A L M I R A

Chapter 2
Almira Davenport

After long convincing, Calix finally led me down to the dungeon to see Ross. I didn't like the idea that I had to see Ross either. I wasn't too fond of the idea of seeing him, and neither was Calix.

Calix led me to Ross's cell and I took a deep breath. "I'm going to stand right here watching his every move. If he hurts you, I'll snap his neck in half without thinking twice."

I nodded and set foot inside the cell. Ross looked up at me and grinned. "Hello beautiful."

I almost threw up at his pet name for me. "Can we skip the nicknames? You had somebody force me to drink a conjured up substance from the witches. Now I'm connected to you. How do I get rid of it?"

He laughed and looked at me, smirking. "You'll have to wait it out. Though, you are right about one thing: what I feel, you feel. So when the guards come to deliever me pain, you'll feel it too. I had a feeling he would attack soon," His eyes darted to a glaring Calix before finding me again. "But I didn't expect to hit jackpot and go on a date with his mate! That was too perfect, if I do say so myself."

Ross earned a growl of disapproval from Calix. I knew Ross was getting on his nerves, he was already on mine.

I sighed and turned around on my heels. I was ready to leave. I was ready to succumb myself to the library, play the piano and read all day.

I stepped foot out of the cell and Calix quickly grabbed me, pulling me into his chest. He growled at Ross one last time before having the guards close the cell door.

"Sweet dreams, love!" Ross taunted. I didn't have to look at him to know he was smirking. Something in his brain was definitely messed up.

Calix turned to Ross with a seething look in his eyes. "Give my mate a pet name one more time and I'll rip your throat out," he threatened.

"You sure you want to put your mate through all that pain? My death would be quite painful for her. Thank the witches for that," Ross responded.

Calix's jaw clenched and he glared at Ross before ushering me out of the cell. He walked me to my room and I opened the door. "Thanks, Calix." I murmured, looking up at him.

He looked down at me for a moment and stuch his hands in his pockets. "Mhm."

"Goodnight," I bidded, turning around and walking into my room.

Part of me wished he'd say goodnight back, but he didn't. He just turned around and walked down the hallway to what I presumed was either his bedroom or office space. Either way, I turned around and hopped in the bed.

~-~

Ambrielle Witherspoon

The next morning, my mate, Alexander, and I woke up early to go have a meeting with Calix and his brother, Cole.

"So first order of business: the economy. How are the townsfolk?" Calix asked, sitting back in his chair.

Alexander stood up to give his report. Let me just say, he looked mighty fine. Butter my biscuits and call me a baker, he was a cutie pie. "The townsfolk are doing fine. Few sicknesses have been reported and criminal activity has went down by 2.68% since six months ago. All in all, they're doing fine."

"Good. Now, what about politics and war?" Calix proceeded, checking off the townspeople from his list.

Cole stood up. "So far, the witches haven't entirely sided with lycans or vampires, they've split between the two. As we know, you're of both lycan and vampire blood, and rule over both. However, I'm afraid the other kingdoms and countries are aware you've found Almira now. If they get their hands on her, who knows what they'll do to her to have any sort of leverage on you," Cole explained, looking at his brother for a reaction.

I, too, looked to Calix, awaiting his reaction. Calix growled, he wasn't happy about a threat towards Almira.

"No harm will come to Almira. During the week she was unconcious, I managed to figure out she's a hybrid much like myself, but of lycan and witch. She could possess great power for us if we used her to our advantage properly," Calix began. "And we all know what I'm capable of. With all the enemies I have, I don't want them thinking Almira is a weakness to me. That means she can't know either. As much as I'm physically drawn to her because of the bond, I need her to hate me. At least until I can control Alastor and Wryler, along with anybody else who poses a threat to my people."

I took a moment to process all of that. He was basically sacrificing Almira and his happiness for his kingdom and politics. Dumb move but I dare not defy him.

"If that's all, you're dismissed. Ambrielle, I ask that you go check up on Almira for me," Calix asked.

I nodded. "Yes, your majesty."

We all stood up and left. I kissed Alexander goodbye as he went off to fulfill his duties and I went to do mine. I walked up to Almira's door and knocked on it. "Almira? Hey, it's me, Ambrielle. You've slept in for quite some time."

I opened her door and her bed sheets weren't made. I checked around her room and in the bathroom connected to her room. She was nowhere to be found. A panic started to rise in my chest and I yelled for Calix.

He walked up to her door and I looked at him with a worried face. "Where is Almira?"

His face twisted from confusion to worry in a matter of secconds. "What do you mean 'where is Almira'? She was supposed to be in her room and not to leave without somebody with her and they had to notify me!" He raised his voice.

I shook my head. "We should probably check the library," I said before quickly walking to the library. Calix swung open the doors and nobody was in there. The fire cracked and popped but that was the only sound in the room.

We continued to check other rooms, our panic growing by the second. He ran outside and I followed behind him. There in the flower garden we found Almira, asleep on one of the stone seats, cradling a white rose in her hand.

Calix smiled softly and picked her up, carrying her back to her room. Resisting the mate bond was going to be a challenge for him, even more so with how protective he already is of her.

