Avalyn
I looked at myself in the mirror as Tessa braided my hair.
It was post lunch and we had bid our guests goodbye. Nik had briefed me up on their meeting and said that the goods from Kingdom Prajini were on it’s way to Silverwitch Bay Port. And then we were supposed to transport them wherever needed. Andrei and Symon had gone to the port to make sure the distribution process would go smoothly when the goods arrived. I was happy with the way things were going on. We had a pack meeting early in the morning tomorrow during which the stones will be distributed to everyone. We also would have a lot of plants that would be delivered all over the pack. Everyone were under strict orders to plant the flowers and plants around the periphery of their homes.
I already had a ruby ring which I had slipped on my finger and I had given away all of my ruby jewellery to Tessa and the other females in the palace so they were a little less people to worry about.
“Are you sure you are feeling better, Mistress?” Tessa looked worried.
I had lost a lot of weight in the last couple of days but I could finally stomach my breakfast and lunch so I took that as a good sign. My cheeks had a little colour and my eyes didn’t look dead either. I wore a simple white dress and a pair of comfortable shoes I could walk around in all day. I wanted to visit a few places before the big meeting. I wanted to assure people that everything was going to be fine. Because I knew Nikolai’s speech of what was to come would scare the entire pack.
“Yes, I’m sure Tessa.” I smiled at her through the mirror.
Tessa smiled back.
“Thank you. Go call Eliyah too and then wait for me in the car. I’ll talk to Nik and meet both of you in ten minutes.” I told her before I picked up my purse that Tessa had packed before hand and walked out of the room.
I knew that Nik had a lot of meetings so he was going to be in the Council Room.
Everyone paused when I entered. My eyes instinctively fell on Nik and my lips widened in a smile.
He got up from his throne and walked up to me, kissing me in front of everyone and making me blush. “How are you feeling now, Love?”
“A lot better. I was thinking I’d go out around the pack today, haven’t talked to everyone in a while…” I hope he doesn’t say no. He never does but I know things are very tense because of the upcoming war.
“Sounds like a good idea, as long as you take guards.” Nik said and then Nat came and hugged me, “I’m so glad you are feeling better again.”
“Yes, we missed you around here.” Dimitri lifted me off my feet and twirled me around, making me squeal and giggle. Max and Mikhail hugged me too.
I felt overwhelmed with love. And I was happy to see them all again properly, it had been a while.
My eyes fell on the woman with the scar on the side of her face. The same one I had seen at the dining table. She was over six feet and well built. She was wearing half an armour and had a sword at her hip.
“This is Chiara, the General of our Army.” Nik introduced and Chiara bowed down, “a pleasure to officially meet you, Queen Avalyn.”
“Rise.” I smiled and she did. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”
And then my eyes fell on a vampire who I had also seen at the dining table, but he seemed familiar. He was tall, but shorter than Nik, had wide shoulders and strong arms. He had wavy brown hair and a strong, square jawline along with pools of clear water for eyes. I had seen those ocean blue eyes before.
“This is Algebrus, soon to be the Lord of Treasure.” Nik introduced and my mind flashed to almost forgotten memory.
I was sitting on a bench when I saw a boy throwing mud at girls who were playing with dolls.
The boy laughed when the girls shrieked and cried and started running to their mommies.
The girl’s mommies scolded the boy, making him sad. I realised he only wanted someone to play with. A smile slid on my face. Jumping off the bench, I ran towards the boy, picked up a handful of mud and threw it at his retreating back. The boy jumped and turned around in shock.
I gave him a wide smile and extended my hand, “I’m Avalyn. Friends?” His ocean blue eyes crinkled as he smiled back and neared me to shake my hand, “Best friends. My name is Algebrus.”
“Like math. Like Algebra!” I giggled.
“Don’t call me math!” He made a face.
I showed him my tongue. “Catch me if you can!” I grinned and climbed up the tree near me as fast as I could. Papa had taught me how to climb and when I was half way to the top, I heard a scream.
“Girls don’t climb trees!” A boy showed me his tongue.
“Shut up!” Algebra told him and began following me up the tree with a grin but got stuck on the first branch itself.
“Yes! I’m not just a girl!” I rolled my eyes. “I’m a super-girl.” I won and looked at the boy standing on the ground with superiority. “Girls can do whatever they want!”
“Avalyn!” Papa’s eyes widened when he saw me at the top of the tree.
I smiled widely at him and waved at him enthusiastically. “Look I’m so tall now, Papa! Taller than you!” I stood on my tippy toes to grow even taller and waved enthusiastically.
“Climb down right now! Or else you will fall down.” Papa immediately zipped towards the tree and looked up at me with worry. I hated worrying him.
I jumped off the branch and easily, he caught me. He breathed a sigh of relief. “You’ll give me a heart attack one day, Firefly.”
I giggled. “I knew you’d catch me, Papa.”
“Of course.” He grinned and kissed my cheek. “And who is this?” He helped Algebra off the first branch.
“Algebra! Like math!” I giggled. “he’s my new best friend.”
“Algebra.” I breathed. I hadn’t seen him ever since I was thirteen, since the day of the attack on Papa.
“Avalyn.” Nik called, making me pull away my attention from Algebra. I turned around to look at Nik. His eyes were hard and his jaw set.
He was jealous.
I couldn’t feel my wolf which was why I couldn’t feel him either. The mate bond was there, just not as strong. I couldn’t feel his emotions anymore.
“Nik, this is Algebra, my best friend from childhood.” I gave him a smile. He instantly relaxed. My smile widened and I pecked his jaw. I thought we were past this jealousy stage. Apparently not. It amused me.
I turned to look at Algebra. He was all smiles and I saw hundreds of emotions flicker through his eyes. “You’re alive.”
My legs automatically took me to him and I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. His arms came around me and he hugged me tighter.
“I thought you were dead.” I gulped.
“I did too.”