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“No, I want to be here for Sloan” Xan shook his head He wouldn’t leave her side “I don’t want to go into a unit in case she wakes up”

“A handheld, at least” His mother tried to reason with him Xan nodded One of the medics approached with a handheld unit and pain medication injector She attempted to press it to his neck, but he pushed it away He didn’t want anything to nu in thathis soul mate, his D’Auriel, he would live with it for the rest of his life

Looking to his mother, who Xan saw nod, the medic worked on his chest The medic was crouched in front of Xan as she worked to repair the daon She ran the handheld unit over his wound, and Xan grih the blaster wound as the handheld unit worked to repair the dae Yaris reached out and handed hily

“For your eyes, Xan,” she said through tears Xan touched his face and felt wetness cascading from his eyes He had been so worried about Sloan, he hadn’t even realized he was crying He wiped away the tears and prayed that the medics would be able to heal her in time Xan couldn’t lose her now

“Sloan is a tenacious woman, Xan She will live” His mother held Xan’s hand Xan peered at her, his eyes bloodshot and drooping

“I would have thought you would be relieved, Mother Her death would ensure there would be no more disruptions to my life and no obstacles to the life you’ve envisioned for me”

“Xan, I knoe had differences of opinion when it calare “I am sorry I’m sorry for all of it It’s my fault she left in the first place”

Xan dropped his gaze at that “No, Mother It’s my fault I didn’t prove to her how h to show her that I would do anything for her”

“Xandru, please look athis hand “I made her an offer, son” That drew Xan’s attention

“What kind of offer?” Xan whispered

“I offered her five ain” She wept as she said it He could feel her body tre

“You what?” Xan shouted, then dropped her hand and ju over theon hilare at his mother

“It was before our conversation in the throne roo you showedher lip

“You offered the woman I love—the woman I live and breathe for—five million credits to leave me?”

“Xan, please understand I was only trying to protect you I’m not proud of it Especially after what you showed me and what I learned about her I wish I could take it back, but I thought if she illing to take the credits, perhaps she didn’t love you as much as you loved her”