Sky's Prophecy Twins

Five

(Xavier’s POV)

As I picked up our orders from the barista, I thanked her before heading to Xeraphina.

“One triple espresso vanilla latte with a frothy layer of silky foam, just how you like it.” I said before setting her coffee in front of her. I sipped on mine as I stared at my sister. She was silent, like always. She only talked when she felt it was needed. Which wasn’t a lot. I loved hearing her voice, it soothed my wolf and me.

‘Does she seem distracted to you? Maybe it is not the right time for this party.’ Archer said in thought. I couldn’t agree more with him, but he knew as well as I did, mother would never postpone her parties. She seemed to thrive for them. Like they were her legacy or something. Every chance father allowed, mother would jump and take it.

Ah. I am getting ahead of myself here. Archer is my wolf, my counterpart, the other half of me. We bonded as soon as I received him, we were in complete sync with each other. The only thing he keeps stressing about is meeting Xeraphina’s wolf and our mate of course. I was excited but also concerned to meet our mate. I know we both would love her unconditionally, but I also don’t think either of us could stand it if Xeraphina disapproved of her. Our sister is important to us, more so than a mate. That is my constant fear. Would Xeraphina reject our fated mate or would she accept her with open arms? Archer gurgled out a chuckle at my thoughts and he was honestly right. A nod or slight flash of emotion would mean Xeraphina accepted her, but she would never welcome her with open arms. I doubt she would do that for her own mate.

“Hey Xavier, what are you doing Hunny?” Ariana, Uncle Mark’s youngest daughter, spoke to me, breaking me out of my thoughts. The obvious flirtation in her voice was agitating my wolf. We can’t lash out on her; she is only sixteen and obviously doesn’t understand the repercussions of waiting for your mate.

‘I want to rip her to shreds, haven’t we made it obvious we are not interested. We will not touch any she – wolf other than our mate.’ Archer growled in annoyance. His emotions were mixing with my own and I knew it was only a matter of time before I snapped. Deep breaths.

“Oh my, sorry fre... Xeraphina. I didn’t see you there.” Ariana faked innocents, though my wolf and I caught on to her almost calling my sister a freak. My temperature was rising, making me want to shift. We can’t rip her apart. We have to learn patience. Good leadership has patience's with their subjects.

‘Screw patience.’ Archer growled in anger; I could feel him trying to take control.

Xeraphina reached across the table, taking my hand in hers. She must be feeling my emotions again. When our emotions become too intense the other one of us can feel them. After a slight squeeze, that made my wolf and I relax, Xeraphina released my hand. I heard a gasp and realized what was happening a little too late. Ariana was screeching on the top of her lungs, her face beet red as boils started to form. Xeraphina had just taken her scolding hot latte and splashed it all over Ariana’s face. Mother and father were not going to be happy about this.

“You... You disgusting bimbo. How dare you? Father just bought me this outfit and my make up is ruined. I can feel the burning liquid seeping into my skin.” Ariana stuttered out in a screechy, yet horrified voice.

‘That was hilarious. Why didn’t you do that? We should have done that.’ Archer pouted in annoyance, he hated that Xeraphina always had fun, as he called it, while I tried to keep myself in control. I do not need father or mother to be mad at me, or worse, disappointed. Where it seemed my sister never cared. I honestly think mother and father were scared of her sometimes.

“Xeraphina?” I gasped in shock. “What will father and mother say about this? You have already been in trouble this week.”

While my sister was composed and emotionless, I was freaking out about the consequence her actions just caused. I was trying to figure out ways to get Xeraphina out of this mess when I realized she had just walked out of the coffee shop. I gripped my coffee in my hand, quickly got her a new latte and then ran after her. How the hell does she move so fast?

‘She’s different.’ Archer answered my unasked question, something he always says about our sister. I always ask him what he means and all I ever get is... You will see. So, no point in asking this time.

“Where are you headed? I am over here worrying about how to get you out of this problem you just caused for yourself, and you just take off, as if you did nothing.” I chastised, partly out of breath. I handed her coffee over and I heard her sigh in content. Of course, all she cared about was the coffee she lost.

“Library.” Xeraphina said curtly, that was it. No acknowledgement for the coffee, no acknowledgement of what I was just saying to her. Only one word. I should be happy that I even got a response but sometimes, I just wish she would be more open to me. I grabbed her arm, turning her towards me. She halted her steps, I knew full well that if she wanted to leave, I couldn’t actually stop her. She stared at me, those blank, cold eyes seeping straight into my soul. A shiver of discomfort ran through me, as I tried hard to hide it.

