Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 27

"I was at the temple," Xavier spoke as Mia stepped into the throne room after being summoned.

Being summoned meant getting reprimanded. That didn't always happen, not yet. She knew her role and played it out well. She stayed polite and graceful every time she stepped out of her room. And despite wanting to choke the air out of her husband, the alpha king, just for breathing around her most times, she didn't. She had kept her heart in check and remained in control, even though it seemed impossible. Edward would want her to. These past few days had been peaceful between them, but she didn't forget what he did to Edward.

She didn't know why she was summoned, but it wasn't for what she had done. He had also dismissed his guards, so whatever he wanted to talk about was between the two of them. She debated what it was about.

"The alpha of alphas has awakened for over a week now, but he will return to the state of reasoning later today. I know him well and I know the Palace will be the first place he'll come after his senses returns." She did not miss the displeasure in his voice as he spoke.

"You don't want him here." She crossed her arms over her chest, stepping further towards the throne seat where Xavier was.

"He's the alpha of Alpha's and he's also my father. He will come to see how I've done so far."

"Is that why you sent Edward away, because you don't want him present to hear what your father will say to you when he arrives?"

Mia had gathered a few things from listening to small talks made by the older maids and workers at the Palace in the last month. They spoke about how Xavier and his father never got along and how they had fallen out many times in the past, sometimes worse than others. Peace came to the palace only after Robb fell asleep and Xavier became the alpha king. His father's awakening meant that things might go back to the way they once were. This time, he could even suffer greater humiliation at the hands of his father. Edward had been the bridge of reconciliation between them during those fights. Robb always told Xavier to be more like his estranged cousin, Elliott Ainsworth, or his younger brother, and that always did more harm than good. "That's not it."

"It's obvious that's what it is. I thought you were punishing me when you sent him away, but now I see it wasn't a punishment. You were just avoiding being humiliated once again before your younger brother."

Xavier's reason for sending Edward away nagged Mia's mind in the last two days. She had first thought he wanted to punish his brother for the role he played in her escape. However, he had sent him away after more than a week of her return, and it made little

sense.

After hearing the gossip flying around, she discovered he didn't send his brother away to punish her. He sent him away to protect himself.

"You will stop talking." he ground out, trying his best to control his rage.

She had struck a nerve, and she continued. "You want me to stop talking because it's a lie or because it's true?"

He abruptly rose to his feet and surged towards her, his eyes flickering between red and green. "Your place is not to question me. Your place is to do as you're told. Understood?!"

He towered over her, trying to intimidate her with his size, but for a strange reason, she wasn't scared of him today. Her anger rolled her fear away.

She was the queen, yet he still threw orders at her like she was a servant. He wanted to exact the authority he didn't have over his mistress on her.

"Ah, yes, my king!" she bowed in mockery and took one step back. "As always, I'll be the dutiful wife of the king who presents himself as ruthless and cold-hearted, but underneath is just a weak little boy who's scared to face his father!"

His hand flew up to strike her across the face, and she dragged a quick breath and fluttered her lashes. She never felt the impact of the strike and when her lashes flutter back, she saw him dropping his hand to his side.

She didn't believe most of the words she uttered. She had started this rebellion a few minutes ago as her way of getting back at him for sending Edward away. It got fuelled by his crude ordering, but she didn't think all the things she spilt described him. Yet, the impact these words had on him told her they did.

She almost felt sorry for him when he spoke.

"I hereby order you to return to your chambers and I command you to stay there until I tell you otherwise." he thundered, his words making her tremble a little. Her senses of fear returned.

She stepped back from him, holding no remorse in her eyes as she walked away from the throne room.

He was left alone with his thoughts and one of them was if he made the right decision by keeping her alive.

The door to her chambers opened and Toni hurried in with a silver-coloured robe in her hands and a big smile on her face. The opening of the door woke Mia, who had been sleeping up. She did a brief stretch on the bed and her eyes felt too light as she held them open.

"My queen, you've been sleeping." Toni noticed, and she slowed on her step.

Mia placed a hand to her mouth to muffle up her loud yawn. "Yes. I had nothing to do."

She hadn't left her room since she left the throne room earlier and idleness made her fallen asleep.

She rubbed her eyes. "What's this for? What are we celebrating?"

"The alpha King's father's arrival. This came from the Royal dressmakers. I'll draw you your bath now."

"I will take a bath, but I'm not wearing that," she said, getting off the bed.

Toni frowned, dropping the robe on the bed. "Why won't you?"

"Because my husband ordered me to stay in my chambers until he tells me otherwise and I have to obey."

"The King's father will be here soon and you have to be ready to meet him."

They both stepped out of the bathroom after Mia had a long bath in the scented, warm water.

She got dressed, but not for once did she glance at the silver gown brought over by her maid. Instead, she picked a scarlet gown which complimented her hair out of her wardrobe, and put it on.

Mia sat before the dressing mirror, having Toni brush her curly red hair, when a quick but firm knock came to her door.

Toni released her hair from her grasp and hurried towards the door. She had been quite shaky since Mia told her she would not wear the silver gown, and she was afraid.

She opened a little and a king's guard stood before the door, in his silver metal armour fastened on his large body. He sent chills down her spine, and not in a good way.

"I'm here to escort the Queen to the throne room. Is she ready?" he demanded, his hoarse voice causing more chaos than they should. "The alpha of alphas just stepped into the Palace and the King needs his queen."

Mia rose from the dressing seat and toward the door where her maid and king's guard stood.

"No, she's not ready." Mia answered. "Tell the king that he gave me a command to go to and stay in my chambers this morning and I can't step out with you. Tell him I'm following his command and so I cannot trust the words of a servant. If he wants me adorned and out of my chambers, he'd have to come and say it himself.

Panic flashed in his eyes at her command, but he nodded and turned away from the door. Mia moved away towards the shelf, not minding that her maid's jaw was almost hitting the floor while staring at her.

She picked a book by William Shakespeare and guided her legs over to her armchair to settle on it with grace.

"You may go now," she dismissed Toni, who bowed and hurried out of the room, not wanting to be around for the oncoming war.