1: Brokeness

NOW

It wasn't the first time Mia had woken up without Xavier beside her. She had subconsciously gotten used to waking up without him beside her. Being used to it didn't remove the ache his absence brought her.

Something had happened. Something happened to him, and she didn't know what it was. He wasn't the same Xavier she knew, at least not in the last three months.

They slept beside each other, but she felt she was beside a stranger. She couldn't read his mind anymore, and in the seven years they had been true mates, that had never happened. She believed her inability to read him was her fault initially, but then she realised it wasn't. He had created a barrier in his mind to keep her out of it. It didn't make sense; why would he do that? What was he hiding from her?

She confronted him a week later, and he told her he had nothing to hide.

It was a lie; she didn't have to read him to know that. It was the first time in years that he had lied to her, and it hurt. What was he hiding, and why couldn't he tell her about it? They were mates, and that meant they were to share everything, yet this he had hidden from her.

With this secret came the bridge between them. At first, she still gave herself to him, but it soon became unbearable, and their moment together brought her nothing but pain.

She had cried seven weeks ago while they were united in lovemaking. He tried to console her, but she drew away and told him she needed the room.

He hadn't touched her since then, and though they stayed on the same bed, nothing happened. There had been times she desired him as one would a mate, but it wasn't worth the torture. She didn't chase him away; she told herself he would come out to her with the truth, but many months later, nothing changed, and every day that went by, her heart broke even more.

She pulled herself to sit down in bed, knowing the day had already begun and she didn't have the luxury of an excuse; she was the queen, and so she had duties to fulfil no matter how she felt.

She caught her hand roaming over the side of the bed where he slept, and his scent lingered. She longed for him despite everything, and she knew she would never stop. He was her mate, king, and the only one for her.

After getting ready, Sir Valerio was at her door to escort her to the maiden's court, where they held their monthly meeting.

If Valerio noticed anything about her aura, he said nothing about it. They arrived, and Mia saw herself into the court, where the other maidens waited for her. The meeting kicked off with many maidens coming up with their ways of contributing to the coming war, just like they had done in the last few months.

The elders in the council spoke and tasked the maidens with the roles they would have to play in the coming war, and a few of the maidens wanted to fight beside the men, which was welcomed and accepted.

"Are you okay, my queen?" Luna Elena asked as the meeting ended and the maidens took their leave. Mia would only leave once the maidens were out, so she had to wait.

She forced a smile and asked, "How do you mean?"

Luna Elena shook her head. "Nothing; I just noticed you are not yourself, and this isn't the first time you have been this way. I noticed it a few months ago, but I didn't want to pry. My queen, I hope you are okay."

Her fake smile remained: "Well, I am fine; I'm just exhausted. The war coming is great, and all we can think about is preparation."

"True, my queen." Luna Elena bowed her head. "Forgive me for intruding."

Mia wished she didn't have to pretend, but she had to. The people looked up to the King and Queen for hope in the face of the coming war. Telling them all wasn't well would only bring doubt, especially since she wasn't sure what was happening with the king herself.

"It is fine; you only worried for the queen's safety; it is nothing to be sorry for."

Mia returned home, and a part of her wished she didn't have to. She wished there was somewhere else to go. Somewhere to hide, the thought of staying with Xavier, pretending everything was fine, didn't sit with her. He wouldn't tell her what was wrong, and she couldn't read him.

"Mama!" Lyon called and yanked his hand out of his uncle's grip. He took to his short heels, and Queen Mia waited for him with an excited look on his face.

"Lyon, hey!" How are you?"

"I'm fine; Uncle Ace came to visit." He said this and pointed back to Ace, who stood near them.

Queen Mia's eyes travelled to him, and they remained there. It's been many months since she last saw him. He had been behind the walls for close to a year now, and he had been in control of the fortification of the kingdom against the invasion of Foth. He knew Foth well, their mode of attack, and was, therefore, best suited for the task. His presence here now meant he had news about the work so far around the kingdom.

"Lord Ace," Mia acknowledged.

He walked towards her and bowed when he got to where she stood. "It's so nice to see you again, my queen."

"And you too, why are you back?"

"The King called to me," he answered.

"Why is that?"

He stared at her as if expecting her to know the answer, and when her eyes remained blank, his narrowed. "The king needed my knowledge of magic."

She didn't know this because the king didn't tell her anything, and she was in the dark as a commoner in Wahala.

"For what?"

"He charged me to tell no one," Ace answered, and his eyes showed remorse. "I am sorry, my queen."

She wasn't just anyone; she was the queen, yet that was how she felt right now. She didn't know the first thing about the man she slept beside daily.

She forced a smile. "You do not need to apologise for anything. I will speak to the king."

She set Lyon down on his feet and asked, "Are you going anywhere soon?"

He shook his head and said, "No."

"Can you hold on to him for a while, then?"

Mia entered the palace and walked through the throne room and the hall, looking to find Xavier because she didn't know how much of this she could take.

She took the turn that led to the study only to see a fair blonde woman in a long white silk dress walk past the guard standing there, open the door, and step inside.

For a moment, Mia thought she saw a vision because she had never seen the woman, and there was no way she would have walked past the guards without being stopped.

Mia picked up her pace and came to stand before the guard. "I need to go in.:

"I received strict instruction from the king to let no one in." He said, repeating almost the same line Lord Ace had used with her outside earlier.

The king cut her off on many things, and she wanted an explanation.

She wanted to know if they were on the same terms and ask why he left her in the dark. "I am not just anyone; I am the queen, for goodness' sake. I need to get through."

The guard didn't look like he wanted to go against her wish, but he couldn't let her through. "I am sorry, my queen, but the king gave an order. He doesn't want to be disturbed by anyone."

She didn't want to go against the King's order; no matter how hard it seemed, he had to have a genuine reason behind his actions. They had been together long enough to make her believe it. As for the fair, blonde lady in white, she was her imagination and not actual.

Mia turned to leave when she heard groaning coming from behind the door. She tried to ignore it, but it came again, this time with a grunt.

She couldn't leave; he was in pain.

She returned to the door and said, "Stand aside, Luc." She commanded.

"My queen-" he began but didn't get to finish as Queen Mia shoved him out of her way and grabbed the knob of the study door and opened it. She didn't wait to be invited in; she stepped inside.

Her breath cut in her throat at what she saw.

Xavier sat on his chair, naked from the waist up, and the same blonde lady in white she had seen walk into the study moments ago stood in front of him with her hand on his neck and another buried below.

Mia became as still as the dead as she saw what was happening before her.

He wasn't in pain, as she foolishly thought he was. He was being pleasured by another and loving it.

Her eyes grew glassy, and a weak sob left her mouth, making Xavier's eyes snap open to find her. The blonde lady also pulled away to stare at her.

Xavier had a look of surprise on his face but not of remorse for being with another and breaking the vow they had made to each other.