CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AVYANNA'S POV

"Can you at least pick up the pace? Why are you driving like a learner?" I complain to Aedion. We have been driving for three hours straight. From the Asena kingdom to the elf kingdom, it is as estimate of at most an hour and thirty minutes. However, the idiot that is sitted beside me decided to drive so slow. I really do not know if he was doing this to annoy me or that's really how he drives. Of which I doubt if it's the latter.

"Calm down, we have nowhere to be rushing to and besides this car is my baby and the road is not doing any justice to it." He states as he pats the driving wheel.

"Ugh!! You are so unbearable." I grumble as I fold my arms across my chest and look outside the window. I watch the trees go by, which was actually what I have been doing for the past hours because I have nothing to do and no one to talk to. This car ride was so silent and beyond arkward. I really hope we find the witch we are looking for fast and separate from each other as soon possible.

"What made you think that, there is a witch that can help break the bond?" I break the silence as I look at his reflection through the car window.

He remains quiet for a while and for a moment I thought he was not going to talk.

"Well I am actually not sure. My hope is based on a story, that might or might have not happened centuries ago." He shrugs. "I am just hoping, it's true, after all there is no smoke where there is no fire."

I snicker a bit "I did not know, you were the fairytale type." I say as I look back at him.

I see a ghost of a smile on his face as he looks ahead of the road.

"Can I ask you a question?" he suddenly blurts out.

"Shoot." I respond

He is quiet for a bit, probably contemplating on whether he should go on to ask or to let it go. I hope he chooses to ask because I really want to know at least a snippet of what really goes on in that cynical head of his. He is such a closed book, I cannot even read his face expressions. He is good at masking it.

He clears his throat and asks "Why didn't you break?"

I look at him bewildered and ask "What?"

"I mean you have been through a lot even way before you met me, your parent's death, leaving in hiding, discrimination, then rejection. So why did it do nothing to you?"

"Was that your aim? To break me? Because it seems like all this, leads to you. All my misfortunes are you." I blame him.

"There is more to this than you know but anyway nevermind." He dismisses the topic.

I roll my eyes and shake my head as I look outside again.

After a few moments of silence, I sigh , look at him and finally answer him.

"To answer your question Alpha Aedion, I did not break because every test in life makes us bitter or better, every problem comes to break us or make us. The choice is ours whether we become the victim or the victor." I conclude.

He continues staring straight ahead of the road and I back to my now favourite activities , to watch tress go by.

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"We are here." Aedion exclaims as he wakes me up from my slumber.

"Finally! I was beginning to run out of sleep, you really need to work on your speed, you know."

"And you need to work on your patience but hey, you don't see me complaining." He raises up his hands as he shrugs.

"You just did." I mumble under my breathe.

He gives me a deadpanned look and then rolls his eyes.

"We have entered Isernys the elf kingdom, and I have decided to go to the elf King and Queen, to ask if they know, where we can find Professor Madrich." He explains.

"Why go to the King and Queen?" I question

"Because, instead of going all over town, asking each and every elf about him, wasting time, we just go to people that have records of everyone in their kingdom. Got it, smartass?"

"Hey, I was just asking. Don't treat me like I am dumb." I say as I pout and look straight ahead.

"Well you don't give me a choice." He nonchalantly mumbles.

"I heard that."

A rumble of laughter emits from Aedion and I look at him. I was amused by how he looked at this very moment, this is my first time, I see him actually let out a bit of laughter and side smile. He looks so handsome and carefree, he should do this more often. It's a better site to see not only for me but everyone else around him.

"I know I am sexy and drool worthy, but starring is rude." He says as he breaks my mesmerised state of awe on him.

My cheeks flush red and I roll my eyes and mumble a "Whatever." As we make our way to the elf King and Queen's Palace.

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"State your purpose." The palace guard commands as he steps in our way to the palace doors.

"I am Alpha King Aedion and I have a scheduled meeting with the King Queen." Aedion explains.

The guard takes a good look at Aedion and then nods in my direction and asks "And who is she?"

Aedion takes a look at me and smirks "Oh she is nobody, just my fucktoy."

The guard has a ghost of a smile on his face as I glare at Aedion and stomp on his foot.

"Ouch! What was that for?" he innocently asks.

I just fold my arms and look away.

"I have just linked the King and he told me to let you in. So you may go in." he grants us entry.

As we enter the palace, I was intrigued. The first thing that greets us is the long empty hallway with a huge chandelier made of pure crystals. As we walk down the hallway, I notice there is nothing in here besides portraits. On the left side there were portraits of elves, that looked like they were royalty. It seems like they were portraits illustrating the elf royal family tree line. The first portrait, I see was of a bit more grown man with white sleeked back hair and with long beard. He was short, with a belly. He wore a crown on his head with one big emerald in the middle and smaller amber diamonds right round the crown. His attire looked more of a knight's armour and a green royal cape. He stood so elegantly in the picture, with one arm folded across his stomach and the other hand with a sword. The next portrait was of an elderly elf female she had sky blue eyes, white hair tied elegantly into a low neat ponytail with an emerald crown sitting on her head. Im sure these two were a couple and probably the first King and Queen of Isernys elf kingdom. As we walk down the hall, I continue seeing the whole royal family from couple to their kids and in that order. All of them standing gracefully in their portraits. When we got to the end of the pictures, I saw the last and probably the current royal couple. There was a man with long white hair and beside him was a red haired woman both wearing crowns. They honestly are meant for each other, they compliment each other well.