~-~

Almira Davenport

Since my little escapade of falling asleep in the flower garden, two guards are constantly outside my bedroom doors making sure I can't escape. I opened the door and both of the men turned to me. "I was wondering... Can I go to the library?"

Both of the guards looked at each other for a moment before I sighed. "You can come and stay if you have to. I just need to get out of this room," I pleaded.

Both of the men looked at me and then each other before sighing. They turned around and lead the way, even though I knew where I was going. I was happy to get out of that room. I think I'd go insane if I was stuck in one room all the time.

When we got to the library, I pushed passed the guards and ran inside, finding my way to the piano. I've played the piano for as long as I can remember, and having one here eased my mind as I thought of playing it as a stress reliever. I don't know why, but I've always been drawn to music. I sat down on the stool in front of it and brushed my fingers against the smooth ivory keys.

I smiled and thought of a melody I used to play back at home. I placed foot on the proper pedals and began playing the notes and cords to the melody. I hummed while playing the song and when I finished, memories of my dad and I sitting on the stool and learning how to play piano together played back in my head.

I missed my family dearly. I had no clue when I was going to see them again or if I ever was. The thought of my family being worried about me made my heart break and shatter. I'd have to ask Calix about seeing them again.

I played a couple more melodies and smiled. The guards sat down on the sofa in front of the fire place and listened to me play. The door opened and I glanced at who was coming in. It was Ambrielle, and the guy who I assumed was her mate. She smiled and watched me play and I felt a bit self-conscious while all of their eyes were on me.

When I finished, Ambrielle clapped and smiled at me. "Where'd you learn to play like that?"

"My dad and I used to sit down after dinner and learn the piano together. I highly doubt he was really learning with me, more like playing dumb to make me feel better," I laughed, thinking back of the fond memories. "I miss him."

"I don't think you'll get to see him any time soon, love," Ambrielle responded, smiling sadly at me.

"Unfortunately, I won't get to see him until I'm dead. He died a couple years ago. He was on his way to get me 'the prettiest dress he could find' for a musical concert I was going to, and got attack by an enemy pack. I felt responsible for his death for the longest time, but now not so much. I still feel bad he died while out getting me a dress, but I know even if he was getting my sister a dress, he would have been attacked either way. The enemy pack had their eyes out for Dad for the longest time to bring down the pack," I explained, shaking a bit. The pain of losing my dad never left, just the guilt.

Ambrielle frowned at me and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up. I-"

"Ambrielle, it's okay, really. I'm old enough to not let it bring me down as much," I comforted her.

I stood up and about the time I did, the glass to the windows in the room shattered and a strong gust of wind swept through the library. Papers were flying everywhere and some shelves managed to get knocked over. The fire blew out and Calix came running into the room.

I looked around in fear and panic, wondering what was happening. Was it a bad storm or could it be someone or something worse?

Soon the rapid winds died down and a man stood in the middle of a window, smiling down at me. He stepped off the ledge and walked towards me, clicking his tongue. "My, my, the rumors were true! Calix, you have such a lovely mate. This makes what, number five?" The man taunted, walking circles around me.

I stood there, paralyzed in fear. I looked at Calix who stood there, jaw clenched, watching the man's every move. "Alastor, what are you doing here?"

"Why, Calix, I'm a bit hurt! I heard rumors of your mate, and beauties untold, I just had to come see her for myself! Although, I've seen her before. Much younger, but still beautiful." He smirked, looking at me. He placed his hand under my chin and moved my face around. "She's quite the beauty, I must admit. I might want to take her for myself. What do you say, Calix?"

Calix growled and Alastor shook his head, smiling before letting go of my chin. I didn't move, I didn't dare to. It was like a lion and his prey. One wrong move and I was done for. "I thought we killed you for good."

Alastor chuckled. "Hate to break it to you, but I'm still very much alive. However, you left and ugly scar that I'm not too fond of."

"You'll get over it. Now, get to the point, what do you want?" Calix hissed, glaring daggers at Alastor.

"You've been king for hundreds of years, am I correct? Don't answer that, I know I am. But how did you get the throne? You killed my entire family and left me to die, claiming the throne as your own. So I want my throne back," Alastor stipulated, his eyes flashing ready before speeding behind me.

"That's not going to happen. You'll turn out just like your family, it'll be a tyranny all over again," Calix retorted, crossing his arms.

"You see, Calix, I didn't ask. If you don't comply to my wishes, there will be war, and the first person I'll go after is this pretty little doll. Would be a shame if she ended up like the others," Alastor seethed.

Calix growled and took a step towards Alastor and I.

"Ah, ah, ah! Easy now, I'm one move away from biting her, and you wouldn't want that, would you? A vampire bite to a lycan? Wouldn't want vampire venom flowing in her blood system."

Calix's chest was heaving up and down. He was enraged and his grey eyes now gleamed silver, full of wrath and hatred for the man in front of him.

"Until next time dear friend," Alastor said, waving and disappearing into think air.

I was extremely tired and the floor beneath me began to sway. My head was pounding and my heart was beating against my chest. Soon, my legs gave out and I fell into embrace of darkness.

~-~•~-~

For some reason, I'm managing to get past 2000 words guys. I'm proud of myself. -author