A L M I R A

Chapter 48
Almira Davenport

I sat up and stretched, quickly getting dressed. I was slightly sore from last night's enticing events, but opted to ignore it. Karlienne and I are finishing up the wedding plans today and I couldn't be distracted.

Karlienne greeted me at the door, smiling. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Karlienne. What else do we have left to do?" I asked, crossing my hands together.

"We pretty much have everything other than the special invite list from you and Calix," She recalled, glancing at her notes. "Decorations are being set up in four days and should be done in three. Your dress is nearly complete, and the suits are completed, all except for a couple minor details. Other than that, I think we're good!"

I nodded. "I do want to go check on the dress, and the list Calix and I made for invites is pretty much the same. We don't have very many people to invite."

"How come?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow with a curious face.

"Well, most of my family and friends are dead, Calix's parents are dead, Cole is the only brother coming because his other brother is locked away in the dungeon at Mortala, and yeah. So, the list is limited to few. He's inviting a couple of his "friends", by friends I mean allies, to the wedding. So, yeah, that's that."

"Hmm, interesting," Karlienne mumbled, jotting that down in her notes.

"Anyways, that dress!" I clapped my hands together. We walked down the hallway, decorated with paintings of couples of leaders and candles. We walked into the tailoring room and all the maids stood up, bowing upon my entrance. I nodded at them before one spoke up.

"Your Highness! The dress is complete, all we need left is a few minor details on the cape and you're all set and ready to be wed!" She boasted, smiling as she was proud of their hard work.

"Thank you, thank you to all of you for dedicating your time to my wedding dress and making sure it looks perfect. See to it that after the wedding, you all take a long, well deserved break and rest up. Be sure to enjoy yourself, yeah?" I smiled, looking at them.

They all simultaneously thanked me. Karlienne and I exited the room and walked back down the now familiar hallway. "Hey, Almira?"

"Hm?" I hummed in response.

"How do you know when you've met your mate?" She asked, glancing at me.

I thought about it for a moment, recalling mine and Calix's relationship. "You don't really know until you touch. When you touch, you feel sparks and tingles, it's like this electrifying sense of sorts. You feel calm and at ease, like nothing really bothers you. Your mind gets foggy and you can only focus on that touch. When you feel that first touch, you trigger the mate bond. That's when your mind slowly becomes infested with thoughts of them and you only think about them."

"Oh."

"Why? Got a specific West brother on your mind?" I teased, nudging her playfully.

"What? No! That's absurd!" She retaliated, snapping her head up quickly.

I gave her a dumb look before she sighed, leaning against the wall. "It's complicated, okay? He kissed my hand and gave me the impression he was interested and then just left. Anytime I try to talk to him, he seems distant and cold, and I don't know what I done to make him act this way."

"Well that's because you didn't do anything. Before you, or Galadia, or any of this, Cole had a previous mate, my sister. They bonded quickly and she even conceived and carried a child for him, but she died during a spell. Her death took a serious toll on him, and he's still mourning, so give him time. I'm sure he'll come around," I explained, grabbing her hands and showing her a warm smile.

She nodded. "Yeah, okay. I'll try."

"Speaking of..." I trailed off, turning to Cole who was approaching us. He bowed in front of us.

"Your Highness," Cole greeted.

"Cole," I replied.

"Lady Karlienne," Cole acknowledged her, nodding towards her direction. She didn't move, just looked at him with mixed emotions in her eyes. Cole cleared his throat. "His Majesty couldn't deliver the invitation list himself, so he sent me in his place."

"Oh, I see," Karlienne mumbled. She took the list from him and looked at it. "I'll go send the invites out now. I'll catch up with you later, Almira."

Cole and I watched her walk off before I turned to him. "Cole, I know."

"You know?"

"I know."

"Do you now?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"I know you're recovering from Lauren, but she's a second chance that Abelia sent. Don't shut her out, and please, whatever you do, don't pull a Calix. It sucks," I suggested, reminding him of the agony I went through before Calix and I became close.

He paused for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Okay. I'll try."

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him. "Thank you, Cole. We may not be really close, but thank you."

Cole hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around my back, patting my back. "You're welcome, Mir."

~-~

Calix and I laid beside each other, the blanket over both of us. "Two days."

"Two days," He repeated.

"Almira West," I murmured, listening to the soon to be last name now on my tongue.

"Sounds nice, right?" Calix grinned, looking at me.

"Yeah, it does. It's got a pretty good ring to it," I admitted, leaning over into him and his touch. I embraced the familiar tingles and sparks and emotions that came along with his touch, craving them right about now. "I can't wait."

"I know, I'm excited, too," He kissed my forehead and held me close.

"I think you'll like the dress," I commented, looking up at the ceiling.

"Oh yeah?" He persisted, turning back to look at me.

"Yeah. I can't wait to wear it. It's absolutely gorgeous. I literally cannot contain my excitement for tomorrow. Our wedding day is finally here," I let out a sigh of excitement.

Calix wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled into my neck. "Indeed it is."

~-~

Today was the day. I've been up for a while, worrying over today and getting ready. A couple maids already did my makeup, giving me a more natural look with a glossy, pink lip. My hair was in loose curls, two strands braided back to behind my head. I looked in the mirror and sighed.

