ah's

d?" My voice was harsher than I wante

s desk. "You will replace Elara,

I didn't think there was anything funny abou

s I found the words to

ria

don't even know this man, I've never met this man. You're asking me to give up my

's not simply my business. "It

What family?

n't make it sound like you are somehow sacrificing so much, Neriah, you've never

r. "Help you? My name is n

o fix," she said simply a

xt for the doctor's to fix." I his

me, his face turning dark. "You have done nothing for this family, Neri

became cold and still.

es

ly one here who cared if I lived or died, and the day she died, you stopped prete

s not

. You don't use that word – family – now after all these years just bec

off his chair-fast-it almost fell back-before I k

ide by its force. I felt some

he room. Even Elara

at the blood on the study's f

him." I said coldly, then t

anted to bolt. I climbed the stairs, went straight to my room, a

e long before

firm and controlled, that came th

ssing a tissue to my cut lip, looking at the wood grain

g with fire" He knocked

yed s

shouted. "This is my family and

is footsteps went back d

as just happened. I recalled the email I had sent to the NGO. I considered the two months that Dr. Whi

. No more sleep

medical records, and the little cash I had in my pocket. I didn't have a plan other than

ar as the botto

's guards came into my way. I wanted to ge

et go of me.Let go of me," I s

light of stairs into the basement where they left me alon

came down to meet me. I held my breath

ained tranquil

vingl

chair close to

on't want to sit a

posited a little bag on the table next to me an

ned it. In there were rows of medicine bott

reat

ed to have thi

I did, slowly, not looking up at him, m

you were a child, you knew that your condition could take your life be

g I don't know."

n't make it much further," he said. "I want you alive, Neriah

ll about. You suddenly care about

ll pay for your treatment - everything, anyth

sure in comparison to what he was giving me, something he was guaranteeing me, immediate

e to live, so you can con

live, Darius corrected. "Time spe

d upstairs. But the two months Dr. Whitfield had given me resonated in my mind, and under the anger was s

tly. "I have your treatment secured, you marry Cassian i

hands gripping the strap

gaze to mine as he

u help me