ena

nded clinic smelled of

my weight. The Syndicate doctor flipped through my chart, his gaze fixed

his finger tapping the ultrasound printout. "Advan

My voice was thin

his hea

unbearable stress, the freezing conditions of the badlands... your body was p

d to draw the warmth from my skin. Near the exit, a heavily pregnant woman waddled past me. Her husband had

le, my hand flying to t

d against the rough concrete wall, burying my face in my trembling hands

olen my time. They h

nd the Syndicate's annual Gala. "You need to show your f

ng a simple black dress, clutching a glass of water. The roo

hogany doors

ed to them. They raised their champagne glasses, toasting to the new heir. Silvio gaz

ed in her eyes. She patted her swollen stomach and walked s

f me and raised her gl

to you,

er, my face a

ng to me last night. He said if he had not exiled you, he would have struggled to make a choice between us. But he also sa

t to thank you for your noble sacrifice fo

ss until my knuc

ree fever in the desert," I hissed softly. "I dragged myself across the scorching

y. Silvio was busy buying me a limited-edition Vera Wang wedding gown. The receipt is still

romised to buy me that exact dr

ren

ed a protective hand on her waist and

, the words tasting like venom

ut into the dark street. A heavy, driving rain was washing over the city. The water instantly

popped open a large black umbrell

hoved the umbrella away. It c

" he shouted over

dulterated disgust. "I only feel disgust for wasting five years on a coward. Do you know what the desert t

hed for me again, despera

ut of his reach. I let the rain wash over

erena dissolve in the rain. What remained