"Today's the day. You ready?" Ambrielle asked, smiling at me through the mirror.

I turned around to face her, taking a deep breath. "I've dreamed of today since I was a little girl. What if something goes wrong?"

"Karlienne has had this planned out perfectly. This is your's and Calix's day. I'll personally make sure everything runs smoothly. Now, let's get you into that dress, shall we?" Ambrielle eased my worries.

I nodded my head and she walked over to the dress, sliding it off the hanger and unbuttoning it. I stepped into it and moved my hair, allowing her to button it up. I looked at the box containing Calix's ring on the nightstand. The ceremonial stuff for this kingdom played through my mind and I replayed the sequence just so I didn't mess it up. I looked back into the mirror at the dress and cape and stared in awe. It was absolutely gorgeous.

The off-white dress had an illusion neckline but gave off the sweetheart neckline impression from afar. The sleeves ere see through and lace with sparkles and beads spread throughout it. The dress clung to my waist tightly, showing off my curves. After my waist is flowed free into a puffed out, ball gown bottom that was also lace. It contained floral embroidery and sparkles. When the light hit it, it looked gorgeous, the sparkles twinkling.

The cape added more beauty to the dress. It matched the dress's fabrics, covering my shoulders and flowing behind me. It was at royal length, coming up around my neck perfectly. The diamond earrings hung from my ears and glistened in the lighting. I slid the cream heels on and bent down, Ambrielle placing the silver crown on my head.

I walked out of the room and seen the bridesmaids standing there in their beautiful silk burgundy dresses. They were adorned with golden jewelry and their hair styled to their personal preference. Ambrielle handed me the bouquet I picked out.

"Calix already walked out, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen are walking out. I've got to go catch up with Cole, but just breathe, okay?" Ambrielle rubbed my arm before walking away. I gripped the bouquet tightly in my hands and took a deep breath.

Soon it was my turn. The doors had closed after the flower girl. Two guards stood at the doors, waiting for the music to play. The music played and shuffling could be heard from the room. They opened the doors back up and I walked down, my eyes finding Calix, looking handsome as ever. His eyes, along with everyone else's, were fixated on me. I could tell from here his eyes were watered up, which surprised me.

I smiled and walked myself down the isle. I handed my bouquet to Ambrielle and turned to Calix, the two of us conjoining hands. Everyone in the room sat down and the room fell silent before the priest spoke up. "Ladies and gentlemen of Galadia, Mortala, special guests, and friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of the King of Mortala, Calix West, and his beautiful bride, the Queen of Galadia, Almira Davenport. Before we begin, are there any objections?"

The room was silent and a wave of relief washed over me. The priest continued, "Then let us pray to the God and Goddess to bless this marriage. Do you, King Calix West, take Queen Almira Davenport to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and health, through thick and thin, through light and darkness, to cherish and to hold for as long as you shall live?"

Calix smiled and looked me in the eyes. "I do."

"Do you, Queen Almira Davenport, take King Calix Wes to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and health, through thick and thin, through light and darkness, to cherish and to hold for as long as you shall live?"

Without hesitation, I answered. "I do."

"With that, King Calix, please speak your vows."

Calix took a deep breath. "Anyone who knows me knows I've had previous mates. I'm not a saint, not a perfect man, nothing of the sorts. I tried and tried and tried to push you away, to shut you out, because I wanted more for you. I wanted you to live a long, beautiful life, and I wanted the best for you, even if I wasn't included in it. But you, being your stubborn self, fought for me, for a chance for there to be an us, and looking back, I wish I fought as hard, but nonetheless, I'm thankful to be where we are today. From today forward, I vow to be the dream husband you've always wanted. I vow to love and protect you for the rest of my days."

The ring bearer walked up Calix took the ring, sliding it on my finger.

I let out a shaky breath before speaking, "When I first found out we were mates, I thought I was going to live my life without one. You pushed me away and at one point, I almost gave up, but I never did. I did everything I could to save us, and I'm very glad I did. You're the dream man I've always wanted, and you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want to grow with you, love you, bear your children and raise them, and I want to rule beside you. I want to be beside you as your mate, wife, queen, and the mother of your children. Nothing in this world can change my mind on how I feel about you."

I picked up the ring from the cushioned pillow and slid it onto Calix's finger.

"Now the two will mark each other to prove their love and loyalty."

Calix lowered his head to my neck and kissed it before biting it. He placed a couple kisses there and adjusted himself. I moved his collar and mimicked him, kissing his neck before sinking my teeth into his skin. A metallic taste filled my mouth and I left a couple kisses on his neck as an apology. I looked up at him before we turned to the priest.

He moved aside and behind him was three strands of rope. "You two will braid it together and then tie a knot at the bottom."

We both took a couple steps towards the ropes and began helping each other braid it. Calix kept messing up, which made me snicker. He tied the knot for me at the bottom and we stepped away from it, conjoining hands again.

"With the braided knot concluding the ceremonial part of the wedding, I now proudly pronounce you husband and wife, kingdom's conjoined. You may now kiss the bride," The priest finished.

Calix slid his hand to the small of my back and pulled me close, gently kissing my lips. I kissed him back, my arms around his neck.

~-~•~-~