Chapter 15

*Nearly two weeks later*

From her place on her bed where she was studying, Nikki glanced sideways at Kristine who was happily humming one of her favorite tunes to herself while she put away her clean clothes. It had been almost two weeks since Zachary had told Kristine the truth. Nikki and Xavier had helped and Kristine had finally come to understand what a Wahani was and what they were capable of.

They all had showed her the portal to get to their world and Xavier and Zachary had done their best to describe the world to her. Zachary had also told Kristine what his job was like and all the responsibilities it entailed. She had asked questions and the boys had answered them as best they could.

Even though Kristine had listened to everything and had said she knew Zachary and Xavier were not any different from the boys she'd known before, she still couldn't bring herself to be alone with Zachary. After that day, Zachary had made it a point to come every day to walk her home. He didn't always stay, but he was there, just so Kristine could get used to him all over again.

After the boys had left that first night, Kristine and Nikki had talked in their room. Kristine confessed that she was still afraid of Zachary and asked Nikki to stay with her when he came because she wasn't ready to be alone with him.

Nikki had agreed, knowing that Kristine needed to get over her fears. When the boys came the next day, Nikki had spoken to Xavier by mind speech and let him know what she and Kristine had talked about the night before. Xavier told her that at least with Zachary and Kristine in the room, Xavier would be able to keep himself in check. Nikki knew without a doubt that Xavier was grateful for the interference, his true nature was getting harder and harder to control.

So the four of them would walk home from school together and sit on the stacks in the barn to talk if Zachary stayed. When the weekend came, Kristine and Nikki met Xavier and Zachary every day for an hour or so in the barn. It was actually a pleasant time they had. Nikki was getting to know Xavier's best friend better and she saw how much Zachary really cared for Kristine.

Then the week had started again and Kristine had finally spent a few moments alone with Zachary the day before. It was just a few moments, so Nikki hadn't thought a lot about it. Today however, as soon as the four of them had arrived at the barn, Kristine had disappeared with Zachary up the ladder.

It was the first time she and Xavier had been alone in almost two weeks and she could tell Xavier didn't know what to do with himself. They had sat on the haystacks and Xavier had kept his distance. Their conversation had been scarce and Nikki had immediately known something was bothering Xavier. He didn't say anything, so she thought maybe he really was having a hard time keeping himself in control.

Still, when Kristine and Zachary had emerged from the loft wearing smiles and giggling, Nikki had felt a stab of jealousy. Zachary had kissed Kristine good bye as she watched him enter the portal and Xavier had said good bye to Nikki. He had kissed her, but it was short and chaste. None of the passion she had grown used to had been there.

Now she sat on her bed attempting to do her homework while Kristine flitted around the room like a teenager in love. Nikki sighed and closed her book, "So, I guess you aren't afraid of Zach anymore?" she asked.

Kristine chuckled, "Um no. Zach is still Zach."

At Kristine's sigh, Nikki rolled her eyes. "That's what I've been trying to tell you for weeks Kris."

Kristine finished tucking her clothes into her drawer and went to sit next to Nikki. "I know chica. I'm sorry that you and Xavier didn't have time to yourselves, I know you missed that, but I just needed to get over my fears. I know they were stupid and unfounded, but I just..."

"It's okay. I understand and I'm not mad. At least I got to know Zach a little more too." She graced Kristine with a smile, "And I got to see how he acts around you. You have no idea how much he cares about you. It's in everything he does. His looks, his voice, everything."

Kristine laughed, "Yeah, like it's in everything that Xavier does when he's around you."

Nikki simply nodded.

Kristine looked at Nikki, "Well, don't worry, from now on, you can have all the time alone with Xavier that you want. I don't have a problem staying with Zach, and if I do, I'll just tell him and he'll understand. No worries, chica."

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Xavier walked quietly next to Zachary, his mind churning with the conversations he'd had over the last week with his family. As he and Zachary made their way through the streets towards the manufactory building, he kept replaying the things he and his father had talked about. He had been waiting for the chance to tell his father that he had found his future bride, but his father had always been busy.

For the next ten days since he'd told his mother, he had been chasing his father down and asking for a few moments of his time. His father had always had some excuse and was rushing off somewhere else. After a couple of days, Xavier had finally asked his mother to talk to him and let him know that Xavier had something important to talk to him about. Devnet had tried, but Marcus wasn't listening. Still, Xavier had finally caught up with Marcus and told him the news.

