The Barter Novel Sierra and Xavier

---- T understand your reluctance earlier.

I am sorry for all that happened, but hearing why you did it..my respect for you has only increased multifold.

No" Alexia started, her protest faltering as Adrian raised a hand Let me finish, child.

Please.

She nodded, her brows knitting in confusion as Adrian's gaze turned inward, the pain of past memories flickering in his eyes.

The world we're living in? Kindness and loyalty are luxuries.

People live with the constant fear of dying, the stakes too high to allow anything else.

And this...

this isnt the first time its happened.

Alexias breath hitched.

His words hung in the air like a foreboding storm cloud.

What do you mean by that? Adrian sighed deeply, standing to pace toward the window.

His silhouette was cast in golden light as the aflernoon sun filtered through the stained glass.

Twenty-eight years ago, when my daughter Zariyan ---- Chapter 492 was just born, my wifeQueen Sierraand I faced a similar threat.

The man behind it...

His voice hardened.

...was no one but my stepfather, Gerald.

He's long harbored a twisted dream of creating a superior racecombining werewolves and Crets into something unnatural.

He began his work decades ago, manipulating bloodlines, experimenting with serums.

Alexia stiffened, her nails digging into her palms.

My brother, Xavier...he sacrificed himself to save us back then.

Adrian's voice cracked, a rare vulnerability breaking through his regal demeanor.

We fought hard, killed many of Gerald's creations, but the bastard escaped.

The world thought it was over.

Peace returned to the Land of Light, but it was an illusion.

Gerald merely went into hiding, biding his time to strike againthis time, with a vengeance.

Alexias throat tightened as she listened.

She hadnt expected the weight of history to settle so heavily on her shoulders.

Adrian turned back to her, his face shadowed with grief and determination.

---- As a king, I couldn't afford to let my people's safety hang by a thread.

I began preparations in secret, assembling a team to find a solution.

Using a sample collected from my brother's corpse, we sought to develop an antidote.

lor years, we searchedherbs, books, ancient technologybut nothing worked.

Alexias heart raced.

Then one day, a witch appeared.noveldrama

She claimed to have the answer, but it came with a cost.

What cost? Alexia whispered, her voice trembling and thats when Adrian looked up at her.

She said the antidote was missing a special ingredientsomething no plant or science could replicate.

The blood of a sacrifice.

Alexia frowned, her confusion deepening.

T dont understand.

The witch had a vision, Adrian continued, his tone solemn ---- She spoke of a prophecy, a living key to reversing this plague.

The Moon Goddess, she claimed, had blessed the world with a saviorsomeone immune to the disease, whose blood held the power to undo Gerald's work.

A child born of destiny.