She's late. She knows she is. She hadn't meant to get so distracted, but she was too taken with the sight to not explore a bit more. The island was one she had never seen before. She's always praised herself on knowing the land below her, but this one place had her stumped. It wasn't a large island, but it wasn't small either. The entire thing seemed to be covered in a thick smog. She flew around and around above the island, scanning for any visible entry point.
She wasn't stupid. She knew not to simply land Nisaria when she didn't know what could be lurking beneath the thick grey cloud. Nisaria could easily fight off anything that may be on the island, but Amaris didn't want to make her dragon do that. It was meant to be a quick flight to calm her growing nerves.
It's not that she disliked King Richard; it was quite the opposite. She loved the King much like a second father. He had watched her grow up, after all. He was never rude to her, never mean. He treated her exactly like he treated Anastasia. It wasn't the King who made her nervous.
It was his arrogant son, Kaine, that made her nervous. He hated her for a reason she knew not. Try as she might to make the older boy like her, he was steadfast in his hatred. He went out of his way to belittle her during these meals. In his eyes, she always seemed to be doing something wrong.
Nisaria landed as soft as she could, and, trying not to stumble, Amaris rushed down her wing. She quickly rounded the long neck of her dragon, running a hand over the light scales as she did so. Nisaria, oddly enough, loved to be pet. Amaris liked to compare her to a cat sometimes. Nisaria purred as well, just like a cat. No one ever believed her when she told everyone that.
"I'm sorry for rushing you, old girl, but I do appreciate you getting me back so fast," Amaris told her purring dragon. She quickly leaned her forehead against Nisaria's snout, drawing in the comfort her dragon was offering. She let the warmth wash over her being as she inhaled deeply. She pulled back with a nod, silently letting Nisaria know she was free to leave and explore.
She didn't even wait for her girl to take to the skies before she was turning around and booking it inside the castle. She would've gone straight to the dining hall, but she knew she likely looked like a mess. She just needed to tidy up her clothes and brush her hair. As she ran, she took a quick sniff of her clothes. She smelled fine. She wouldn't need to change.
She threw open her door once she reached it, immediately rushing to her vanity. One look in the mirror made her grimace. Her hair was windswept, and her cheeks were bright red. She took her brush through her wild curls, jumping slightly when someone appeared in the mirror behind her. She calmed once she realized who it was.
"I told you not to go," Luce scolded her as she approached.
Amaris winced as she tore through a particularly matted knot. "I don't remember that."
Luce gave her a deadpan stare through the mirror. "You told me you'd make it back on time. That I was 'worrying for nothing.'"
"I'm a different person than I was earlier."
Amaris winced again as she brushed and brushed at her curls. Eventually, she just sighed and grabbed her pins. Luce, without needing the prompting, braided her hair faster than Amaris could ever hope to.
"I know you're nervous, but I'm sure it won't be that bad. Maybe he'll leave you alone this time," Luce suggested, pinning her braid against her head. Amaris raised a brow at her through the mirror.
Luce sighed and nodded, "Or not."
Amaris stood quickly once her hair was in place, placing her hands on her cheeks to try and quell the flush that had risen during her dash through the halls. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was startled out of her calming state by something being sprayed all over her. She coughed as it entered her mouth.
"You reek of dragon," Luce told her.
Amaris made her way to the door, bringing her sleeve up to smell her 'new' scent. She reeled back at how strong it was. "I smell like flowers threw up on me."
"Oh well," Luce shrugged at her, ushering her out the door. Amaris willingly went, straightening her clothes as she passed through the doorway.
She paused, turning back to face her best friend, adding, "Thank you. You're the best."
"I know."
The two shared a smile before Amaris was, once again, rushing down the hall. She made it to the hall in no time. She briefly paused outside of the double doors, taking a deep breath. The guard on the left of the door bowed his head towards her. "My lady."
The second guard also bowed his head. "He's not in yet, my lady."
Her gaze snapped from the first guard to the second. "He's not here yet?"
She was met with nods from them. She almost collapsed in relief. She voiced her thanks to them as they opened the doors for her. She thanked them for a second time as she passed through the doors. The doors weren't even shut before she was being scolded.
"You're late," her big brother, Edmund, spoke up from where he was sat. She grimaced slightly as she made her way to her seat beside Anastasia. She gave her younger brother, Jasper, a kiss on the head as she passed him.
"Not late, brother. I simply arrived after everyone else."
"That's late, smartass."
"Surely, that's no way to speak to a lady."
"I'm not speaking to a lady. I'm speaking to you."
Amaris grumbled slightly under her breath as she took her seat. Anastasia smiled knowingly at her, "You're here before my father. That's all that matters."
"It's my father I was worried about," Amaris whispered to her friend.
"Him, too," Ana nodded, squeezing Amaris' hand.
Amaris felt eyes on her. Her own eyes fell shut as she realized who was looking at her. She didn't even need to look up to tell whose stare it was. She discreetly took another deep breath before opening her eyes and addressing the men across from her, "My princes. How are you all doing?"
Daniel, Kaine's eldest brother, smiled politely at her, "Very well, my lady."
His youngest brother, Elijah, also smiled at her. His was infinitely more genuine. "We won't tell them you were late! You were on time, in my eyes."
Amaris nodded at him, "That's why you're my favorite."
Elijah grinned cheekily at her. Her own smile turned fake the moment her eyes turned to the middle brother. She wasn't surprised to see him narrowing his eyes at her; it seemed to be the norm for him. Still, she nodded her head at him in an attempt to be civil for the nth time. "Prince Kaine. I hope you're well."
"Off on your beast again, were you?" He asked her, raising a single brow at her.
She cleared her throat slightly as she bit down her snappish reply to him. She couldn't give him more ammunition during this meal. She bit her lip, trying to channel her anger into that instead of the man across from her. "What makes you think that?"
"You smell worse than Lady Rivers," Kaine dryly insulted her. Lady Rivers was notorious for her strong perfumes that she wore on the daily. Kaine, more than anyone, insulted the older lady for her scents. She knew his statement was an insult coming from him.
She didn't say anything to him. She just smiled and moved on. She couldn't wait until she was out of this room and back in her own. Really, she just wanted her bed. First, though, she had to get through this family dinner.
She, along with everyone else, stood as the King's presence was announced. Briefly, her eyes met Kaine's as they waited for the doors to open. He glared at her. She couldn't stop her eyes from slightly rolling when she noticed. If she didn't know that his staring was based in hate, she'd think he was obsessed with her. She turned away from him, deciding to focus on the men about to enter the room. She would simply deal with him later.
She stifled a sigh when the doors finally opened. And so it begins, her mind supplied to her.