Chapter 144

Xaden’s POV

My heart sank hearing Mia’s voice on the other end. She sounded so distraught and if she wasn’t happy, it could mean a war against the Kingdom. I needed to go there and make sure she was okay.

“Yeah, I’ll be right there, Mia,” I assured. “Just hold on.”

I hung up the phone and turned to the driver, ordering that he take us to the palace right away.

“Is everything okay?” Maeve asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said, a little distracted. “I need to see Mia and make sure she’s okay.”

Maeve nodded, but I could sense that she was upset. I didn’t have the time or patience to deal with that right now though. When we reached the palace, I rushed inside, leaving Maeve behind, but I knew she was right behind me anyway.

I froze when I saw Mia in the parlor, she was crying, and Emily was trying to comfort her.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it, Princess,” Emily said soothingly. “He’s a jerk. We already decided that, remember?”

Mia nodded and wiped at her red eyes.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I stepped into the room.

Mia jumped to her feet and rushed over to me.

“Oh, Xaden, you’re here!” She cooed. “Your bother is such a jerk. I hate him so much. I can’t believe he’d call me a homewrecker.”

“He did what?” I asked, my rage started to rise. Why would Lucas say something like that to her knowing that keeping her happy was going to save our kingdom? He was supposed to be wooing her so she would accept him in marriage, not destroying any chances he had with her.

“I’ve been trying to tell her that she’s not a homewrecker. But Prince Lucas made himself very clear about how felt about her,” Emily said, folding her arms across her chest. “He was very rude.”

“I’ll speak with him,” I assured her, patting Mia’s back. “All will be well. It’s okay now.”

“Oh, Xaden. Please don’t leave me. I need to be around friendly people, and you are clearly the friendlier brother. Please stay with me for the rest of the evening.”

I looked over my shoulder at Maeve who was frozen at the doorway. When she noticed me staring at her, her body tensed.

“The driver will take you back home,” I told her.

Her eyes widened.

“You are staying?” She asked me, her voice coming out soft and filled with pain.

“Mia needs me right now,” I told her. “I’ll be home later. I promise.”

She bit her lip, and then she nodded, turning away from me.

“Okay,” she whispered.

She left without another word. I sighed and sat on the couch with Mia still sobbing into my chest. I was seriously going to kill Lucas for this.

Mia was relentless all night. I thought there was a window of opportunity to leave and return to my own mansion, but the second I tried to leave, she would start back up crying again and it would force me to sit back down and listen to her tell me the tale of what a jerk my brother was.

I tried to text Maeve and tell her that I was going to be late, but I couldn’t find my phone. I could have sworn it was in my pocket. But when I reached into my pocket to grab it, it was gone. I sighed… Hopefully, she won’t be too mad at me.

Later it turned into super late and soon, it was morning. Once again, Mia and I were up all night talking. Well, actually, it was her that was talking and I was just listening, waiting for a moment of silence that never came.

“I was thinking we should go into town today,” Mia said, batting her lashes at me. “I want to get a coffee because we hadn’t slept and there’s a cute boutique in the city that I’m dying to check out. We didn’t get a chance to the last time we went into the town so I thought we could do that today.”

I nodded.

“Yeah, but I’ll need to run home first and—”

“Oh, please don’t leave, Xaden,” Mia said, pouting. “I don’t want to be alone; not even for a second. I’m worried that your brother will attack me with his cruel words again.”

‘You won’t be alone. You have plenty of warriors and Emily—”

“You’ll do as she says, Son,” my father said from the doorway, his arms folded across his chest. “Mia is our first priority. She is our guest, and your brother made her feel unwelcomed last night. He’s being dealt with as we speak. But if she wants your company for today, then you’ll give her your company. Do I make myself clear?”

I swallowed.

‘Yes, sir,” I said. “Let me just freshen up upstairs then. Have you seen my phone?” I asked both my father and Mia.

Mia shook her head.

No, I haven’t seen it at all,” she said innocently.

I nodded and sighed.

“Father, can you get a message to Maeve and tell her not to worry about me and that I’ll return home later?” I asked him.

My father looked uncomfortable for a moment, but ultimately, he nodded.

“Of course,” he said through his teeth.

I nodded and left the room. I went to my former bedroom and took a quick shower. After I changed into some old clothes, I met up with Mia downstairs. She had also showered and changed. She was wearing casual attire, and she looked pleased to see me.

“Where’s Emily?” I asked.

“She won’t be joining us,” Mia said, wrapping an arm through mine. “I thought it would be better if it was just us.”

I didn’t particularly like that idea, but I also didn’t argue with her either.

Together, we walked to the car and the driver took us into the city. We spent some time at the coffee shop in the center of the capital. Mia went on about her life in the Vixen pack and how different everything was here in comparison. I truly tried to listen, but I was too distracted. I hoped Maeve was okay and I wanted to return home to her to see for myself. She was probably mad that I hadn’t been home yet, then again, maybe she was used to it by now. I have been distant these last few days.

“You are clearly the better brother,” Mia said as she sipped her coffee. “If only I could just marry you instead.”

She batted her lashes as she said that last part. It was at that moment I realized that Mia was interested in me more than just a potential brother-in-law, or even a friend. She wanted to marry me.

Well, that was just not going to happen, and I needed to figure out a way to change her mind, even if it meant making myself less appealing.

…..

Maeve’s POV

I stared at the TV late into the evening, my mind going completely blank. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and my heart was practically in my throat.

“There has to be an explanation. The media spins lies all the time,” Maggie tried to assure me.

On the TV, I was seeing my mate with another woman in his arms. He wasn’t doing anything with Princess Mia, they were only hugging, but still, the gesture looked so intimate, and they looked way too comfortable with one another.

I felt sick to my stomach at the sight of them. He hadn’t returned home last night, and I hadn’t heard from him at all today. So, this was the reason he hadn’t been around? Because heh ad been with her… hugging her?

The door opened and then shut, turning my attention to the entrance. Xaden walked into the room, looking more exhausted than I had ever seen him. I stood to my feet quickly, unable to contain my anger. Sensing that there was about to be an argument, Maggie dismissed herself and left the room.

“Where have you been?” I asked him without thinking.

He froze and stared at me.

“At the palace,” he told me. “I’ve been busy. Sorry, I didn’t call. I couldn’t find my phone. It somehow got into my old room and in my nightstand. I think one of the maids must have put it there by mistake,” he said, shaking his head at the thought. “But I’m here now and—”

“You’ve been with her since last night,” I said accusingly.

He narrowed his eyes at me, and I could see the flash of anger in his eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

I pointed at the paused TV screen so he could see himself hugging Princess Mia. He looked stunned for a moment and then he sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

“I didn’t know they took that picture,” he murmured.

“Are you going to deny that something is going on between the two of you?” I asked, tears filling my eyes. “Am I stupid to believe that you are faithful to me?”

“Are you kidding me??” He asked, his voice rising. “I had been nothing but faithful to you! How dare you accuse me otherwise!”

“Well, how am I supposed to know that?? I asked him. “You’ve barely been home and now I’m seeing that you are with other women.”

“I’m with one another woman and nothing is happening between us. It’s just a duty,” he told me loudly.

“What about your duty to me?” I asked him. “And your baby!”

“How do I even know that’s my child!?”