of hers-"

Driving his first into Xavier's face, Fallan loses all self-control.

I don't have great faith you will kill me, knowing how easily I can now share my pain with her.

It's like a switch. Piss me off, and I won't hesitate to let her feel every single one of my lesions."

Return Forest for my freedom and gain nothing.

Keep Forest safe with me, and never see true freedom again.

Leaning forward, she fiddles with her jacket, looking flush from nerves.

She took his pain

No, she embraced my wound before it could mark my skin.

"You're always welcome to join... Although, don't be surprised

when you end up begging to have me finish what I started," He whispers,

"I told you there was a cost to rejecting orders from me.

I never said they were dead," They scold,

Grabbing my jaw, the Prophet forces my mouth open with their hold,

It's a pity I wasted a good blade for something as trivial as your mother's throat."