14. Xavier

Chapter 14

Xavier

A s the last rays of sunlight faded, I felt the familiar shift from stone to flesh. But something was off. An unsettling feeling churned in my gut, one I couldn't quite place.

"About time you woke up," a dry voice said from behind me.

I turned to see Rook stretched out in a chair that he kept here for those times when he visited me near the edge of the roof. His presence at this hour was unusual, and I sensed immediately that something was wrong.

"What is it?" I asked, stretching out my stiff limbs.

He fixed me with a serious stare. "Why didn't you tell me that you and Amber already slept together?"

I paused for a moment, then continued my gentle exercise to regain my motion, but it seemed harder tonight, the stone not leaving my muscles willingly. "I wasn't aware that you were keeping track of my sex life. I don't ask you about yours."

He pushed up from the chair and came to stand by the edge of the roof, peering down at the street below. "That's not the point and you know it. Amber might be your mate. The risks are too high for you to be moving this fast."

I slowly straightened, feeling my body resisting the movement, as if it wanted to remain a statue longer. "Weren't you the one who encouraged me to pursue her, to form a bond with her? Why the sudden change of heart?"

He faced me, his expression troubled. "I'm worried you're moving too fast. She might not be ready for this, Xavier."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, shaking loose some stray gray bits of stone and ignoring the sense of unease that was growing. "It's too late for that."

His gaze sharpened on the dust that scattered from my hands. "Are you positive? Has the bond formed?"

"We've made love," I admitted. "The bond has formed, even if it's not complete. My fate is in her hands now."

Rook cursed under his breath. "You have to tell her the truth. About what it means for you if she rejects the bond. She asked us about it, but we avoided it."

I shook my head vehemently. "No. I won't trap her here, condemn her to a life of misery unless she chooses it willingly. I refuse to watch another woman waste away and become bitter, like my mother did after the curse locked us away."

"You're making a mistake," Rook argued. "Maybe she'll surprise you. Amber's stronger than you give her credit for."

"I'm not taking her choice away from her. And I forbid you or Jenny from getting involved," I said firmly. "End of discussion."

Rook opened his mouth to argue further, but something caught his eye. I followed his gaze to the town's entrance, where a car I didn't recognize was slowly rolling in. Another new presence in Beastly Falls? Unlike the others, this didn't feel like a positive addition to the town, but something, or someone, more ominous.

My mouth went dry and my heart pounded in my throat. Something about that car, about its presence here, felt wrong. Very wrong.

"You don't think…," Rook said slowly.

I didn't let him finish the thought. My mind was already racing, filled with possibilities, none of them good.

"We need to find Amber," I said, my voice tight with urgency. "Now."

As we made our way down from the roof, that feeling of disquiet grew stronger. Whatever was coming, I had a sinking feeling it was about to change everything. And not for the better.

I rushed to the library, Rook's words echoing in my mind. He was right; I needed to tell Amber the truth. But first, I needed to make sure she was safe. As I pushed open the heavy doors, the sight before me made my heart sink.

Amber sat at the circulation desk. One of the local werewolves, Nigel Rovell, leaning on the desk, flirting outrageously. He had been looking for his mate as long as the rest of us, but he had always respected the bonds that formed, not bothering Jenny or any of the other newcomers to town once a bond had begun. With the werewolf's sense of smell, he had to know Amber was mine. Yet, here he was, clearly making a move on my mate, in my territory, his hand touching hers.

And Amber was laughing at something he said.

Rage clouded my brain, and a red haze filled my vision.

"Xavier, I think you should back off. Right now."

Rook's worried voice came as if from a great distance, but I ignored him. This male dared to move in on my mate, dared to touch her in front of me. He had to die. Slowly, painfully. And I had to claim Amber. Immediately.

I heard a rumble and realized it came from my chest. Rook muttered something that sounded like, "Oh shit."

I stalked to the desk, and Amber looked up, a bright smile that faded to alarm. Nigel straightened and froze, as if scenting a higher predator advancing on him.

"Whoa, Xavier. I was only talking to her. She was recommending a book for me to read."

"In all my years of guarding the library, you have never once come in here. Why now? You dare steal my mate? In front of me?" I turned to Amber. "You prefer him over me?"

Amber's eyes were wide, her face pale. "I was showing him books on how to repel garden gnomes. They're stealing his vegetables."

I scoffed. "He's a werewolf. He only eats meat."

Nigel frowned. "That's not true. We eat all kinds of food, just like you."

I whirled on him and he took a couple of steps backwards, his hands up in surrender. "Sorry, Xavier. I'll come back and talk with Anya or Evelyn. Sorry!"

He scurried out of the library, never turning his back on me. When the door slammed shut behind him, I turned back to Amber. She no longer looked terrified. Now she looked pissed. The rest of the patrons were staring at us.

Rook stepped up and took my arm. "I think you should step away, give yourselves some time and space."

"What the hell was that about, Xavier?"

As soon as Amber spoke, I knew I had screwed up. The fog of anger had lifted and, when I looked at Amber, I realized she was furious with me. Her face was pale, with two red spots on her cheeks. Tears filled her eyes and her lower lips quivered.

"I'm sorry, Amber. I don't know what came over me." I took a tentative step forward, but she held up a hand and stepped back.

"It was the mate bond. It makes you a little crazy," Rook offered helpfully.

I shot him a look. "Thanks, but I have this."

Amber folded her arms in front of her. "Do you? Because what I saw was a crazy possessive asshole trying to control my life. Do you really trust me so little? I just got away from someone like that. I told you I didn't want someone else like that. I thought you were different, Xavier."

I dropped my hands, and my shoulders slumped. I was losing her. I had fucked up and drove her away. "I don't know what happened. I thought he was harassing you."

She shook her head. "No, you thought we were flirting. You never even asked me what was going on. And when I explained, you ignored me. Do you know how that made me feel?"

When her gaze met mine, the anguish and betrayal in her eyes confirmed my fears. I had lost her and my chance for a mate.

"Amber," I began, my voice barely above a whisper.

The fury that flashed across her face was like a physical blow. "I told you that I had just gotten out of a terrible relationship," she said, her voice rising. "I should have known better. This isn't going to work, Xavier. I have to go."

Her words cut deep, but I couldn't bring myself to fight. She was right. I was no better than that dishonorable male from her past. She was better off without me. I felt myself shutting down, retreating behind walls built over centuries of loneliness. I couldn't even tell her the life, or non-life, she was condemning me to. I loved her too much to trap her here.

"I understand," I said, my voice hollow. "Go. Be free, with my blessing."

Without waiting for her response, I turned and left the library. Each step away from her felt like agony, but I forced myself to keep moving. I had promised myself I wouldn't trap her, wouldn't force her into a life she didn't choose.

Even if it meant condemning myself to an eternity of stone.

As the library doors closed behind me, I wondered if I had just made the biggest mistake of my very long life.