Chapter 90: Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Xavier's Pov

"I don't need anything else in the world but you," she said seductively.

Her scent was very appealing, as was her body, and any male could easily turn on her with one gesture.

"I was afraid you'd leave me behind; I was afraid that I'd never see you again, but you came back for me. I know you love me but are afraid to accept me." Marina is approaching my face.

"Things have already changed; accept the reality," I said as I turned away and took a few steps back, but she pulled me closer to her.

"What makes her so unique? She is half-human, not pure blood. How could you fall in love with her when humans are your enemies?" Marina inquired as she moved closer to my face once more.

"Just like you beg for love from the man who just killed your brother," I said as she approached my lips to kiss me, eagerly awaiting my response.

"Have you forgotten that I burned him alive in front of you?" I focused my attention on her.

She became thoughtful and abruptly stopped moving her hand across my torso. I moved closer to her ear. "Come to me when you can only be mine."

I leaned back and was about to walk away when she took my hand in hers and fixed her gaze silently. I pushed her body away from me gently.

Marina wasn't even upset that I killed her brother; she was flirting with me. Such a dangerous woman. I suspected she had a bigger plan to visit my land unless she hated me for killing her brother, which is why I couldn't leave her behind.

I kept my friend close, but my adversary even closer. As a result, I could smell retaliation. I was aware of the snake that wanted to inject its venom into me, but the power I had prevented her from doing something harmful.

My steps came to a halt outside the dark cell where Vera was imprisoned. I couldn't see anything in the dark, just as I couldn't see any hope of protecting my brother in my life.

I had no hope, no help, only the false hope of protecting Levine when saving him was impossible. When I arrived here, panicking, I took a few steps away from the dark cell to leave.

"Poor little boy!" Vera's voice reached out to me.

I shifted my gaze back to the dark cell, where a face appeared in the light of the lantern hanging outside the cell as she approached the bars.

"It's difficult to watch your loved one die right in front of your eyes," Vera said calmly.

"You wouldn't know because you don't have any family," I teased her in return.

"But she knows more than any of us," Vera said, her full white eyes fixed on me.

I gave her my full attention.

"She lost both of her parents, and Hina felt the same way when Ray murdered her parents in front of her; she was helpless to watch and remained silent to keep herself alive."

I noticed the iron was burning as Vera held the bars and heated them but did not break them.

"Aren't you relieved to be alive? When they wanted to get rid of you, they said you were an evil witch," and I made fun of her.

"It's not about me, but Hina, the poor girl, the one who murdered her parents and claimed her as his bride. Isn't it unfair that she would spend her entire life in the name of powerful law, the pronouncement of wonder made by the Oak Pack to only benefit their members while others suffered as a result of their actions?" Vera was teasing me

"Are you scared to be here? You must have been heartbroken over your loss; you would not have gotten her entire body because, when she came here, she was aware of your identity. She is stronger now; you would not get her as you wanted," I told her when I knew about her intentions.

"The Oak pack fight for justice, fight with evil, claim the brides they want even if the bride is another man's wife, and ruin their lives and the family just to claim the woman they ever demanded by law," Vera was staying on one topic to make me feel bad about the Oak pack traditions.

And the one that sparked such a heated debate was the law—the pronouncement of wonder. Not only was the bride the reason, but there was a deep connection to it. The true benefits of the law and its connection to the pair would never be known by an outsider.

Every tradition had a deep value, and we followed them for centuries without questioning to maintain inner peace.

Father used to say that there would be no peace if there were no rules to follow, so no matter what others said, we made sacrifices to keep the pack's tradition alive.

"Not all cases are the same; most of the women the Oak Pack claimed are happy to be here; life gave them a second chance," I explained.

"But she isn't happy; she hates being here," Vera explained.

"I don't trust you," I declared.

"Would you accept Sansa if she murdered your parents? Even the pronouncement of wonder bound you both, but would you be able to claim her and make her your bride?" Vera rendered me speechless.

Vera knew how to manipulate people's minds to distract them and get what she wanted. She was the mastermind, and she used everyone as a pawn. at the right time and in the right place. She was a master of timing.

"Isn't it the curse that he's not dying, not even living, but suffering?" Vera stated

"Shut up!" My rage echoed throughout the dungeon.

"Don't you wonder what he did to deserve that much pain?" Vera wanted me to consider things from a different angle.

"None of your business," I explained.

"Have you forgotten about our previous deal?" Vera inquired.

"When do you want to meet Elodie?" I stated that I would never forget the agreement I made with her.

"I will let you know," Vera said, smiling. "Have you not come to buy his breath?" she asks sweetly.

"Will you sell?"

"Why not?" she said

Vera's voice softened by the second as she realized I was desperate for something from her.

"What will that cost me?" I asked when I realized making a deal with her was a mistake and I was deeply in debt.

"Your bride," she explained with a grin on her face

The deal she offered me was out of my league. After that, all I could hear was the silence growing louder; my mind went blank, and I lost the words.

"Will you give up your claimed bride to save your brother?" Vera inquired calmly.

She asked me the most difficult question of my life. I was speechless; there was no comparison when they were both members of my family, whom I never wanted to lose.

My footsteps began to fade as I couldn't bring myself to give up on Sansa to save Levine.

What if abandoning Sansa would save Levine? That thought crossed my mind for a split second before being pushed out by other thoughts.

Sansa, Levine, Sansa, Levine, Sansa, Levine—those names were circling in my mind as I was helplessly walking without deciding my destination.

Couldn't I just get both? They were a part of me; it was so bad to give someone up to save someone else. I wanted both of them.

"Xavier!!! " Amara's trembling voice drew my attention and made me realize that I had emerged from the dungeon and was now in the garden outside the mansion.

She was hurrying towards me when my heart began to race; I was not prepared to hear any bad news as Levine took his last breaths.

Amara rushed over to me and exclaimed, "Xavier!"

"Is Levine—" I inquired when she abruptly cut me off in the middle of my panicked rant.

"His breathing is stable again," she said, heavily breathing.

I breathed a sigh of relief, but that wasn't the right solution; I wanted him to be normal and healthy again.

"I went to your room to take food for Lady Sansa; I think she collapsed again; she was on the floor," Amara told me, and I panicked and went insane.

I was about to sprint to Sansa when Amara grabbed my hand. "Edward assisted me in placing her on the bed; she hasn't eaten anything, I guess."

When I was afraid of losing any of them, the thought of losing Sansa and Levine was the most triggering for me. Amara was walking next to me when I started walking.

"Have you eaten anything?" Amara inquired when she was concerned

I shook my head as my hunger faded while I watched Levine and Sansa in that state. Life had always been difficult since my father's death.