A L M I R A

Chapter 50
Almira West

It's been a couple months since the war has ended. Alastor is dead and we burnt his body, not giving him the dying decency to be buried. The ground didn't deserve to be tainted with his body, so we just burnt him instead.

Calix snuck up behind me and slid his arms around my waist. "My queen," he greeted.

"My king," I replied, smiling.

"What seems to be troubling you?" He questioned, moving my hair to kiss my neck.

"Just thinking, nothing is really bothering me. Although, it has been a couple months and we've yet to rename the conjoined kingdom. We should probably do that," I mentioned, turning around to look at them.

"What do you suggest?" He asked, looking down at me.

"I have no idea. What about Amata?" I suggested, looking up at him and meeting his gaze. "It means beloved or loved."

"I like the sound of that. Now, we have some people to meet," He smiled.

"What? More business meetings? But we just did those yesterday!" I whined, pouting my lips. This queen thing was stressful, no doubt.

"No, not business related. Just friends and socializing," Calix laughed, kissing my forehead.

"That's better," I answered. He took my hand into his and lead me out of our room to the commons area. Karlienne and Cole were sitting beside each other, laughing. Khione was admiring her daughter's happiness from afar, and I was enjoying the scene overall.

"Well hello, lovebirds," I jested, walking into the room with Calix.

"Oh, Almira! Hey!" Karlienne greeted, waving.

Cole turned around and gave a small wave to Calix and I. "Any heir for the throne yet?" He teased.

My cheeks head up. "Cole!"

Karlienne screeched and smacked his arm. "Cole! You did not just ask that!"

"What?" He laughed.

Calix laughed with him. "We're working on that."

I smacked his chest. "Calix!"

Karlienne and I shook our heads, both embarrassed by our mates.

"Just being honest here," He winked, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"You don't need to be so honest all the time, trust me," I reminded him, kissing his cheek.

"We'll see about that."

Ambrielle came down with Alexander and joined the group gathering. "What's going on here?"

"Just us girls being embarrassed by these two brothers, you know?" Karlienne answered, looking up at Ambrielle and Alexander.

"I know the feeling," Ambrielle snickered, nudging Alexander.

"It was one time!" He defended, rolling his eyes.

"It was a family dinner, you dimwit!" She retaliated.

"Oh, whatever," He huffed.

"Well, that sounds like an eventful time," I joked, nervously smiling.

"Absolutely not," The couple simultaneously answered.

"Okay," I trailed off.

~-~

I sat in the library flipping through a spell book. I glanced at the glimmering wedding ring on my hand. I still couldn't believe I was Almira West, not Almira Davenport. I had everything I wanted and more.

I was a queen, I was married to my mate, I was making friends again, everything was slowly getting better after the war.

"Hey," Karlienne waved, walking into the library.

"Oh, hey," I replied, looking up.

"So Cole and I are going on a date sometime this week, and I'm really excited!" She squealed, clapping her hands together. She leaned against a table. "You and Calix can make it a double date if you want."

"Oh, Karlienne, I don't know. I have a lot of paper work to get done and errands to run and-"

Karlienne cut me off. "Excuses, excuses, Mira! Queens are allowed to have fun and be loved too. You're coming. I already talked to Calix!"

"You what?" I shrieked, shock evident on my face. "And he agreed?"

"I did," Calix coyly replied, leaning against the door frame to my office.

"He did," Karlienne nodded.

"You did, huh? And what would we do on this double date?" I inquired, leaning forward and resting my chin on my folded hands.

"Annoying and embarrassing Cole," Calix smiled like a little boy.

Karlienne turned to him, surprised by his answer. "Wait I didn't agree to that!"

I laughed. "It'll be fine. They're just siblings pestering one another. We can do something with us girls if they get carried away."

"Ooh, I like the sound of that," Karlienne winked.

We all shared a laugh before sighing. "Let me tackle this paper work and then I'll stop for the day. We can talk to Cole about the double date later."

"Sounds good to me. Best of luck!" Karlienne bowed before walking out of the office. Calix came and sat down beside me, kissing my temple.

"Don't overwork yourself," He ordered, looking at me sternly.

"I'll try. No promises," I cheekily smiled, setting a stack of papers on the desk for me to review and sign.

"Almira," Calix warned, crossing his arms.

"I'm almost finished. I'll get it done soon and then you can pamper me and complain all you want," I defended, scribbling my signature on the paper before setting it aside.

"Fine," He huffed. He stood up and walked out, leaving me with silence and a stack of papers.

