“So you’re marrying Mia again after being married for five summers just because you saw a proposal in the kingdom of Klean?” Edward asked with a furrowed brow.
Xavier had barged into Edward’s chambers while he was reading to announce to him his plans on remarrying the Queen.
Edward was a bit surprised by the intrusion, as well as the announcement.
Edward told him to tread with caution whenever he came to his chambers, as he was already married, but Xavier had ignored his warnings many times.
This time, however, he demanded a bit of respect and privacy, and he was furious at Xavier’s intrusion. He had been married for over two summers and had his mate for four, but Xavier seemed to have ignored that. His chamber deserved as much respect as Xavier’s did and wished he would understand.
Xavier apologised for the first time but told him he knew his mate, Kailani, wasn’t in the room with him. He told him he had seen her already headed out of the Palace before he came in to deliver his good news. Edward then told him she had just left for Soule, the northern region, to visit close friends she considered family.
Edward looked as confused as ever by the news of his brother’s remarriage, but tried to work through it. He was reading ‘The Orchard,’ and he has been doing this for almost six moons. Despite the book not being the biggest he’d ever read, he couldn’t comprehend it as fast as he did the others.
Xavier nodded and moved to sit down at his desk. “Yes, I need you to be my best man.”
“Your best man,” Edward repeated, closing the book and dropping it onto the table, having found a reason to let it go.
Xavier rolled his eyes. “Don’t act like you do not know what I speak about, brother. You were there at Klean and also you were my best man at my wedding”
“I wasn’t your best man at your first wedding. It’s called escorts in Wahala. I was your matrimonial escort, and I only did that because our father wasn’t there, you idiot.” he muttered the last part, but Xavier heard.
“Fine, I want you to be my best man. I don’t want our father to be my matrimonial escort. I want it to be you.”
He folded his arms across his chest and stretched his legs out. “I am not your best man, though. According to the custom in Klean, only the best friend of the groom gets to be the best man. I am not your best friend. I’m your brother, stupid.”
Xavier groaned, already knowing what Edward was doing and not liking it. “Are we going to do this now?”
“Yes, where is Sean? Where’s Lyon?”
“I don’t want them. I want you, brother.”
“First off, ew, I’m married and second, I’m busy.”
“The wedding is two weeks away. You can work through your schedule and also there’s no ‘ew’ here. I’m not interested in you. You’re my brother and you’re a man. I’m interested in my wife and that’s why I want to marry her. Now stop being a fucking pain in the ass and say yes.”
Edward sighed. “If I say yes, will you get out?”
His brow rose at his brother’s audacity. “Why would I want to stay another minute in your chamber? It’s just as boring as the man who owns it.”
Edward sighed, “Fine, I will be your best man.”
Xavier started from the table and moved to the door. He grabbed the knob, but pause and turn back. “Talking about interest, will Kailani be returning from Soule, the northern region, before the wedding date?”
Clueless at his line of questioning, he replied. “Not sure, why?”
He folds his arms across his chest, “Many maidens and men do not believe you’re married. It would be a chance for them to see Princess Kailani and her husband, prince Edward, together.”
“I have nothing to prove I am not the king,” he said with a mild shrug.
“I am and I want her present at the wedding,” he said with a firm tone, not giving room for argument.
Edward groaned, his patience growing thin. “Fine! she would be here.”
Xavier grinned, happy to be having his way, but he didn’t leave. He had other questions. “Still, on the subject, how do you two not miss each other? We just got back from our journey to Klean, which kept us apart from our mates for three moons. Now she’s heading for Soule and will be gone many days.”
Edward gave him a coy look. “Some of us have something you do not; self-control.”
“Fuck you!” Xavier shot at him. “the moon goddess didn’t design us to be so far from our mates. It’s not a normal state of being. I could have said Kailani isn’t your true mate, but she is. So tell me how and do not tell me magic because magic can do things, but it takes a physical touch to derive satisfaction from the cravings.”
Edward ran a hand through his hair, frustration written in his eyes, “You were supposed to leave after I said yes.”
“Was I?”
“You promised.”
“Did I?”
