Julian thought for a moment, then his eyes turned solemn. He looked at me, and his silver eyes filled with a field of emotion. “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” He said the words so fluidly. There was no smile in his eyes, only that of something he’d lost. Then he added, “I want you to have it.”
“Have what?”
He tapped his finger over the page. “The book. I want you to have it.”
“Julian, you love this book.”
“Exactly.” He took the book and closed it, setting it behind me. His palm laid against my back, and he pulled me to his chest and back under the covers where our bodies were warm, and our heads were cool from the early morning chill. He twisted a lock of hair around his finger. “Because I—”
A sound echoed through the cabin, shook the walls. It sounded like a door had been slammed open. My eyes widened, seeing into Julian’s terrified ones.
“They’re here,” he stated, pinched his eyes closed. Time slowed, past by the counts of my slamming heart. He dragged in a breath. Held it. He lurched forward, over me, grabbed a shirt from the floor, pushed it over my head. “You have to do something for me,” he started to say.
My eyes were darting around as footsteps echoed within the cabin. Obscured deep voices bounced just outside his bedroom door. My heart was in my throat, my stomach twisted. A state of panic froze me still. Julian was fast, grabbing a pair of pants, throwing them into my chest to put on.
“If anything happens to me, under no circumstance do you fight for me. Don’t go to the Order. Don’t go to the woods. Don’t tell anyone about anything. Fallon, you keep your mouth shut. You have to let them take me. You have to let me go.”
“What? No! Why?” The words had come out so fast, as I was tripping over the pants. Julian was naked, not worrying about himself, but now helping me dress.Crashes!andbangs!andbooms!filled the cabin as his things were being destroyed. “Julian, you’re scaring me!” I cried. “Does this have anything to do with what we did last night?” My eyes bounced between his panicked ones. He stayed silent, grabbedFrankensteinfrom the bed, tucked it into my waistband.
“I’m so sorry, but just know if anything happens to me, I did it all because…”
“Because what?” My mind was in chaos. Julian’s eyes were wild and desperate. “Julian! What did you do?!”
“Fallon, I—I—” he dragged in a deep breath.
And the bedroom door was kicked in. Three Heathens barged into the room. Zephyr was slinging one of my heels around his finger. Phoenix was holding two books we stole hours before. Beck’s blue eyes scanned over me once before he came between Julian and me, boxing me out.
I stumbled backward against the wall.
There was no exchanging of words.
A million emotions passed through Julian’s eyes before Zephyr kicked the backs of his legs and forced him on his knees! Julian cut one last apologetic gaze to me just as Phoenix shoved a burlap sack over his head. They bound his wrists together! But Julian didn’t fight! Why wasn’t he fighting?
“He didn’t do anything!” I screamed out.
I tried to get to Julian, but Beck shifted like a sliding brick wall, not allowing me to pass. Zephyr held the back of Julian’s head and slammed his knee into the side! Acrack!rang in the room and tears pushed through my eyes, heat enveloping me. Hot rage rushing through my veins. I lunged forward over Beck, trying to get to him. I couldn’t get to him.
“No!LET HIM GO!” I screamed over and over, but no one looked at me.
No one paid me any attention. No one said a word. Julian was hunched forward on his kneesnakedas they beat into him. And I was screaming for someone to stop, anyone!
“Beck, please,” I cried, but he never turned around. “Let him go!”
Phoenix grabbed Julian’s arms and lifted him to his feet.
Then they dragged him out of the room.
Beck hung back, stood by the door with his arms behind his back. No matter how many times I pushed and shoved and beat against him, he stood like an invincible stone statue.
I didn’t know how much time had passed, as I was crying and screaming and throat raw with pain.
Eventually, Beck took off, leaving me there in the hallway.
All alone and Julian was long gone.
Chapter 47
Julian
