XAVIER IS DYING

Xavier is Dying : 26

I feel like no apology can excuse how long I took to update but I'm very sorry. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter.

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Xanders POV

The words fell from her mouth with such emotion that I almost forgot to take another breath.

She stood, looking as mesmerising as the day she laughed with me, staring at the sky within the clearing, imagining how it'd be if we found the prince.

Bella suited her name, and it was clear why she always would.

"Xaiv don't mess with me, is it you?" Bella sobbed.

Ricky stared over at me, tall stances but soft eyed as he saw the raw emotion pour out of his mate.

"It's Xander now I guess but truly your one and only best friend." I replied, smile beaming ear to ear.

Just as if the world finally stopped spinning in slow motion, Bella came diving my direction, carelessly tripping on her dress and landing, a puddle in my arms.

"You died!" Bella wailed, mascara smudging.

"I did." I replied, guilty as if it were my fault.

"Now you're alive?" She asked, as if you confirm this wasn't all a big misunderstanding.

"In the flesh." I told her, grinning as the excitement filled her eyes.

"Well then mr King, you won't mind doing our secret hand shake." She huffed, clambering to her feet properly and fixing her dress.

"Seriously Bella? You're gonna make the king do the best friend hand shake." I groaned quietly as I realised wandering gazes kept landing our direction.

"My Xaiv would have no problem with the eternal embarrassment" Bella explained.

With a lengthy sigh and roll of the eyes, I held out my hand to which she gripped back with eagerness. Then followed the 5 step handshake ritual including a spin and a finger snap and the end. When it was over, relief flowed through me as I realised i completed it without messing it up.

"Good enough for Bella?" I asked, goofy smile as she looked like a kid on Christmas Day.

"My best friend is the god damn king!" She hollered, throwing her arms around me for a proper hug.

"I beg to differ, I think you'll find he's my best friend and side piece on the weekends." A voice chimed in as someone stood next to me.

"He most definitely is not." Aries scoffed, distaste dripping with every word.

"Zac, give it a rest." I laughed off, nudging Aries as a signal for him to lighten up.

"And who are you?" Bella wondered, sizing Zac up in an attempt to intimidate him.

Jealousy would always be that girls weak point.

"Zac. I'm a future king thank you." He sassed Bella.

"Yeah? Well Mr future king, this king is my best friend, find your own." Bella ordered Zac, hooking her arm through mine and pulling me away.

I could hear Zac scoff and complain to Aries but he wasn't getting far considering Aries wasn't the biggest fan of him himself.

"catch me up!" Bella said to me excitedly once she successfully led me into a quiet hall away from the crowd.

"Well, I explained almost everything in my speech, Bells. The only thing I need to do moving forward now is continuously training along with my duties. I never properly completed all my training because of Aries but I'm working on that. I'm scared though Bella. I wasn't ready and I had just found my dad only to lose him again." I rambled out, looking at her reaction.

"Everything will be okay. You have a lot you need to face now though. Dante, your parents, well, old parents? As well as this black magic? You have a lot on your plate, just make sure you don't overload yourself." Bella replied before embracing me in a hug.

"I know, I know. It's just difficult because even Aries and I aren't solid yet, we only just mended our bond and I'm not marked yet. Everything is overwhelming just now. Not to mention distance. He needs to be there for his pack with these rogue problems." I continued, holding her slightly tighter.

"Shh, you're worrying yourself, let's take a walk, Yeah?" Bella said, pulling back to look me in the eyes.

Nodding, we walked down the corridor, passing all the guards and lavish doors. We finally reached the enclosed gardens and took a seat on a stone bench. Silence enveloped both of us, the only sound being the distant party. Eventually, Bella got to catching me up on her life which was great.

"After hearing about all this I need a glass of wine, what about you?" I said to Bella with a sigh.

"I'll pass." She smiled, looking at the moon.

"You never pass on wine, life hasn't changed that much."  I scoffed, glancing her way.

She glanced back at me, a small smile on her face as she placed her hand on her stomach. Clicking, I shoot up, looking at her in amazement.

"No..." I gasped.

"Yes Uncle Xander!" She replied, pure delight in her voice.

All sadness from our conversations left as I engrossed her in a heartwarming hug. Questions littered my brain causing me to pull her back and stare at her.

"Who knows?" I quizzed.

"You?"

"Not even Ricky?" I asked her, shocked.

"I only found out recently and I was going to wait till after your coronation since thats all the pack has been focused on but after finding out you're Xaiv and you were the main person I wanted to tell when I found out but I thought I couldn't, It just felt right." She rambled, nearly causing me to cry.

"I'm not going anywhere, you're welcome at the castle anytime." I gleamed at her.

"Good, because I'll be here all the time." She laughed.

"Well, miss Bella, I think we should head back to the party on this high note." I said, standing and offering her my hand.

"Lets face the music Xander, quite literally." Belled giggled, taking my hand.