I cant help but to feel a bit jealous of how picture perfect they are and how perfect they are made for each other. At least they accepted each other and no rejection. Their faces speak a thousand words and struggles they went through , but overcame them together. To think I wanted that strong bond once upon a time.

"Nice picture, isn't it?" a robust voice echoed in the hallway behind us with a thick irish acent.

Both Aedion and I turn around and face the owner of the voice.

"Hello , Im King Feyre ll. I suppose you are Alpha King Aedion." He introduces himself. He the faces me with a questioning look.

"Might I ask , who is this young lady?" he questions.

"She is...

"I am Avyanna Johnson, your highness. I am here with the Alpha King to seek some information." I cut Aedion and quickly introduce myself as I try to avoid Aedion embarrassing me with his introductions, like what he did earlier.

He warmly smiles at me and nods his head.

"Follow me." He orders

We quietly follow after him up the stairs. We reach the first floor , we take a turn and walk down another hall , this hall was the same as the first one but the only difference was that there were no pictures , just a plain old hallway with a few vases here and there and some lights.

"Your highness." A guard exclaims as he bows to King Feyre ll.

The King curtly nods and we enter a room. This room is the throne room. Its quite spacious. Its main colour gold and emerald green. These elves must really love green but since they are nature creatures , it makes sense for the love of green. The curtains were a gold brownish/ gold colour with decorations of roses with same colour and at the top with tassels hanging. The whole room was empty with only a huge chandelier and two thrones at the far end of the room.

King Feyre ll , takes a sit on the right on what I presume is his throne. The door at the other side of the room opens and in walks a tall slender woman with red hair that looks like the one in the picture. She takes a sit on the left side of the King and looks towards us. her face looks welcoming but her stamina and posture screams power also not forgetting intimidation. She seems sweet but not weak.

"Good evening, I am Queen Keres." She introduces herself.

We nod our heads and introduce ourselves.

"I am Alpha King Aedion and this is Avyanna Johnson." Aedion calmly replies.

She looks at the both of us but her stare on me lingers a bit longer than on Aedion. Suddenly, I feel self-conscious and want the floor to just swallow me whole.

Aedion clears his throat as he starts to speak.

"We are here to seek your help on some information, regarding a certain citizen in your kingdom." He informs the royal couple.

The couple look at each other and then back at us and ask "Who?"

"He is known by the name Professor Madrich."

They look at us like we have lost our minds and question us"Why?"

"Im afraid , your highness, I cannot disclose of that information just yet."

The couple silently look at us for a while. Then the king states "This man you look for, is considered to not be right in the head , therefore, if you by any chance seek my advice, I suggest you don't waste your time with him."

"We will take our chances." Finalizes Aedion.

The King sighs "Follow me then."

"Does she talk?" the Queen nods in my direction.

Aedion looks at me for a moment and back at the Queen as he answers her.

"Yes she does, I just commanded her not to ." he says with a smirk.

I glare at him as I lightly smack his arm and say "Watch, what you say."

The Queen just slightly smiles and shakes her head.

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We were led to another room , the Queen had informed us on our way her that it was the record room, might add the Queen can talk. This was a room where all records of their citizens were kept. It was quite large with turns of piles of books. If you were not told the name of this room, you will mistaken it for a library. But the Queen made it clear to us that it wasn't a library, they have the library right down the hall, at the first turn.

We are currently sitted in the room with the King and Queen, waiting for the record keepers to return with the information we need.

"So are you a couple? The question is suddenly thrown at us, after long hours of silence.

We both sceptically look at her and in unison say "NO!!!!"

"But wait, aren't you Avyanna Johnson, the famous hybrid?"

I swallow hard and slightly look down

"And aren't you Alpha King Aedion, aren't you supposed to be mates?" she continues with her interrogation.

Aedion sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

"My love, that is their private matter. Let them be." The king finally controls his wife.

"Okay, then." She finally keeps quiet. This Queen really has no filter does she?

"Well Okay, we shall leave you here in the hands of Auguste, one of the record keepers. As for us our royal duties await, but we will meet you when you are leaving." States the King as he and his wife turn to leave.

I sigh and cover my face with my hands.

"Excuse me, here is the book of the elderly elf records, you were asking for." Says Auguste as he comes out of the pile of books in the room.

"Great give us the book and we get over and done with this." Aedion demands as he grabs it.

Auguste then disappears into the books again.

"Are you going to stand there or make youself useful?" complains Aedion.

I roll my eyes and walk over to him. I start searching one side of the huge book as he does the same to the other side. I just want all this to pass by fast and get back to a life before I met him.

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