The Soulmate Mark

C H A P T E R 13

It was the day of the ball.Everything was done.People were arriving.The king and queen greeted everyone as they entered.Xander hated interacting with these people, but he had no choice.He was standing at the main staircase.Once in a while he would smile at the people when they went by.His sister was able to not go if she wanted so he didn't have her to entertain him.As much as they are opposites they get along at the balls and they bond over hating them until they argue over who is smarter or over a nonsense topic.People were starting to dance and the queen tried to nudge Xander to go dance but he wouldn't budge.He was tempted to leave until he saw the most beautiful sight he has ever saw.It was Athena of course.His eyes lit up when he saw her.She looked completely different.Her once blonde hair was now black and in a bun.Her dress was black something she would never wear.It was both beautiful and elegant at the same time.It fit her so well.When she came down the stairs Xander could not help but look at her and smile.Everyone was in awe of her beauty.When she reached the bottom of the steps Xander grabbed her hand.Her cape sleeves were removed after Xander asked her to dance.As they went closer to the middle of the ballroom she could feel all the stares of everyone.They danced for what seemed like felt like forever but it was only a song and a half.In the middle of the second song her lifted her up and then put her down gently.One piece of her hair came loose and he tucked it behind her ear.With his hand on her jaw and he lightly caressed it.Before anything else happened he said "Thena,you really are perfect" before leaning in to kiss her.She felt everyone staring.Her breathing was getting heavy.Before he could kiss her she stepped away looking at him and then proceeded to run. "Thena...Athena wait!" He started running after her.

He stopped running when she saw her running down some stairs by the walk way by the outside garden. "Athena...please..." She stopped in her tracks.She turned around with tears in her eyes.Her hair was a mess and it was down. "You don't understand.My whole life I was expected to be the perfect daughter.I had my whole life planned out.But none of this was.Those people... I don't know the pressure to be perfect for them got to me". He went down and started to wipe her tears away.He knew what it was like to be pressured to be perfect.Once again he put a strand behind her ear and said, "I know you really don't want to hear this but you are perfect". This time Athena didn't want to fight anymore with herself.This time she leaned in.And of course they kissed.Fireworks went off.It was perfect and what each other thought it would be.All the frustration the two had was gone.Just like that in that moment.