Xavier waited until the entire meeting room had emptied out before closing the door and turning to face his father who was busy shuffling through the papers on the table in front of him. Clearing his throat, Xavier waited for his father to acknowledge him.

Marcus looked up from his papers to see his son watching him, "What is it?" he asked.

"There's something I've been wanting to talk to you about for the past couple of weeks, sir."

"Is there? Well, let's hear it."

"I have chosen my bride to be."

Marcus raised an eyebrow, "Oh you have, have you? Well, I suppose that's a good thing then. So, which one is she?"

"You haven't met her yet."

"Well then, I'm assuming your mother has?" He frowned as a thought occurred to him, "It's not one of the ladies that works with your mother is it?"

"No father, it's not."

"Good, it won't do to take one of those for a wife when you have plenty of eligible noble women to chose from."

"Father, she's not a noblewoman."

Marcus' eyes narrowed, "She had better not be a peasant, Xavier. You know better!"

"She's not from around here, father."

Marcus stiffened, "Oh hell no! You did not go and find a human! You didn't!"

Xavier swallowed as he stared into his father's eyes, "And what if I did?"

Xavier hadn't heard his father use that particular string of curses in years. Marcus had been furious and had decreed that there was no way he would allow that marriage to take place. Xavier had tried to get his father to understand that Nikki was his soul mate, but Marcus had still refused. Then Marcus had given him a list of eligible noble women in the surrounding areas for Xavier to choose from. The argument had only gotten worse from there until Devnet had interrupted and asked Xavier to give her time alone with his father.

Nothing had worked. Over the next few days, Marcus had made it clear that Xavier could not marry Nikki and he had to choose from one of the women on the list. As the days had passed, Marcus said if Xavier didn't choose, he'd make the choice for him. In less than three weeks, Xavier would be marrying a woman whom Marcus approved of. No matter what Xavier or Devnet had told him, Marcus wasn't changing his mind.

Xavier had yelled at his father, telling him that he couldn't make Xavier take anyone other than Nikki since she was his ulhi'maos. Marcus didn't believe that was true, but Xavier and even Devnet said it was. Devnet implored him not to mess with something sacred as an ulhi'maos bond, but Marcus still said Xavier was lying since it was a human he wanted and humans weren't capable of bonding with Wahani.

To make matters worse, he had finally had some time alone with Nikki the day before. All this time, Kristine hadn't wanted to be alone with Zachary yet and Xavier had welcomed that interruption. He knew what he was like with Nikki so close to him and the fact that his father was trying to deny him the only thing that would keep him sane, was seriously beginning to chip away at Xavier's control.

Then, yesterday Kristine had gone up to the loft with Zachary and left him alone with Nikki. It had been one of the worst days of his life. He'd spent most of it trying to keep himself in check, fighting the wildness within.

He'd wanted nothing more than to reach out and wrap his arms around Nikki, but he knew what would happen if he did. He could hear her talking to him, trying to have a normal conversation. He'd tried to participate, but he had been so busy trying to keep himself from taking her right there and claiming what was his. He couldn't even come out and tell her what his father had been putting him through. Xavier knew he had finally reached his limit and wondered if either of them would make it to the wedding day in one piece.

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"Hey man? You all right? You've been seriously quiet the whole way here." Zachary stated.

Xavier blinked to clear his mind and looked at Zachary, "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I was just thinking about my father."

Zachary frowned, "You still haven't told Nikki huh?" At Xavier's negative reply, Zachary added, "What are you going to do?"

Xavier sighed, "I'm going to tell her what is going on. And she's still coming with me when she's ready. I will marry her Zach, you know I have no other choice and I don't want any other. Even if my father disowns me, I won't give up Nikki. I can't."

"It's getting worse isn't it?"

"Yeah, I can't be alone with her anymore without changing. And it doesn't help that my father is dead set against this."

"Man, sucks to be you."

Xavier growled, "I will have her. No one can take that from me, no one." He took a few deep breaths to calm himself until he could feel the wildness receding again. "Sorry. Um, my mother said to bring Nikki when she's ready and she'd make sure my father can't stop us from marrying. She thinks my father will understand better if he sees Nikki and I together."

Zachary nodded, "Yeah, I think that may be just the thing your father needs to change his mind."

Xavier nodded and stiffened as he felt the wildness rising again as soon as he caught a whiff of Nikki's scent. Turning his head, he watched as both she and Kristine walked towards the two of them. Well, Nikki was walking, Kristine was running and launching herself into Zachary's arms as if there had never been a time when she'd been afraid of him.

