CHAPTER 23
AUDREY’S POV
“Since we are going to be friends, I think it’s only right that we get to know each other better.” He suggested, looking like an excited toddler. I was quite amused.
“Right.” I nodded at him.
“Okay. So, my name is Logan Tristan Fell. Nice to meet you.” He stretched out his hand for a shake, which I took. I felt the familiar electrifying sensation of his skin on mine, making things dance around in my belly.
“I am Audrey Barbara Chadwick. It’s nice to meet you too.” I replied, gently pulling my hand out of his.
“So, what are your hobbies?” He asked, walking to the couch and sitting on it. I was suprised for a moment. I thought he wanted to go out.
“Aren’t you stepping out anymore?” I asked, and he all but shrugged.
“Whatever it was that I had in mind to do, can wait. I’d rather sit here with you, and get to know you better.” His words made me glad, but I tried to appear indifferent.
“Novels.” I said, and he squinted his eyes in apparent confusion.
“Sorry?”
“Novels. I love to read novels. My hobby.” I explained, and he grinned.
“I wouldn’t outrightly say that my hobby is reading novels, but it is definitely part of the things I love to do in my spare time.”
“For real?!” I found it quite surprising. Not every man loved to sit down and read a good book, especially when it was a romantic story. Many times, when Sebastian visited our pack and saw me reading a book, he would always comment on how he couldn’t comprehend why I and a lot of other people loved reading. Sometimes, he would tell me that I was only preparing myself for heartbreak, by reading about a kind of romance that could never exist in reality.
“Of course.” He smiled. “In case you do not know, I’m a hopeless romantic.”
“That is to say, your favourite genre is romance?”
“Exactly. I specially love this work by Greendale, ‘Starlight’.”
“Starlight!!” We said at the same time. “No wayyyy!!” I giggled. “For real?”
“For real.” He nodded, a small smile still on his face. “I heard that she just published two new stories, and already sent for them. I should receive my orders in a few days.”
“Yes, she did. ‘Unravel my heart lock’, and ‘The unruly…”
“The unruly.” We chorused again, making my smile grow wider.
“You really are a lover of books, after all.”
“What? You thought I’d lie about that?” He asked, and I simply shrugged.
“Who knows? Maybe you learned up a few things just to impress me.” I replied truthfully.
“Nahhhh…” He shook his head. “I don’t believe in being fake, in order to impress anyone. Infact, I believe anyone that truly wants to be impressed, would be, regardless of what my interests may be.”
“Hmmm.” I nodded.
“So what else do you like to do when you’re not reading a book?” He asked, and I thought about it for a moment.
“Welll, I love….” And that was how our conversation of hours began.
*
*
“So that was how I started learning archery.” He smiled. “I couldn’t bear to see my sister get hurt again.”
He had just finished telling me the story of an incident which occurred when he and Layla were younger, and I couldn’t help but feel mushy about how he cared so deeply for his sister. Apparently, Layla had almost been kidnapped when they had disobeyed the king’s instructions, and sneaked out of the palace to go hunting. They had ran into a group of rogues, and were helpless. Fortunately, it turned out Liam had given a hint of their planned escapade to his nanny, who had ended up informing his father. Beta Justin came in just in time to save them.
According to Logan, Beta Justin had shot down the first rogue with an arrow.
“So what did the king do when he found out what had happened?” I asked, curious to know what the king’s wrath against his favorite children seemed like.
“Let’s just say he had been more distressed about the fact that we had been in danger.” Logan laughed, and I joined in. It must have felt so good to be luckily off the hook.
“I can imagine.” I nodded. Just then, we heard a knock on the door.
“Your highness.” Alara called out.
“Come on in.” I ordered. The door creaked open, and she stepped in. “What’s the matter?”
“Her royal majesty; the queen, has asked that you join her for brunch.” I felt my heart palpitate for a moment.
“Now?” I asked.
“It’s fine.” Logan gave a small smile, and I nodded. I stood up and joined Amara, who led me to the queen’s chamber. Once we got there, I sighted her sitting on a reclined sofa, on the balcony, as she sipped whatever was in the ceramic cup she was holding.
All the while I stood there waiting for her, but she didn’t even spare me as much as a glance. After some minutes, she spoke up.
“Join me.” She invited, still not sparing me a glance. Obediently, I walked past her large bed, and headed towards the door leading to the balcony. Once I got to the balcony, I stood, waiting for her to ask me to sit.
