A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 10 Amaya

"How do I look?" She asked Orion and spun around. Showing of the lilac coloured dress. She had debated whether to wear the same dress as she had in Velaris, but Hewn City and the Court of Nightmares demanded something different. Something more daring.

The lilac dress she had chosen, with help from Mor, was just that. Just as dramatic in the skirt, and animated by her Sand. Two panels of fabric came up from the waist band, covering her breasts before lopping around her neck. No dramatic cape this time, just her.

"They will not stop staring." Orion said and took a step forward, his warm hand came down on her hip. "You could be wearing a normal sweater and they would still stare." he placed a light kiss on her lips.

"Not helping." She laughed, trying to shake the nerves off before the night. "You think it is appropriate? Not too much?"

"It will be perfect." Orion smiled for a second, his dark eyes fixed on her. "You will be perfect."

"That might be too much to ask for." She took a step back, leaving his warm hands. "I am not perfect."

"Good, they won't notice." She looked away, feeling how her cheeks burned. She could try to ignore it, but whatever it was between them was starting to grow larger, and harder to ignore. Casual kisses and her sleeping in his arms was not enough anymore.

"When are the rest coming?" She asked, trying to act normal, trying to put all thoughts to the side as nerves started gathering inside of her.

"They are up in the Moonstone Palace." She nodded, looking around his apartment. "Waiting for you to be ready." Orion added, taking her hand in his. She had already done one, the first. This should not make her this nervous. But here she stood, pressing her hands against the skirt of the dress. This was different.

"I just need a moment." She took a few deep breaths, "Are you sure that they will welcome me?"

"Honestly?"

"Honestly." She closed her eyes.

"They will be amazed." Orion stepped closer, she felt his breath on her skin, "Of your power, your beauty, what you can do to them in the future. They will look at you and know that the world is different now. That the old rules are gone." She opened her eyes, seeing how close he was once again. His lips came down on hers again, and this time Amaya placed her hands at the back of his neck, holding on as she deepened the kiss, using it as a distraction.

"I don't want them to fear me." She whispered once she pulled away, creating space between them.

"They won't, they will worship you." For a second she believed that he would say something more, that his declaration was not over. But Orion remained quiet after that, Amaya held her eyes on him, liking her painted lips before nodding. They needed to go, no more distractions.

"I am ready." She declared. Orion gave a smile in return and soon the room around them changed. She had no idea how, for Orion could not Winnow, but at this point she had accepted that her father held more power then she truly understood, power that one day would be hers.

Everyone was dressed up for the night, a different type of edge existed in the clothes. From the details on the jackets, to the more striking dresses. Amaya held her head high, hoping to hide her nerves with confidence. Everyone in her family was there, including Etera, who was the one least dressed up. The shifter gave her a quick look before shifting to the Wolf, standing near Ikarads legs as usual.

"Still sure?" Her father asked, "The Court of Nightmares is not like us."

"I am sure." She nodded, still holding her head high. "They are a part of my future too."