Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 7

Xavier ran his hand over Mia's legs before letting it sink into her skin, and she shivered at his touch, whimpering in silence. This was even harder than he thought it would be. He'd had to force himself into her room after a few drinks because, according to the customary rites, they had to consummate their union on their wedding night for it to be valid. Yet, he couldn't make his c**k come alive and do the simple job. The f*****g thing had a mind of its own. Perhaps it didn't. Perhaps his c**k was responding to how he felt.

He didn't want to touch her or hold her. She wasn't his taste or class; she was the opposite of what he normally longed for in a woman. He had always picked them beautiful and fair until he met Zara, who was everything he wanted and he had cleaved to her ever since. He thought by thinking about Zara, his lover, and by replaying the images of her in his head, he'd be able to get into the moment. How wrong he was.

He had looked forward to marrying Ariel because she was beautiful and he'd longed to touch her body since he first saw her at the fountain with her friends bathing years ago. She was just as beautiful as everyone said, and when he heard of the elder's decision, it made him happy. He knew he could at least show her off to the world as his for a while before looking for a way to get rid of her.

There was no way the moon goddess wasn't throwing a mockery party at his expense in the life beyond.

How could she take Ariel, his bride, and how could this one be the one he'll live with for the rest of his life? F**k no!

He grit his teeth as he thought about flipping Mia onto her stomach and taking her so he wouldn't have to see her face; she had an okay body from what he'd gathered from observing her earlier, but it had less to do with her body and more to do with the fact of him being tricked into this. So, taking this maiden he called wife now felt like castrating his own c**k and he loved his pleasure giver too much to be so cruel.

He had heard her whimpering too and as annoying as that sounded, he could tell she didn't want this either. She didn't fight him because it was the rite of their union, but if she could, she looked like one who would have.

He groaned and pulled away from on top of her to sit down. He returned his cock into his trousers and tied its ropes before adjusting the sleeves of his shirt.

He felt her rise and sit up as well, but he didn't glance at her. She stayed silent for a while and he adjusted his other sleeves; he rose to his feet and walked towards the door.

"You won't consummate the marriage? It's the custom rite of newlywed." her cringe causing voice asked.

Fuck customary rite. He thought.

He gritted his teeth, opened the door, and left without explaining.

He dragged himself into his study room where private meetings and counsels took place. He would not sleep even if he went to bed, so he wanted to linger around and clear his head.

He took hold of the doorknob to unlock it, but the door opened on its own accord, which hadn't happened before. Only two people had access to the door, he and Edward. He groaned.

The last person Xavier wanted to see was his brother. He would gladly gouge his own eyes out if it meant he could avoid his annoying, all too perfect and nosey brother. Better still, he could ask him to leave as soon as he sees him.

He stepped into the study and he didn't replace his brother seated on any of the chairs, nor was he standing around the obvious areas.

Maybe he had left the study, and the bastard left the door open.

Xavier then moved to his favourite seat at the right-hand side of the room, where a table was having books and scrolls well sorted out on it. There's a bowl on the left side with a few apples in it and a knife beside it. He sat as soon as he reached and grabbed the apple and a knife.

Apples were his favourite, despite almost everyone in the Palace dimming it as the forbidden fruit. It didn't change his mind. He wanted the forbidden, and it calmed his nerves and gave him much joy, which made it okay.

He cut through and took it into his mouth, chewing with delight when he heard footsteps from across the room and soon after, Edward walked out from behind the shelf with a notebook in his hand and his face buried in it.

"Did you know these lovers killed themselves because their parents wouldn't let them have each other?" he asked with his head still stuck in the novel.

Xavier grunted and rolled his eyes, already pierced by the very sight of him. For a moment he thought he was alone, but now turns out he wasn't.

"Yes. I was forced to know that two decades ago."

For reasons unknown, his tutor, Lady Adah, had thought the tale of Romeo and Juliet was the perfect literature that would help him become a better king someday, and so far, it hadn't. Romeo and Juliet was a story comprising poor judgment, and he hated it and never could relate to it. "Hmm," Edward nodded before turning back to his book and after a while, he closed it up abruptly. He narrowed his eyes at Xavier, only taking notice of his presence and thinking properly about what that meant. "What are you doing here, brother?"

"Eating."

He stepped closer, "I see that, I mean, what are you doing here in the study when you should be with your bride, consummating the wedding and fulfilling the customary rites?"

"All I've done today is bend and roll over to custom, and I'm done with that anymore. If you so want the customary rite fulfilled, then perhaps you can go fuck her yourself!"

"I'll let that pass because you're upset."

He scoffed, "Yes, as expected." he kneaded the space between his brow as an ache set in his head. "I want quiet. Can you give me that?"

"If our ancestors did only what they wanted, do you think this kingdom would be where it is today? We do things we don't have to, things we don't want to for the greater purpose. They are called sacrifice." Xavier stabbed the knife in his hand onto the table before him, causing a loud bang, and Edward almost jumped out of his skin.

"This knife is a few seconds away from going into your eyes socket, brother, just keep talking!" he threatened, pulling the knife out before rising to his feet.

Edward stepped back, "I'm saying we all have our roles to play, sacrifices to make for the greater good."

"And what would you know about sacrifice?" he asked, stepping away from the table and towards Edward. "Have you ever had the burden of the kingdom placed on your shoulders? Tell me, have you ever been told your cousin would be a much better ruler than you? Have you ever fallen in love with someone only to have a curse placed on that union? Have you ever been punished for standing up and defending the cause of the defenceless? Did sacrifice make you marry someone you didn't want? Did it make you swear to be with them for the rest of your life?" by the time he finished speaking, he was standing before Edward, towering over him.

"Brother!"

"Don't tell me about sacrifice. I am a fucking sacrifice!"

"I'm sorry," Edward apologised, his eyes remorseful.

Xavier looked away from his brother, not wanting to give off too much of his emotions. "I don't need your apology, brother. I need your silence." "I... I'm sorry."

Xavier glared at him. It seemed he didn't hear the last part of his sentence.

"Hopefully someday, the sacrifices you've made will show forth and you get what you deserve." he bowed his head and took his leave from the study. Finally, peace. Xavier thought.