“So, I see you are now on friendship terms with your mate.”
“Not at a…”
“Be quiet, and let me finish.” She raised up her index finger, indirectly asking me to shush. If not for the fact that she was Sebastian’s mom, I would have hated her. Right from the very first day I met her, I never really liked her. “Sebastian says you are only putting up an act, just to convince the king that all is well between you and Logan. Is that right?” She asked, to which I nodded. “Speak up when I ask you a question! I do not have the liberty to turn my neck, just for the purpose of seeing your face.”
“Yes, your majesty.” I muttered.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“Fine then.” She nodded. “I don’t really care about having brunch with you, I just needed an excuse to see you, without it being suspicious. When you return to your chambers and anyone asks what we discussed, just tell them we had random conversations, while I formally welcomed you as a part of the royal family.” She said, before waving me off. “You can leave.” She muttered, and I turned to walk away, feeling very relieved that this dreadful conversation with her was over. That was what I thought, until she called me back. “Audrey Chadwick.” She called out, making me turn to her once more.
“Your majesty?”
“Make sure you do not spoil my plans this time.” What did she mean by ‘this time’? “You jeopardized my initial plan, by taking the shot for that weakling of a prince.”
“Wh.. what do you mean?” I stuttered, and she gave a devilish smirk.
“What I mean is, next time, do not interfere when I send a rogue to tear him to pieces.” My eyes widened slightly as her words sunk in. No one had to tell me what she meant by that. Instantly, my blood ran cold. I thought all we had to do, was challenge Logan for the throne and defeat him in a duel? Why was she still trying to kill him?!
“Now, you can leave.” She waved me off once more, and I quickly walked away. As I made my way back to our chambers, my mind went on and on with the understanding that things were beginning to get worse than I imagined. Does that mean that Logan would have been dead by now, if I had not taken the fall?
I looked up to see I had gotten to the front of our chambers, when I realized it was too early to have returned from having brunch with the queen. I also couldn’t bear to look at him, knowing he had luckily missed death just a while back.
“Alara.” I called. “Is there anywhere in the palace, where I could be alone?”
“Of course, your highness. Come with me.”
She and I walked away in the opposite direction, as she led me to a very tiny hut~like building.
“Where is this place?” I asked.
“It used to be the late Queen Brienne’s shrine.” At her reply, I instantly became cautious. I would have more concerned about the fact that Alara had referred to her as ‘late’. I had never really gotten the true story of what happened to Logan’s mother.
“Don’t you think….?” I was still talking when she cut me off.
“Nahhhh…” She shook her head. “Ever since she disappeared, the energy around this place disappeared as well. I normally come here whenever the palace work gets frustrating, and I don’t wish to be found.”
“Okay.” I nodded, and bent my back in order to enter inside the hut. The moment I stepped in, I was suprised. Inside the hut looked way bigger than it appeared from outside. At the end of the corner, was a mat and fur pillow.
“When should I return for you, your highness?” She asked, and I shook my head.
“Do not bother. I would find my way back.”
“Alright.” She muttered, and walked away.
Carefully dropping onto the mat, Iaid my head on the pillow and just like magic, I felt so much peace within. It was just too real to be ignored. I found myself feeling appreciative, because it helped clear the ill feeling in my heart, after my talk with the queen.
All of a sudden, I felt my wolf howl loudly within me and before I could comprehend what was going on, she went silent. Goddess! What just happened? I tried reconnecting with her, all to no avail. I was still trying, when everywhere went silent. I felt an inexplicable kind of fear within me.
“He cannot do this without you. You are destined to redeem him, do not abandon him.” The voices had been so clear. I heard these voices that merged into one powerful voice. It felt like they had suppressed my wolf and taken residence in me, for a moment.
“Who are you?” I found myself asking, as I tried standing up from the mat I laid on, but realized I couldn’t move my body. “What is happening to me?” I called out in worry.
“Audrey Chadwick, daughter of Dean and Marion. Descendant of the great Aaron Chadwick, be humble and fulfil your destiny. Do not abandon that little cub, for within, is his strength and power like that of a lion.”
“Please who are you?!” I cried out, struggling to stand up as this unknown force held me down.
“Go to sleep, destined one.” The voices echoed in my head, and just like that, I Iost the little feeling of consciousness I had.