Edward realised he had never really promised, and he pressed his lips together. “Can you leave?”
Xavier stepped away from the door and approached him instead. “Why is that?”
“Because I want to be alone?”
“No, I mean, the reason the distance between you and your mate has not affected you. Why is that?”
“Since when did you become so curious about my affairs, uh?”
“Today,” he wasted not one second before answering. “And also since I just realised I’ve not been an involved brother.”
“You not being involved isn’t a problem for me,” he pointed out.
“It is for me now ‘cause I’m curious!”
Edward groaned and dropped his head on the desk before him. “Please go away.”
His brows pulled together, “You’re uncomfortable talking about it?”
“Yes!”
“Why? Is it something you have done to yourself, like pushing boundaries? Are there other coping methods not written in the books of the ancients?”
“I’m going to smite you with dumbness if you don’t stop talking.”
“Tell me what it is. I am curious and I want to know. I won’t judge.”
“First off, there is no book of the ancient. We stay off because we want to get better at controlling our urges and desires. The more we do it, the easier it gets. I can dream walk or wander walk to her, but most times I don’t. I tell her it’s okay to long for me, but control is important. A time will come when that’s all we will have.”
Xavier’s lips stayed pursed as he thought about what Edward had just told him. It made sense why, throughout their journey to Klean; he was the one that moaned the most about missing his mate, while Edward stayed almost unaffected.
“Oh wow. I didn’t know that. I don’t think I can have such control.”
“And that’s why you’re king Xavier and I am prince Edward.”
“I hope I never get to find out what a life without a mate is. I wake up every day hoping to always have Mia beside me for the next hundred years and not having her often is torture..”
“I hope so too.”
“Thank you for talking to me. I feel like I know you more than I did before and it’s a great feeling.”
“It’s nice talking to you, too.”
With that, Xavier nodded and departed from Edward’s chamber.
“Are you going to wear that?” Xavier asked, with his eyes already scanning over Mia’s dress. It was a fitted emerald gown that held all her curves and showcase her natural asset.“Yeah, you chose it. You don’t like it anymore?”“I love it, which is the problem.” His eyes scanned her from head to toe and then stopped over her exposed cleavage. Lust flashed over his eyes, and he bit his button lips and dragged his gaze away.“To give the announcement to my father at dinner, I need to have a focused head. With you dressed so seductively, I fear I might not keep a clear head. This isn’t your fault. You just have a very gorgeous body and your curves kill me every time,” he explained, placing his head against the wardrobe door. The feast tonight was a small one. Xavier intended to reveal his intent to remarry his wife, his father, and the elders at the feast. The marriage ceremony was two weeks away and informing these rulers and his father would make the process go faster and well. It’s a
The wind blew over Mia’s face and her paws dug into the ground as she sprinted through the woods. The dry leaves on the ground made a shrieking sound as her paws threaded on them. Blood coursed through her veins, and her heart hammered loudly. She felt alive more than ever. She and the king had detached themselves from the pack of wolves that had shifted and raced into the woods after howling and hunting together. She was much aware of her environment. She had run through these paths after shifting in the last few summers along with her mate, king Xavier. Just like those other times, he was racing beside her and every time with him felt like the first time to her. Excitement rushed through her and she could hear his sprinting heartbeat and it matched hers as they raced toward the much quieter and desolate part of the woods. She was almost at the first part of the segregated point of the woods when Xavier bumped into her and she slowed down, knowing what was about to take place. S
“You’ve been awfully quiet.” Xavier pointed out as he stopped writing on his scroll and set the feathered ink on the table next to it. He looked up with eyes of curiosity at Mia, who had been staring at him without uttering a word.She jerked back and her eyes met his worried ones. Sighing, she shook her head. “It’s nothing.”Perhaps if he hadn’t seen the lost look in her eyes, he would have believed her, but these were the looks she had worn at distinct times in the past. “We’ve been married five summers. I can tell that this isn’t nothing.”He knew her better than anyone at this point. “I’m just thinking.”He rose and moved toward the bed, stopping when he was at the foot of it. “About the wedding or something else?” he raised a brow.She wonders if telling him about the prophecy Julia gave her would be a good idea. At first, she thought it was a parable, but after thinking through everything, she had reasons to believe it was more of prophecy. This too threw her into further confus
