Chapter 134

Maeve’s POV

My brows drew together as I stared at him.

Princess Mia?

He was with Princess Mia last night?

But that didn’t make any sense. Mia was supposed to be marrying Lucas; so why would Xaden spend the night with her?

My body was trembling violently.

“I thought she was marrying Lucas.”

“She is,” Xaden said firmly and without hesitation, meeting my eyes. “They had a spat last night, and my father ordered me to keep her company for a while so they can take some space until the wedding.”

I remained quiet as I stared at him, trying to figure out if he was lying or not. I didn’t sense any indication of a lie, so I nodded, my eyes still filling with tears.

“And you didn’t think to call me?” I asked, my voice coming out as a broken whisper.

“My phone died,” he told me, reaching into his pocket to grab his phone and show it to me. When he tried to turn it on, nothing happened. It made sense as to why he couldn’t contact me and why I couldn’t reach him in return. But I still didn’t feel any better; he spent the entire night with another woman and left his pregnant mate home… my heart couldn’t take any more of this pain. “I would have called you if I could,” he told me, stepping closer to me once again.

This time, I didn’t move away from him. But I couldn’t look at him either. I fixed my eyes on the ground, willing my body to stop trembling as badly as it was.

He reached up and took hold of my shoulders, tracing each side of my neckline with his thumbs, causing goosebumps to form on my skin.

“I’m so sorry, Maeve…” he said softly; he sounded so sad that it tugged at my heart. But I couldn’t bring myself to lift my gaze and meet his eyes.

“Why were you with her all night?” I asked, my voice coming out as barely a whisper.

“I lost track of time. I didn’t realize that it was morning. She got into a fight with Lucas, and she was really upset. She didn’t want to be alone…”

“So, you stayed with her?” I asked her, my tone hardening.

“I had to,” he told me. “My father ordered that I keep her happy until the wedding. It’s my duty, Maeve. I couldn’t deny my father’s request.”

My chest tightened even more, and I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. So, he was going to be spending time with her.

“Hey…” Xaden said gently as he placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my head, forcing my eyes to meet his. “I promise you, nothing happened last night, and nothing will ever happen. Princess Mia is just a friend… she’s going to be my sister-in-law. You are my mate and the mother of my baby. You are the one I’m going to marry…”

The tears that stung my eyes were finally released and they rolled down my cheeks. Xaden looked so sad when he saw them, and he quickly wiped them away with his thumbs.

“I’m so sorry I worried you, Maeve. I’m so sorry that I hurt you…”

I bit my lip, trying desperately to not start sobbing on the spot. I was stronger than this and I needed to be strong. I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed when Maggie arrived.

“Do you have any idea how worried, Maeve has been all night?” She asked, folding her arms across her chest. “And me… I was worried too.”

Xaden dropped his hands from me and turned to face his most trusted maid.

“Maggie—”

She held up her hand to stop his words.

“She slaved over a hot stove to cook you a meal last night and she spent the entire night at the kitchen table waiting for you…”

I wished she hadn’t told him that part, especially when I looked up at him and saw the hurt flashing in his eyes as he met my eyes again. Maggie’s words struck a chord in his heart, and he looked gutted by the reality that I had been waiting for him all night.

“You haven’t slept?” He asked.

“I got a few hours,” I murmured, wiping at my wet cheeks.

“She slept at the table,” Maggie said, narrowing her eyes at him. “I woke her up this morning and made her take a shower. She hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday morning. She was saving her appetite for the large meal she cooked for you.”

Xaden’s eyes snapped back to me.

“You haven’t eaten?” He asked. “You have a baby to think about, Maeve. You can’t punish yourself because—”

“Don’t you dare scold her!” Maggie growled, stepping between the two of us. I was surprised she was standing her ground in front of Xaden; it felt as if she was choosing me over him and my heart warmed just a little. “After what you put her through last night, you have no right to scold her. Are you wearing the same clothes you wore last night?”

