A L M I R A

Chapter 22
Almira Davenport

They?

"Well, you see, your majesty, the merchants are wanting their own area in the town to set up and sale while they're here. Of course it wouldn't be permanent, but they are constantly gossiping and asking for it," the man said, his dark eyes occasionally glancing to my direction.

I shifted under the uncomfortable attention I was receiving. While it was little, I'd prefer none at all.

"Okay, that could possibly be done. What about border patrol?" Calix continued, taking a note on his pad about the stands for merchants.

"Border patrol is as usual. People go in and out, but lately, there's been an increase in vampires and humans. There's also an increase in merchants with blood bags and herbs for the local witches," the man responded, taking a sip of his beer.

"Oh?" Calix was intrigued. I don't blame him. "Get me a list or map of where these merchants and incomers are going."

"Yes, your highness. Do you have any other questions?"

"Do you have any more information I must know?" Calix raised an eyebrow, his eyes boring into the other man's.

The man paused for a second before responding. "Bandits. There's a couple more a couple miles outside of the border, but they don't seem to be working with anybody, just trying to get free stuff more often."

"I see. That'll be all. Thank you," Calix nodded, standing up. He turned his attention towards me and smiled, holding his hand out.

I played along, smiling and taking his hand, standing up. He kissed the back of my hand and pulled me close to him before walking out.

I let out a sigh of relief, finally relaxing a bit. "So this trip you're going on for the allies, is it just you?"

Calix didn't respond for a second. "I'm not sure if I'm leaving you at the castle or taking you with me. It's a lot of traveling and a lot of risks for you to be taken again."

"I'm fine with either. If I stay at the castle, I already know you'll increase the guards, and I'll either be glued to Ambrielle's side or locked in one room," I acknowledged. He's done it before, why wouldn't he do it again?

"That is true," Calix conversed.

We continued to walk through the down, not really don't anything. He hand was still holding mine, but I wasn't complaining. I knew these moments would vanish as soon as the day was over, so I relished in them while I could.

"You know, I've been thinking," Calix began, stopping to look at me. "Would you be interested in attending the royal meetings?"

I was taken aback by the offer. "You mean the meetings Ambrielle, Cole, and Alexander go to?"

"Those would be the ones," He nodded, looking down at me. "I assumed you would want to be there considering there's a whole war over your blood and my fall."

"Sure," I smiled. "I'll come to the meetings."

~-~

The day where Calix goes to meet and talk with his allies finally came. He had his stuff packed up and we were all saying goodbye.

"Remember, no walking alone, you still sleep in my room, and you use communication spells if something goes wrong," Calix lectured, looking down at me.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I mumbled, waving him off. "Get out of here and come back in one piece, would ya?"

He rolled his eyes and went to talk to Cole and Alexander. I turned around and decided to walk away. Calix would be fine. He's tough, he can take care of himself.

I walked back to the room and sat on the bed. It was kind of boring without the bickering between Calix and I, or Cole's annoying ass. Calix has decided to take Cole with him, so Alexander and Ambrielle were in charge while they were gone.

I looked around the room and kicked my feet, blowing air. What to do while Calix is gone?

It suddenly hit me and I jumped up from
the bed, running down the hallway. The guards jumped and followed after me, their chains and cords making a clinking sound.

I pushed open the library doors and quickly searched around before going to a wall of books, grabbing a couple books off the shelf. I went to the table in the library and sat down, flipping open the pages.

"M'lady, what's the meaning of this?" One of the guards asked, standing beside me and I flipped through the books feverishly.

"I think I know how to help Calix in the war," I grinned, looking up at him.

"With all do respect, M'lady, Calix will most likely reject your advances. He's a very stubborn man," The other one voiced, the two men pulling out chairs to sit at the table with me.

"Hear me out. I'm a rare hybrid, yeah? My blood does unimaginable things to supernaturals, and Alastor got over half of the night of the wedding. If I can make a spell to taint my blood and anyone who's drank it in the past month, I can weaken Alastor, undo the spell, and give the strength to Calix if he drinks my blood," I ranted, looking at them.

"That wouldn't work. If you reversed the spell after harming Alastor, it'll restore his strength, and it wouldn't be useful to Calix," The guard to my left objected, shaking his head. "It would be a waste of time and your magical energy."

"Okay, so what if I got Calix to drink my blood?" I persisted, looking between the two.

The two guards were silent before the one on the right spoke up. "Brooks?"

The guard on the left, who I learned was Brooks, stared at the one on the right. "Dallas, you know as well as I do he wouldn't lay a hand on her, let alone bite her and drink her blood."

"Maybe so, but what if we put my blood in his drinks without him knowing?" I postulated.

"That could work," Brooks muttered, thinking about it for a second.