‘You failed at that.’ Archer voiced his opinion and right now all I wanted to do was shut him out. He was so hard to keep behind a wall for some reason though. Father told me how to do it but if Archer wanted out, he could get himself out. Father said that wasn’t normal and I just laughed it off, telling him I was kidding. The look of concern that crossed his features terrified me.

“Xeraphina,” I sighed, wishing to get through to her. Even just once. “You can’t solve your problems like that. We need patience and understanding. That is how good leaders are. What I need most right now is my sister to open up to me. Let me in. I am your brother, twin brother at that. You can trust me. You don’t have to hide your feelings from me. Please, just talk to me.” By the time I was done speaking I felt as if my words turned into a begging tone. I was pleading to have a normal brother and sister relationship with her.

Xeraphina stared at me, not one emotion displayed on her face. I felt her confusion through the link, and I finally understood. She didn’t have feelings like me or anyone else for that matter. How she acted was normal for her, but not for us. How we acted was absurd to her, making us seem incompatible. We were not normal in her eyes. She can’t let me in because I do not feel the way she does. Why is she like this? Why is it so hard for her emotions to be expressed the way we do? How is it possible for one twin to be like her and the other to be like me? Are we not supposed to be similar?

“I understand. Are you alright if I go to see our parents as you go to the library?” I asked sincerely. She looked at me for at least five minutes, assessing me, studying me, before she nodded her head. She was fine with going alone. I watch her take off towards the library. She stood tall and proud, even though she was only five foot nine inches. Her posture was stiff, and she walked at a faster pace than most. As soon she was out of sight, I took off back to the pack house. I needed someone to talk to and I had to get to my parents before Ariana did.

I followed father’s scent, running up the stairs to his office. I don’t know what I was thinking, as I just barged into his office without knocking. I may be his child, but I knew better. We never barge in when he is in his office, we always knock first. Xeraphina knocks no matter where it is, but I honestly think it is because she isn’t really connected to them the way a child should be.

‘Get out of your head. Do you see what you just barged in to?’ Archer scolded me, making me take in my surroundings. s**t, this is not good. What do I do? What should I say? Maybe I should just walk out of the room and act as if this never happened. Oh goddess, why was everyone staring at me?

‘Maybe because you just barged in your father’s office like a mad man and are now just standing here like a panicking idiot.’ Archer commented, his snarky reply made me cover my emotions. They probably all saw how panicked I was. Great, one more thing for father to scold me about. I swear I can already hear his lecture.

I bowed in respect before straightening back up, “I apologize for the rude interruption. There is just an urgent matter I must speak with the Alpha King and Luna Queen about. I will wait till your meeting is over.”

I began to walk back out, well that was until I was stopped by the witch Elder. “Did something happen to Xeraphina? Was there an attack? Is everyone alright?” I didn’t miss the panic in her voice, I whipped around faster than I should have as I looked at her in shock. I guess my reaction didn’t sit well with mother as she jumped out of her seat and ran out of the room, tears running down her face.

“We can handle it son. Is your sister, okay? Where is she?” Father said in a solemn tone. Why the hell did they think something happened to Xeraphina?

‘The witch had a vision.’ Archer said softly, I could feel his panic and protectiveness rising. I am not sure I wanted to see what he did.

Before I could speak, a mind link to all the higher rankings rang through my head. ‘The library is on fire. We do not have access inside, we do not know how the fire started, we do not know the death count yet.’ The warrior who must be new, as he shakily said the horror filled words. All I could think about was Xeraphina.

The blood drained from my face, Archer taking control as I froze in horror. He ran us out of the office and back towards the library. While yelling the same thing over and over again, “Xeraphina is there.”

I heard the pounding of feet behind me, fading slowly out of my hearing as my mind spiraled out of control. I could not survive without my sister, neither could Archer. She can’t be dead. The rough beating of my own heart, the blood rushing to my head, were the only sounds I could hear. I watched numbly as Archer ran full speed to get back to our sister. As we came to a halt in front of the library, I froze. The blood drained from my face, as I stared at the building engulfed in endless flames. There was no way anyone inside could survive this.

I dropped to my knees, begging the Goddess to spare Xeraphina’s life as I watched the flames grow larger and larger.