“It’s a long story,” he told her, running his fingers through his hair.

“You can tell us both the entire story during breakfast. But first, you need to change your clothes,” Maggie told him as she sized him up and down.

He sighed and his eyes found mine once again.

“Come upstairs with me,” he told me, holding his hand out for me to take.

I stared at it, feeling uneasy. Had he held Mia’s hand with that same hand? Is that why her scent was all over him?

“Maeve…” he said, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “Please…”

I sighed, relenting.

I wanted to be alone with him more than I was angry with him. So, I reached out to him and took hold of his hand, feeling my insides warm from the touch. His body relaxed slightly, and he pulled me along with him up the stairs.

“Don’t be too long! I didn’t want your breakfast getting cold,” Maggie called after us.

We reached our bedroom hand in hand, neither of us saying anything for a long while. He finally sighed and turned to face me, his eyes showing concern and worry, once again tugging at my heart.

“I have to return to the palace this afternoon…” he told me.

My heart fell into my stomach.

“What?” I asked, breathlessly. “Why?”

“Mia wants to explore the capital,” he explained. “She’s never been outside of her own territory before and as her escort for the next few days, it’s up to me to show her around.”

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed, I glanced at the ground, but he was quick to tug my chin until I was looking up at him again.

“I want you to come with me to meet her,” he told me. “I think you’ll feel better once you do. You might even like her.”

“I don’t know—”

“I want you there,” he said quickly. “It’ll make me feel better at least. I didn’t get to see you all day yesterday. I tried to get home to you, but every time I reached the door, someone else would stop me. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”

My heart warmed slightly from his words and though I still had a knot in the pit of my stomach, a smile tugged at my lips, and I nodded. Maybe it would be good if I met this woman. She was supposed to be engaged to Lucas after all. Maybe I can see if Lucas and Mia can make amends so I can get my fiancé back and Lucas can get his.

“Why is her scent on you?” I finally asked the question itching in my mind.

He ran his fingers down the side of my face, his gaze penetrating mine and making my heart quicken its pace. I hated the effect he had on me right now; just one look into his eyes turned me into mush.

“As I was leaving this morning she hugged me,” he explained. I recoiled, feeling sick once again. She had his arms wrapped around him… I wondered if he held her back. He grabbed my arm gently and pulled me back towards him, his eyes pleading. “But it wasn’t a long hug. I stopped it quickly and then came straight home to you. I promise, Maeve. Nothing happened and it never will. I need you to believe me…”

I looked into his eyes and my heart softened just a little. I didn’t like the idea of him hanging around her again, but I knew he had a duty to his father and to his kingdom. I needed to be more understanding… I needed to trust him.

So, I nodded and gave him a small smile in return.

Xaden wasted no time; he took that window and barreled through it.

His lips crashed down onto mine and he kissed me with such a hungry passion that my entire insides lit up on fire. His tongue slid across my bottom lip, asking for permission to enter; permission that I granted, and when his tongue collided with mine, my heart skipped a beat. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulled me into his body. I felt protected and encased in his warmth and care.

Then, Mia’s scent filled my nose, and I pulled back as if he had slapped me. He was breathless from our heated kiss and both our lips were swollen, but he looked puzzled by my sudden rejection.

“You smell like her…” I murmured, touching my fingers to my swollen lips. “You need to take a shower.”

He nodded and then a smirk appeared on his lips as he took my hands into his.

“Fine,” he said as he pulled me towards the bathroom with him. “But you are joining me.”

“What?” I asked; his response was to pull me further into the bathroom and shut the door behind us. “Xaden—”

“Wash her scent off me, Maeve,” he said as he started to slowly button his shirt. My eyes grew large as they dropped to his exposed 6-pack, and I couldn’t help but swallow the lump in my throat. He slowly walked closer to me as if he was stalking his prey and I felt heat rising into my cheeks. “I want your scent all over me. Let’s make sure she knows who I truly belong to.”