Celestial Growing pains.

Chapter 13: Peep show.

It seemed as though hours past before Zio slipped through the door. Panic written all over her face. She rushed to my side and I stood to meet her.

"How are you feeling? I am so sorry for assuming your pain was nerves. I just had no way of knowing this would happen. Especially to you. It is so far for this to happen the thought never crossed my mind."

How was I feeling?!?

Ashamed and something else I didn't care to admit even to myself. So I lied.

"I am uncomfortable and worn out."

Even tough Zio was one of my only two friends here I was not about to inform her that I wanted to find their king and molest him. I had to have some dignity after what they witnessed.

What had they witnessed? What the heck was going on?!?

"Zio what happened? What are you saying?"

I knew right away when Zio sat me back down on the couch it wouldn't be pretty. She looked as though she was about to give me "The Talk." The birds and the bees kind. She was a little late for that.

"What happened between you and the king has not happened in nearly five thousand years. It's called the Bond. Something so sacred bonding two beings together that can never be undone. Only when two are matched perfectly in every way does this occur. The two predestined to find one another. Something beautiful, pain and sensual."

She was right about the sensual part. I inwardly told my last bits to simmer down.

"But the king is Zexri and you are human. An impossibility. His kind only mate with other Zexri. Their bloodlines are so pure they can trace them back to the first Zexri couple.  They are dark creatures known for their cruel behavior and fierce wars."

Her eyes held pity for me which I did not understand. Only one though mattered right now. All others could wait.

Grandfather.

"Is... is Grandfather disappointed in me?"  I asked.

I had been afraid to ask but I had to know. Zio looked surprised at the turn of conversation.

"No, no Channery. He is not disappointed in you. If anything he is afraid for you. He was proud of your speech but he worries what the king has in store for you. He will not leave here without you. Whether you agree or not."

Why does that make the tingles worse! Dang it! Be afraid!!

But I wasn't.

"Come let's get you to the washroom and get you out of that dress. A cold bath will help. What your body needs now is rest. The rest can be explained later."

The beautiful dress I wore once pressed to perfection was wrinkled by my time frozen to my spot in the chair. Waiting for any word as to of what was happening. My nails were a mess as well. Nail bitting is horrible habit.

Like a lost puppy I followed her to the master bath stopping to stare at myself in the massive mirror. My make up was smudged, my hair out of their holds and all of the color had been drained from my face. Yet that was not what caught my eye. Across my color bone on the left side were black designs running down my arm twisting around my wrist. Zio has filled the large pool in the heated stone floor. The dress I loved so much was removed from my body. As the hem of the gown hit the floor Zio gasped in surprise. Immediately Zio turned her back on me.

"What's wrong Zio?"

I asked startled by her outburst.

"It's your markings. They are still growing. By now I would of assumed they had stopped. No one but your mate is supposed to look on your marks before they are finished. If the king smells another being scent close to your body before he sees them I highly doubt he will be able to control his beast."