Xender couldn't explain why she felt drawn to both Rufus and Peter.
She was attracted to Rufus because of his confident and charming manner. Peter, on the other hand, was reserved, discrete, and had an aura of mystery that enthralled her.
Despite the stark differences in their personalities, Xender found herself drawn to both men. She couldn't help but notice the flutter in her chest everytime Rufus smiled at her, or the way her pulse skipped a beat when Peter's eyes locked with hers.
Xender started to understand that she was drawn to both boys for reasons other than their looks as she spent more time with them.
Their perseverance, inner strength, and steadfast commitment to their causes drew her in. Xender happened to run into Rufus in the library one day while touring the estate.
There were stacks of books and papers surrounding him as he sat at a desk.
Why are you doing that, Rufus? Xender asked out of curiosity.
Rufus lifted his head to look her in the eye.
He whispered, "Just researching," in a low, hoarse voice.
Xender walked over to Rufus, her heart fluttering.
"What are you studying? She hardly raised her voice beyond a whisper as she inquired. With his eyes wrinkled at the corners, Rufus grinned.
What he said was "the supernatural," "I'm trying to understand the forces that are at work in this world." Xender's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Rufus.
She was drawn to his zeal, fervor, and unwavering dedication to his mission. She was about to turn away when Rufus reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Xender, I have to tell you something," he began in a low, scratchy voice. With her heart racing, Xender turned to face Rufus.
What would he say, too? Then Peter came in the door just as Rufus was about to reply.
"Rufus, we need to talk," he said in a cold, menacing voice. Rufus's eyes narrowed, and Xender sensed the tension between the two men. "What is it, Peter?" "What?" Rufus asked, his voice full of malice.
A shiver ran down her spine as Peter's eyes locked with Xender's. "It's about Xender," he said, adding, "She's in grave danger." Xender's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Peter. What did he want to convey? The lights in the room began to flicker just as Peter was about to explain.
An eerie, throbbing energy pervaded the atmosphere.
Xender was uncomfortable as she looked at Peter and Rufus. What was happening? Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything came to a stop.
The lights came back and the intensity subsided. Xender was startled and confused as he stood there. What had happened? She started to ask, but Peter cut her off. "Xender, I have to tell you something," he began in a low, scratchy voice.
With her heart racing, Xender turned to face Peter. What would he say, too? Then Xender felt a strange sensation as Peter opened her mouth to speak.
As if she were being ripped apart, her molecules appeared to reorganize themselves.
Xender's eyesight began to warp, and she felt herself pulled into a vortex. After that, everything went dark. When she woke up, Xender was lying in bed with a pounding headache. She sat up and glanced around.
Where was she now? It was then that she saw him. Peter was sitting in a chair beside her bed, watching everything she did.
"Peter, what's going on?" Xender's query could hardly be heard above a murmur. Peter's gaze locked with Xender's, sending a shiver down her spine. "You're in a safe place, Xender," he said.
"But you're not who you think you are." Xender's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Peter. What did he want to convey? Just as Peter opened his mouth to speak, the door of the room sprang open.
Rufus showed up with flashing angry eyes. "Peter, you're not going to tell her the truth, are you?" He growled. Peter's eyes narrowed, and Xender sensed the tension between the two men. Retorting,
"I'm just trying to protect her, Rufus," A shiver ran down her spine when Rufus's eyes locked with Xender's. "You don't need to protect her, Peter," he spat back.
"She's not as innocent as she seems." Xender narrowed her eyes and stared at Rufus. What did he want to convey? Was she not innocent?
However, Peter interrupted her before she could ask any questions. His voice was chilly and threatening. "Rufus, you don't know what you're talking about," he said.
Rufus grinned, his eyes gleaming with laughter. According to him, "Oh, I think I do, Peter," "Xender is not your typical human, you see.
Like us, she is a supernatural being. Xender's eyes became wide in disbelief. What topic was Rufus discussing? Didn't she have human nature?
However, Peter interrupted her before she could ask any questions. "Rufus, that's enough," he remarked in a firm, authoritative voice. Xender could feel the tension between Rufus and Peter as their eyes met.
"You're not going to tell her the truth, are you, Peter?" Rufus chuckled. Xender sensed the wrath rising inside Peter as his eyes narrowed.
"I'll tell her the truth when the time is right," he replied. Rufus's laughter sent a shiver down Xender's spine. "You're not going to tell her the truth, Peter," he said. "Because you're afraid of what she'll do when she finds out.
" Xender's eyes grew wide with perplexity. What topic was Rufus discussing? What did Peter have to conceal from her? However, Peter interrupted her before she could ask any questions.
He said, "That's enough, Rufus," in a firm, commanding tone. "Leave now." With amusement shining in his eyes, Rufus smiled. "I'll depart," he continued, "but, Peter, this isn't done yet. Not at all.
Then Rufus turned and walked out of the room, leaving Xender and Peter alone. As their eyes locked, Xender sensed the tension between herself and Peter.
"What's going on, Peter?" she said, barely raising her voice above a whisper.
Peter's eyes narrowed, and Xender could feel the conflict inside him. "I'll tell you everything, Xender," he interrupted. "But you have to promise me one thing." Xender's heart skipped a beat as she stared at Peter.
What did he want her to promise him? "Anything," she said in a strong, determined voice.
Xender could feel the intensity of Peter's gaze as it met hers. "You have to promise me that you'll trust me, no matter what," he stated. As Xender gazed at Peter, her heart skipped a beat.
Would she be able to trust him? She was unaware.
But when Xender noticed something in his gaze, her heart skipped a beat. She witnessed an intense, steadfast love that would do whatever it took to keep her safe. Xender realized she could rely on Peter at that point. She was confident that he would stop at nothing to protect her
. She answered, "I promise," in a clear and resolute voice between them. Sarcastically, "We'll see about that, Peter," he said. Then Rufus gestured to Peter with his uplifted hand. Xender looked at Rufus, her eyes wide with terror. What was he doing? Then, as Rufus got about to cast his spell, Xender had an odd feeling. Her molecules seemed to rearrange themselves as though she were being torn apart.
Xender felt herself drawn into a vortex as her vision started to distort. A slew of pictures flashed over Xender's vision as she was drawn through the vortex. She noticed Peter standing alone in a shadowy bush.
She was beaming broadly as she noticed Rufus doing magic.
And she envisioned herself standing in a big, ornate hall with people in formal costumes all around her. Xender's head spun as she tried to make sense of the images.
Xender was just starting to orient herself when she felt herself pulled back through the vortex. She collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Looking up, Xender saw Peter standing over her, his eyes troubled. "Xender, are you okay?" he asked. Xender, who was still having trouble breathing, nodded. Xender heard a voice behind her just as she was about to speak. "Welcome back, Xender," the voice instructed. Rufus was standing behind her, smiling mischievously, when Xender turned around.
But what Rufus said next chilled Xender to the bone. Retorting, "You're just in time for the wedding," Xender's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to face Rufus. Which nuptials? Xender saw Peter's expression just as she was going to inquire.
He stood next to her, his face displaying a look of shock and horror. And then Xender saw the ring on his finger.
An engagement ring. Xender's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to face Peter. Was he wed? To whom? The hall doors abruptly flew open just as Xender was going to inquire.
A woman walked in, a gorgeous white bridal gown flowing behind her.
The woman's eyes were wide with surprise as Xender stared at her. It was her. Xender was the bride.