"I could prick myself or cut myself somewhere he'll never see and drain it into the blood containers like the merchants carry. So during meal preparations, I can sneak in and put it in his wine. Or he could straight up drink my blood whenever he drinks blood. Alastor claimed it was sweet, so maybe he'll ask for more of it?"

"Possibly. We could try it, but if we get caught, we're in big trouble, you understand that, right, M'lady?" Dallas reminded, looking at me. "You'd be in serious trouble."

"I'll save you guys the trouble. You never heard me say this plan, you never vouched or offered another plan, you won't even know when I cut myself to bleed into the containers. All you know is I'm a bitch that asked for her own space and privacy. Calix will believe that before anything," I countered, looking between Brooks and Dallas.

The two men shared a glance before turning to me. Brooks let out a sigh. "On one condition. When you go to get containers, we come with you. You can't be dress like the royals, though."

"Absolutely not. If they notice you're a royal, the stakes rise and the dangers are more prominent to show. We'll have to dress like the commoners," Dallas interjected.

"So then it's a deal? You'll help me with my plan?" I smiled. This could actually work. I would have to check with Ambrielle, but if this turns out the way I want it to, Alastor won't see it coming.

"Deal."

"Deal."

I grinned and quickly hugged both of the boys before standing up. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!" I squealed. "I promise we won't get caught!"

"Get caught doing what, exactly?"

I jumped and turned to the door. "Alexander, hey..."

"What are you kids getting into?" He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.

"Well, you see, Alexander," I trailed off, fidgeting with my fingers. "I found a way to help Calix against Alastor, but Calix can't know or he won't take my help."

"What's this way, exactly?" Alexander peered.

"Well, Ambrielle mentioned what my blood can do. So if I made Calix drink my blood, it would help him greatly, would it not?"

"Yes, but Calix is quite the stubborn man. He wouldn't bite you, even if it meant winning the war."

"That's why when he drinks blood, he drinks mine. He'll never know it's my blood. He'll just know he feels better after it and want more of it."

"I see... But how would you preserve it or contain it for the maids and servants?"

"The blood containers that merchants use."

"You've really thought this out, haven't you?" Alexander signed, rubbing his temples.

"Yes! But Alexander, it could help so much! Please, don't rat me out. I'll make sure to have the spell book nearby to stop the bleeding once the containers are filled. I won't do it too much, I swear!" I pleaded. If Alexander told on me, the plan would fail.

"Calix hasn't even been gone for a day yet and you're already getting into mischievous shenanigans," Alexander mumbled. He shook his head and looked at me. "Fine. But if you get caught, don't mention me, okay? I don't feel like being a new love target for the warriors to practice their aim on."

"I won't, I swear! Thank you, Alexander!" I grinned.

Maybe this would work after all?

~-~

I rummaged through the servants' closets, looking for common clothes. I was gonna head into town and get blood containers to get a head start. I grabbed a brown dress that went to my ankles and then ran out, leaving a thank you note behind.

I ran to Calix's room quickly, changing into the dress and putting the corset on. I turned my attention to the reflection in the mirror and smiled. This looked like it could actually work. I tied my hair back and put on the cloak, taking the hood off. I slid on black flats and made my way out to the guards.

"I'm ready!" I announced, looking at the two boys before me. They looked like your common men. Their appearances filled me with excitement, the idea that this is actually working danced around in my head.

"Well, I can agree you do look basic, M'lady," Brooks smirked, checking me out.

Dallas nodded his head in agreement. "Indeed. I do believe we pulled off the commoner look, wouldn't you, M'lady?"

"Almira. Call me Almira," I exhorted.

"Yes, M'la— Almira," Dallas coughed, fixing his collar.

"Shall we get going? We don't want to be gone for too long," Brooks encouraged, awaiting my response.

"Right, I totally forgot the time," I murmured. "Let's make this quick, I still have to make sure I perfected the spell to stop the bleeding."

"You mean you're unsure if you can stop it or not?" Dallas questioned, surprise covering his face.

"Well, I couldn't think straight earlier. I just couldn't focus, not really sure why," I answered honestly, sighing.

"Hey, it's okay. I get the whole war thing over you and Calix is stressful, but it's not your fault, okay?" Brooks assured, rubbing my back.

"Sure," I muttered.

"We're wasting time over nonsense. Let's just get moving," Dallas rushed. We made our way out of the castle, the boys secretly arming themselves with knives in the boots. I had a dagger in the corset that was unnoticeable.

Once we arrived into the town, the music from a nearby band rang throughout the streets. I looked around, smiling. Nobody seemed to pay any attention to me, and I couldn't help but feel normal for once. No Calix, no curse, no special blood, no witchcraft, nothing. I was just normal.

"The merchants with the blood and containers are usually over in the outskirts, but it's getting dark," Dallas commented, his guard still up.

I remembered the meeting with the town guy spy. Bandits were on the border, but there had been an increase in merchants with blood.

"I think I know where to go."

~-~•~-~