The Barter Novel Sierra and Xavier

---- ..

it ends now.

cruel joke, and this wai My ZariyanMy Princessis dead.

The woman standing before me with another mans child in her womb? She was a stranger.

There's no we in our story.

There never was, and there never will be.

She's right.

She always has been.

And I'll have to accept it, no matter how bitter the truth.

Love destroys people, but I refuse to be one of them.

Tf a rope only tightens its grip until you bleed, you cut it loose.

Let go, or sever it completely.

And our bond was that rope.

The one I severed.

I rejected her, just like she wanted.

Now she is free of these chains of matebond.

She can easily choose that bastard now without any regrets And what about me? I will survive, not for myself.

---- Chapter 510 But for my people.

I'm stronger than this pathetic, toxic thing called love.

There are lives to save.

A world to rebuild Adrian needs me.

Humanity needs me.

I won't fail them.

Not again.

A warm hand encloses around my fists, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.

I look up, surprised to find familiar, concerned eyes staring back at me.

Alex.

Stop hurting yourself.

I glance at my bloodied knuckles and realize I've been pounding a tree bark relentlessly.

My hands are shredded, the wood splintered.

But the pain? Its numbing.

A whisper of sensation compared to the inferno burning in my chest.

She's here, shy and hesitant as always, fumbling with the hem of her shirt.

She wants something.

What do you want, stalker? Her cheeks flush, and she averts her gaze.

I have a favor to ask.

---- A favor? What could I possibly give her? Go on.

Her eyes light up with excitementa rare sight.

Shes practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.

How can someone facing death be so...

alive? The doctors are about to start the tests, she blurts, and I was wondering if you could...

She hesitates, biting her lip.

Ifyou could hold my hand?" A strange request.

Then again, Alexia has always been a strange woman.

The kind of strange that draws you in rather than pushing you away.

Her heart isnt gilded with paint to mimic gold; its pure gold through and through.

Her fingers fidget nervously, her lips mouthing silent prayers.

A smile tugs at my lips despite myself.

T interlock my fingers with hers, enveloping her cold hand in my warmth.

Her ey snap open, wide with surprise.

Come on, stalker.

I'll keep my promiseI won't let go until the end.

---- She stumbles as I start walking, her gaze burning into my back.

But I don't look back.

False hope is cruel, and I've lived enough of it for a lifetime.

I won't let Alexia suffer the same.

But she is doing so much for everyone and this is the least I could do in return.

Hold her hand.

The doctors and Adrian are already inside, preparing for the trial.

And thats when my eyes steer to the figure in black, leaning against the wall in a corner.noveldrama

What is she still doing here? I thought she would have left, gone running back to the arms of her lover.

Ler brown eyes were fixed on mine and Alexias interlocked hands and I see something shift in her eyes.

Was it pain? No, it couldn't be.

She looks away immediately, not once looking up at me again.

Zari.

Have you brought it? She nods to take out a bottle from her pocket.

The blue liquid swirling in it.

Wait a second.

Isnt that the