Xavier brushed his hand over his long golden coat, which he wore on his white long sleeve tucked into his black trousers, which he had underneath the coat. He stared at himself one more time in the mirror. He wanted to look perfect today because he knew his queen would want that. She also always looks perfect, and he wanted to match her energy. He had to stay in another room last night. It was Mia’s previous chamber from five summers ago. She insisted he moved out so the dressmaker, hair and make-up artist could do their things freely. He didn’t have to be told twice before picking out his things for today. When he asked if he could place the guards around her door for protection, she laughed and told him she was Luna and could protect herself. She told him the kingdom was safer than ever and that everything would go well and he needed not to worry. He kissed her lips lovingly before leaving the room. He had looked forward to today. His wedding day. He didn’t think he could be happi
Edward sat on one stair that let up the throne sit, while Xavier paced around the throne room aimlessly. His body shook violently, and he tried to control and calm himself physically. He didn’t dare attempt to interfere with the war taking place in his head. That was worse.The ceremony ended as soon as Lord Jobe uttered those four nerve-racking words. Xavier left the temple and rode back home as fast as he could. His heart skipped with the thought of his queen being gone, and with every minute that passed, it increased. The first place he visited was Mia’s room, which looked untouched from what he saw. However, her golden wedding dress lay on the floor. It had been ripped to shreds and her golden jewellery lay on the floor as well. Along with her marital bracelet and her engagement ring.According to Jobe, there was no sign of forced entry or struggle, and the bride makers looked as clueless as he did on where she had gone to. They had taken their leave after finishing their job of
Two weeks laterXavier hadn’t had over three hours of sleep in the last week. His mind had been on his wife and Queen who had run away. After discovering the letter, Xavier dispatched his men all over the kingdom in search of her. He hoped to find her despite her words in the letter, telling him what she wanted. Her letter detailed her leaving to find happiness, but Xavier didn’t want to believe it.The king’s men returned, but neither of the seven troops found the queen.At first, he wanted to tell himself she just needed the time and space and would return in her own time, but the more days passed, the more he realise she might never return. This didn’t help.Did she hope to disappear without him? Maybe she wasn’t as in love with him as he thought she was.Then why did she spend four extra summers with him?If she didn’t want any of this, why didn’t she leave after their agreement ended? She stayed because she was happy with him. After all, she loved him.Any other explanation made
Two weeks agoMia’s heart skipped in her chest as the royal bride maker turned her around so she could see herself in the mirror and appreciate what she saw.The golden robe was perfect and blended not only with her skin but her long braided red hair which fell over it, and this gave it an alluring look. She dragged a deep breath as she beheld herself. From her braided hair adorned with gold jewellery and chains and then down her neck and wrist. She wanted to say it was too much, but this was what the king wanted and she kept her complaints to herself.“I look amazing, thank you.” she smiled warmly at her.The older woman beamed. “You’re welcome, my queen.” She began arranging all her kits together. “We will head out to the Palace now. I wish you all the best on your journey from here on.”“Thank you, Rosa.” she said and when she noticed the three women didn’t leave, she added, “You may leave. My father will come in soon and take me to the temple.”The women took their leave and Mia t
“If you’re truly hoping to find your wife and rescue her, then eating is one thing you will have to do,” Edward spoke as he stepped into the lower cabin of the ship, which was Xavier’s room. He spotted the untouched meal on the table at the corner of the room and Xavier stood beside the window, straining through it as if he could see the slave ship from there. After Edward caught the revelation about where Mia was, Xavier made plans to leave. He had thought about the best strategy to rescue the queen, but sending an army across the sea to fight and save her was foolishness. Not only would they die, but Mia’s life would also become a casualty of war. The kingdom of Foth had slaves broken and made into monsters for the army and there was no way Wahala soldiers would survive in an unknown territory as such. So he decided to leave on his own and asked if Edward could come along. They would infiltrate the kingdom, rescue the queen and be on their way, leaving no trace of their presence.