Nikki studied Xavier as she made her way towards him. He stood there watching her, but the tenseness of his jaw told her something was wrong. When she made it to his side, she gave him a smile and fell into step besides him as they followed Zachary and Kristine out of the school grounds and towards the barn.

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Nikki sat quietly watching Xavier who was leaning back against the wall, his eyes closed. She frowned, "Xavier?"

At her soft whisper, he flinched but said nothing.

"Xavier, please, tell me what's wrong."

He swallowed and felt the tremor move through his body. Gritting his teeth, he tried to get himself under control. She was too close. He could smell her, hear her heartbeat. And her voice sent tremors through him as the beast tried to respond to her call.

Nikki didn't know what to do and she wondered if he could even hear her anymore. She reached out and touched his arm. His eyes flew open and with a hiss he jumped to his feet. Nikki looked up into red eyes and gasped.

As she heard the low growl, she spoke to his mind, Xavier? What is wrong? Talk to me.


You know better than to touch me when I'm in this state, came the husky reply.

I didn't think you'd heard me. Tell me what's wrong.

He closed his eyes before replying, My father doesn't approve of us.


Oh. Nikki looked at him for a moment before looking down at the floor. Well, she'd known that life wasn't perfect, so she should have known that eventually someone wouldn't approve of them.

Xavier opened his eyes and looked at Nikki. He saw the sad look on her face and knew she had already resigned herself to her fate. He growled, "That doesn't mean that I'm gonna marry someone else that my father shoves at me."

Nikki sighed, "He's the king, Xavier. You have to do what he says."

He shook his head, "No! I will not. You will be my Queen! You will. There can't be any other, Nikki." He sighed, "Mother said to take you with me when you're ready, hopefully when father sees us together, he'll understand that there's nothing he can do about separating us and he'll allow me to marry you."

When Nikki didn't respond, Xavier sat next to her and took her hand in his, "Tell me you'll come with me, Nikki. Tell me I won't lose my mind."

She looked up at him and saw the way his eyes were white. She lifted her free hand to brush it across his brow, "What happens to you if we don't bond?"

Xavier stiffened, "We are bonded, Nikki."

She nodded, "I meant, what happens if we don't get married, if we don't consummate? What happens to you?"

His eyes flashed to red, "You already said yes. We can't go back."

Nikki sighed, "Xavier, just answer the question."

He stared at her, then looked away. "If you think it's bad now, the way I'm having trouble controlling myself around you. Imagine what it will be like if I don't have you at all." He turned to look at her again, his eyes a dull red, "I would lose my soul, Nikki. I'd turn into the nightmare Kris first thought we were."

Nikki frowned, "I think you are stronger than that, you've managed to control it so far."

He growled, "Because I know you are mine. I know that in the end you and I will be together. But if I lose you, then I'm lost too."

"Lost how?"

"I become the beast within."

Nikki blinked, "Are you saying you will turn into..."

"My other self, yes." He finished, then added, "But what's different is that there won't be the human side anymore. I'll be completely an animal, ruled by those instincts alone. No human thoughts, no human feelings. I'll be nothing more than a beast, the human in me will cease to exist."

Nikki stared at him as she let that sink in. One look at his ever changing eye color and she knew he wasn't kidding. The words, You are my sanity, Nikki, my human soul, whispered in her mind. She understood what he meant as tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"I'll talk to Kris tonight. I'll let her know that I will be leaving with you at the end of the week."

Xavier let out the breath he'd been holding and nodded, placing his forehead against Nikki's he closed his eyes, "Idi agalo esu, Nikki."

"I love you too, Xavier, vergita."

He smiled, "Vergita."

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Nikki waited until Kristine was relaxing in her bed, staring up at the ceiling with a smile on her face that night. Sitting up in her own bed with a sigh, she knew it was finally time to tell Kristine her news.

"Hey, can I talk to you Kris?" she asked.

Kristine turned her head and grinned, "What's up chica?"

Nikki gave her a small smile, "It's about Xavier and I. There's something you should know."

Kristine sat up in her bed and turned to face Nikki, tucking her legs under her. She giggled, "Let me guess, you and he want to...you know?"

Nikki blushed, "It's not about that. Well, not exactly."

"Huh? Okay, spill chica!"

Nikki took a deep breath and looked into her best friend's eyes, willing her to accept this. Finally she spoke, "Xavier asked me to marry him. And I said yes."

Nikki's declaration was met with deafening silence and a shocked look.

Translations
ulhi'maos - soul mate
idi agalo esu - I love you
vergita - forever