Love and Chaos Series
His Forbidden Mate Chapter 37

I watch the queen from a far responding to the guests, all sending in their congratulations to her and her husband, King Xavier who stood beside her. She looked delightful and did everything gracefully. It all came naturally to her, and I felt privileged to walk in the same room with her and to have even had a moment to converse with her.

"What are you thinking?" Edward asked.

He had done his best to stay throughout the day, and even when he received words from his father, the alpha of alphas; he declined and instructed the guard to return to Robb with a message from him. It was a bold move from him to stand up and say no to his father, and I applauded him for it.

"This comes naturally to her," I said and his eyes followed to rest on Mia and a wide smile spread over his face.

"It does, and that's why she's queen."

"It is. She's an amazing queen." I stayed silent, watching the queen and king speak to the guest and relate warmly with those around them. I always thought differently about royals, but being here has shown me they are like everyone else and the only difference was their titles.

"We should say our congratulations, or will that be too early?" I asked, peeking up at him, but I found his gaze at the other end of the hall where a gorgeous-looking maiden with blonde hair and in a scarlet dress stood, talking with other maidens. He didn't stare at her with fondness because I'd seen that look too many times to know what it was. Despite that, she held his attention longer than normal, which felt strange to me.

"Do you want to go talk and to her?" I asked after he brought himself to look away.

"Uh? Who?"

"The blonde lady over there," I answered, nudging my head to the corner, telling him I had also taken notice of his long stare.

"No, I don't," he answered immediately.

"Okay." I could see there was something up, but I doubt this was the right place to bring it up. "Should we say our congratulations to the king and queen, or will that be too early?" "Now seems like a perfect time to me," he answered, wrapping his arms around my waist and leading me towards his brother and the queen.

Questions lingered in my voice and I wanted them answered. I wanted to know who the blonde maiden was and why Edward had an intent look on his face when he stared at her.

Perhaps they had a history or probably grew up together and were friends. It wasn't impossible; it was a possibility. She carried herself more than girls her age would and held herself in high esteem, but she looked almost the same age as me. I knew there was a history between them and that made me wonder further.

"Edward! You came." King Xavier called out, sounding rather startled to see his brother.

Edward rolled his eyes. "I've been around all day, brother."

His mouth paused. "I didn't see you throughout. Maybe your lady kept you busy." his eyes dropped to me and I felt chills run through me. I kept him busy in the morning, but that was it. Edward had stepped out to help with preparing the event, so it wasn't all on me, yet I felt as if it was.

Edward's eyes dropped to me, already taking notice of how awkward I'd become. "Let him be Xavier. You're also making the lady nervous." Mia came to our defence. "Do not listen to the king. He loves to torture."

'I doubt he loves torture more than his brother does. the voice in my head said and I chuckled.

"That's better," Xavier said, seeing me become less uneasy.

"We came to congratulate you on your anniversary, brother and queen," Edward spoke, tightening his protective arm around me.

"May we see many more happy and fruitful years ahead, King Xavier, Queen Mia." I said and bowed in respect.

They smiled at me, and I knew I had done a good job.

"We will leave you two so other guests can say their good wishes. Enjoy the misery, brother." Edward led us away, not breaking his arms from around me.

I glanced at him and saw him in a much more cheerful mood, and that made me happy. He picked up two goblets of wine and handed me one. I accept and took a sip of the grape wine, tasting sweeter than any I'd ever had.

"My prince!" a sweet feminine voice called out as I took another sip of the wine in my hand. I lowered the goblet and before me stood the elegant blonde Maiden Edward had gawked at earlier. She was even more beautiful standing close and her blonde hair flowed over her fair skin.

"Lady Shewa," he called out, his voice tightening.

"The years have been kind, I heard."

"Perhaps you left for the kingdom of Jade and I stayed back." He answered.

"You grew into a gorgeous man." She smiled at him, and it was the smile I knew too well. It was the flirty, seductive type, and her words made it obvious.

"Do not flatter me." Edward shook his head, a smile coming to rest on his face.

"I would do that because it's the truth."

I rolled my eyes and took my wine to my mouth for a drink, only to choke on it a few times. This brought Edward's attention to me. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I nodded, despite my teary eyes. Oh, great, now I'm the clumsy maiden embarrassing the prince.

"Kailani, I want you to meet Shewa of the house Black, she's a childhood friend."

There it is. I thought to myself.

"Lady Shewa, I'd like you to meet Lady Kailani Zaine. She's my woman," he said proudly, and I felt a lot better than I did a minute ago.

"It's nice to meet you." Shewa smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, so I didn't return it.

"The pleasure is mine."

"You always go for the pretty ones." she said, the flirty smile she had had on her face earlier returning. "It had always been your downfall."

"I grew to realise looks aren't everything," he said with a smile. Either he was oblivious to her flirting skills or wasn't and wanted to keep it going, and that felt like an insult to me.

"You're right, like always." she placed her hand on his and gently rubbed it, "we should look out for the heart, the soul, the act before the looks but you've got all of that, my prince any girl would be lucky to have you." She withdrew her hand and walked away, making Edward stare at her.

It had infuriated me enough, and I spoke, "You can go after her if you want."

He snapped out and turned to me. "What?"

"The girl who had her hands all over you." I snarled, losing the last bit of friendliness I had.

"She didn't have her hands all over me, Kailani. What are you talking about?" he demanded.

"I'm talking about the girl who openly flirted with you despite knowing you had someone, and you either were too oblivious to it or liked it too much to stop her."

"She wasn't flirting with me and I'm sorry if you thought she was. I didn't notice. I will do better."

The smile he had on his face reduced as his eyes met with an older man, sharing a striking resemblance with both him and his brother. I didn't need to be told to know he was Robb Ainsworth, the alpha of alphas, his father.