~-~

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Before pulling my sleeve up, I traced my fingers across the long, thick scar I had received from Abelia taking over and fighting Sephtis. I remember the pain I felt from it when I woke up.

Calix walked up behind me and noticed my trance with the scar. He moved my hand away from the scar and wrapped his arms around my torso, dipping his head to place a series of feathered kisses on the scar. "It's over, babe. Alastor is dead, for good."

I nodded my head. "I know. I know that," I mumbled. I'm not sure whether I was answering him or reminding myself that he's finally gone. I still had night terrors of my nights spent with Alastor and Wryler. I still dreamt of my old, dead friends and the lives I witnessed taking their last breaths.

"Good," Calix replied, pulling the sleeve over my shoulder. He buttoned the back of my dress for me and tied the corset before spinning me around and leaning his forehead against mine. "I love you, Almira West."

I looked into his familiar eyes and smiled, feeling my face heat up. It still got me every time. "I love you too, Calix West."

"Now that you're finally dressed, ready to head out for that double date?" Calix teased, wrapping his arm around my waist and leading me out of our room.

"Of course. I can't wait for my date with Karlienne!" I jokingly answered, grinning at him.

Calix huffed and glared before shaking his head. "I should've known."

We walked down the stairs to see Karlienne and Cole waiting for us, chit chatting. Karlienne turned to us and smiled. "Finally! Has anyone ever told you that it takes ages for you to get ready?"

I gasped, placing my hand over my chest. "I did all of this for you!"

Karlienne paused and pouted, holding her arms out for me. "Awh, Mira!!"

"Karli!!" I whined, hugging her.

We both shared a laugh and the boys shared a regretful look. As they should.

We all walked into town, taking in the music and dancing, the amazing smell of food wafting in our noses, and the sunset giving off a warm glow to everyone.

"Should we get food first?" Cole questioned, looking at a restaurant across the street from us.

"I'm down," Karlienne agreed.

"Why not?" Calix shrugged, holding my hand as we crossed the street. We went inside and got a table, looking at the menu. Karlienne and I spent a couple minutes debating on what we wanted while Calix and Cole knew in like a minute tops.

We finally ordered drinks and food before conversing.

"So how's school going for you, Karlienne?" Calix pondered aloud, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair.

"Really well, actually. I've almost finished the year, meaning I'll be getting a break soon. I thought about skipping the break and just continuing to study, but everyone deserves a break every once in a while," She responded, reminiscing in her medical studies.

"Well I for one and really proud of you," I complimented her, sharing my appreciation for her hard work.

"I second that," Cole grinned, kissing her cheek.

Calix smiled at the sight of seeing his brother happy. I didn't blame him. Lauren took a toll on both of us, but more so Cole. She already had his kid and he lost more than just her when she died.

The server brought us our plates and we all murmured a series of thanks before digging into the mouth-watering food.

After paying and leaving the restaurant with full stomachs, we went to plaza where the dancing and music was, dancing with each other. Cole swept Karlienne away, their feet sliding across the floor in synch. The two weren't focused on anything else but the other.

Calix pulled me into an embrace and we began to dance together as well. "You know, I'm really happy for Karlienne and Cole," I commented, glancing at the couple before adverting my focus on Calix again.

"Me too. I began to think he wasn't going to recover from losing Lauren. He was down for weeks and only focused on work. I had to remind him half the time to eat and sleep," Calix recalled, spinning me around before pulling me back to him.

"It must be hard to lose a mate. I imagine it to be the worst pain in the world," I conveyed.

"It is. It's so unbelievably painful. It makes you feel like you want to die, and some don't survive losing their mate. It's not just a mental pain, but a physical pain. You lose the connection to them and it's like a part of yourself is missing, and you know what it is, but you also know you can never get it back. That's what I'm terrified to lose you, Almira. I don't think I could survive losing you. Not now, not ever."

I frowned and planted a kiss on his lips, hugging him. "I'm not going anywhere. Not now, not ever."

Soon the night grew nearer and the skies became darker, stars filling the black void. The moon shined brightly, illuminating a pale glow everywhere. Karlienne, Cole, Calix, and I all decided to participate with sending off lanterns.

Every year, a tradition from Galadia that I decided to keep was to light a lantern and send it into the sky to represent your loved ones that you've lost. Considering our fair share of bloodshed and death, I chose to keep it and it's happening tonight.

I held the lantern and Calix lit it, handing the flame to Cole who lit his and Karlienne's. The two of us couples held our lanterns and lifted them up, watching as the floated up into the sky.

"Tonight is definitely a night to remember," Karlienne sighed, staring at the lantern-lit sky.

"Definitely."

~-~•~-~