Where the Land meets the Sky

Chapter 16 Amelia

 Just moments after Kiraleth leaves our chambers, Wendy lets herself in. The attendant looks anxiously around the room, searching for Kiraleth, I presume. When she's confirmed that my so-called husband isn't around, she scurries over to my bedside and kneels down.

"Your highness, I found the most beautiful gown today. You must put it on and come with me," she whispers.

My brow furrows. "Why?"

"Because," Wendy giggles. "Just trust me."

I sigh, and fall back into my bed. I am far too tired to argue. Whatever it is she's scheming at, I'm sure it's harmless. I don't have a reason to doubt Wendy, after all the time we've spent together.

I allow the attendant to dress me up in a peach-colored ball gown. She combs my hair up into a magnificent tower atop my head. I personally think it looks a little ridiculous, especially since it's just an average day as far as I'm aware.

I sit at the vanity and yawn as Wendy applies my makeup.

"Your highness, hold still!"

"Sorry." I close my eyes and wait patiently for Wendy to finish. Once she's done playing dress-up with me, Wendy leads me down the corridor, to the ball room downstairs.

Our ballroom isn't nearly as extravagant and well-decorated as it used to be. All of the elegant paintings and marble sculptures were sold months ago to fund the war. We stopped hosting parties all together. So this room is entirely empty, although the polished white floor and stone columns still remain.

My muscles tense as I step inside. There's an armored draconid standing alone in the center of the ball room.

A royal knight stands in the center of the ball room. I freeze in place.

"Isaac?" I ask. My voice comes out meek and soft. "What are you doing here?" I stutter.

Sir Isaac Vasquez bows and gracefully extends his arm out beside him. His white metallic scales make it all the more easy to see the contouring of his well-defined muscles. His black suit is tightly fitted to his toned body and his thick spiked tail curls upward with interest.

"It's been a long time, my princess."

Isaac's brownish-green eyes glint slightly under the ballroom chandelier as he looks up at me.

My heart pounds in my chest. What is he doing here? Lord Vasquez is Isaac's father. Even if the duke was summoned by the king, there should be no reason for Sir Isaac to be here.

I hear the door close behind me as my attendant excuses herself from the room, leaving me alone with the duke's son.

"I trust you've been well?" He asks, his voice low and husky. Isaac walks toward me. His heeled shoes clicking against the stone floor. "How is your new husband treating you?."

"Better than most." I cross my arms. "Better than you, anyhow."

"Oh Lia, you injure me." He places his hand on the center of his chest and cranes his head back.

"Don't call me that, I don't belong to you anymore."

"You never belonged to anyone as far as I'm concerned." Isaac leans in close to me. I back up toward the wall, until I can't go any farther. He reaches up and plays with one of curls hanging out of my hairdo.

"Tell me honestly," he says. "How are you? Really?"

It's hard to believe now that I was once in love with this fool. We first met when I was thirteen. Isaac was a perpetual flirt. He was a little bit older than me. At the time, I wasn't used to being complimented. I sort of liked his constant flirting. It made me feel a little better about myself. Especially since he didn't criticize my hobbies and interests.