XAVIER IS DYING

Xavier is Dying: 23

Xanders POV

The king passed at 4:02am the next morning.

A numb, dull feeling had penetrated my body ever since the words of his passing left the doctors mouth.

I'd failed him as a son. My own father. I'd not even exchanged more than a paragraph with him.

I was disgusted with myself knowing his DNA was flowing through my veins at this very moment and he couldn't even say he knew his son well.

I had never felt more alone. My past was a lie. The present was tortured and my future held nothing but more chaos. How can I become ruler when I wasn't even sure who I was.

I needed Aries so much but he hadn't even bothered to call after the news was told to the kingdom.  In fact, Aries hadn't made any contact what so ever since I left.

Maybe he realised I wasn't what he wanted or needed in a mate all over again. This exact reason is why I couldn't reach out myself. I was terrified he'd reject me all over again. If he did, I wouldn't survive this time.

I'm not a fit king.

My coronation was tonight, the very same day my father passed.

I understood without a king, the kingdom would not stand for long and with grieving her mate, my mother was not a stable temporary ruler. It just hurt knowing everyone moves on so quick, as if you never meant anything.

I was currently sat on the edge of my bed, my hands clenched within my hair, staring down at my shaking feet trying to calm my growing heart rate. It'd been years since I'd had a panic attack. Now was not the time.

Come on, Xavier.

My whole body froze suddenly.

My name was no longer Xavier.

Staring up at the large mirror in front of me, adorned with gold rims, I caught sight of the tear tracks flowing from my golden eyes. The messiness of my hair reflecting my mind. The ruffled clothes I'd passed out in. My chest moving so quickly as I quickly lost control of my breathing.

The split slowed second in time came crushing onto my shoulders along with every other burden in my life sending me into a fit of range.

Unable to bare staring at my own reflection anymore, I got up, storming over to the reflection in the mirror. My face now an inch away from my reflection, I froze at the sight of the golden eyes, now completely surrounded in red from crying.

The pain in my eyes should have shattered the mirror alone.

But it didn't. So I did. I let my fist go slamming into the mirror with all my might, letting shards of glass fly all around me.

Along with the shattered mirror, my body went crashing to the floor in utter exhaustion. Emptiness was the only thing I felt in that moment. I wasn't sure what I was doing or staring at anymore, I just felt empty.

Nothing registered around me. Not when my mother came skidding in gasping, or when my butler followed her to take her out of the room. Not even when Aries tumbled into the room, jumping over the glass and wrapping me in a hug.

I wasn't sure what anyone was saying either.

The only thing I felt other than emptiness was the tingles flowing through my hand as Aries brushed his own fingers along the cuts.

I couldn't bare to look at him.

He'd leave me again if he saw how broken I was.

So, we sat like that for a while, me in Aries' arms and him cradling me.

"How will I be king?" I finally mustered out in a raspy voice, still staring into the distance.

"Because you are amazing, Xander. And I will be there with you through every step." Aries replied, kissing the crown of my head.

"I'm sorry I left without telling you." I whispered.

"I understand why, It's okay." Was all he said, not letting me go once.

"Mark me back." I whispered eventually, before falling into a deep sleep.