Love and Chaos Series
The Alpha King’s Ugly Bride Chapter 93

Weeks later.

Xavier's lashes pulled apart as his consciousness returned. He saw Mia already up and seated on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

He barely saw her like this. Everything was now good. The kingdom was safer than ever, and progress was now a sure thing. After the trial ended, Xavier dismissed Elliott from the capital, because he believed he had a hand in the attack on the queen, even though there was no proof of it. Robb implored him to reconsider his decision, but his queen was okay with the sentence and so was he. All has gone well ever since, and Xavier only hopes it'll get better.

He pulled himself up and drew closer. He placed his lips on her soft, bare back, lathering kisses thereon and feeling her tingle to his touch.

She moaned and turned to him. "Good morning."

"Good morning, my love. Why are you up?"

"Thinking." she sighed.

She looked to be in a dilemma and that had cast a dark fog over her mind, one he could not read through.

"Do you mind sharing?"

"It's a year today," she said. That single line told a thousand stories. She didn't have to say more for him to know what she meant.

It's been a year since they became husband and wife and king and queen. A year since her sister Ariel died, and she became the last-minute replacement. A year since her life changed forever. Their agreement to act and present themselves as the perfect royal couple would end today. Now it had.

"So what are you thinking about, then?" curiosity lingered in his hoarse voice.

"Everything," she replied, and turned to glance at him.

He could sense where the conversation was heading, but he didn't want to be the one concluding. "You want to share?"

Her eyes diverted from his. "You're king, just like you always wanted. Robb Ainsworth has already sealed your Reign until the end of time and you've achieved your goal." if only she knew that he had lost focus of that goal after falling for her. He had developed a new goal, and this was to stay with her and be a good husband to her for the rest of time.

"And you want to achieve yours?"

She bit her lips and glanced at him. "Yes. I always wanted freedom and despite how much I love you, I still want that. I still want to explore the kingdom of Reading in search of enlightenment."

He pulled forward and kissed her forehead. "I know, and I think you should do that."

She peeked up at him. "You want me to go?" she sounded a little unsure of his calm response.

He shook his head. "I want you to be happy, and this brings you happiness, so I'm happy."

"Even if you don't get to have me."

He stroked her face, his smile pained and his eyes vulnerable. "It doesn't matter."

It mattered.

The thought of letting her go already felt impossible, and there was no way he would survive without her. But he knew this day would come, eventually. That was why he never moved to mark her, even while claiming her as a mate. If he did, she would have become his until the end of time.

He wanted to have her for as long as he lived, but he couldn't be selfish, not with her. Not ever.

She tilted her head, kissed his lips, and pushed him back into the bed. She got on top of him, letting him have a fill of her one last time.

He gave her his all, working at the pace that kept them desperate and needy. His touch communicated the needs he failed to utter, the longing too hard to explain, and the desperation of running out of time. Each kiss, each caress, each touch, each thrust, and each moment was priceless. These memories he would take with him for as long as he could.

She was sleeping when he woke up and made his way to his study. He brought out the bags he had stored up for today. When he had suggested it to her weeks ago, she was furious because they were amid his trial, but now they weren't. She wanted to leave, and he didn't want to stop her. She had helped him achieve his goal. The least he could do was help her achieve hers.

Yes, he loved her more than life itself, but he wanted her to want him, choose him and live with him too, but he wanted her to do it on her own terms and not because she had to. He had learnt that love wasn't give and take in the last year. If it was, it won't be love, it would be a transaction and so he loved her and wanted her to decide for herself.

It hurts, the thought of letting her go felt like death. He didn't need a seer to know he would be miserable without her. Still, he had to let her go.

...

Mia got dressed and was ready to leave and Xavier stood at the door watching her do her thing. Her carriage was already set and waiting and the ship would leave for the kingdom of reading in a few hours and Mia wanted to catch up.

He watched her, capturing the moment, knowing that he might never have another. Once she finished, she rose from the seat, picked up the folded letter before the mirror and strolled towards the door, careful with her steps. "You're beautiful, Mia." He gushed in adoration.

Her cheeks heat and she rolled her eyes, "Thank you, King Xavier."

His heart pricked at the title she just used, nevertheless he continued. "And you're ready."

She tugged on the hood she had around her, smiling nervously. "Yeah, I think I am."

"Good."

"This is the letter, detailing all you need to know, just like I promised at the start of our agreement." She stretched it out to him.

"Take it, please," she begged after he didn't collect it.

He collected it reluctantly. "And promise me you will read it after I leave."

"I promise," he slipped it into the pocket of his robe. "Is it wrong for me to want you to stay?" he asked, his green eyes unsure as they beheld her.

She shook her head, her voice hollow as she spoke. "No, it's not wrong. It only shows you know what you want, which is good."

"I want you to stay, Mia. Stay beside me, rule with me, as queen and Luna, be the mother of our children. This is what I want, it's all I've wanted for a long time." he confessed, closing the gap between them. He had no shame in admitting to how he felt. Neither did he care that his attempt would make him look desperate before her.

Her hand lifted to stroke his face, and his eyes fluttered at her touch. "I am sorry." She brushed past him out of their chambers.