The first day

She woke with the odd sensation of warmth surrounding her. Perhaps Francis her younger brother had climbed in bed with her again to ward off his nightmare. She smiled wrapping her arms around him and snuggling into his hair.

She paused a moment when she realized it wasn't hair her head was nuzzling. Nor was she holding her brother it was more like she was laying upon him. She frowned in confusion at the oddness of waking such. Eyes still tightly closed to avoid waking completely she wanted to soak in this contentment of drowsily waking with her younger brother.

Another oddity reached her nose as she smelt the hot scent of spices instead of Francis's warm sunlight smell. The scent invaded her senses and making her brow furrow in confusion once more. Now she was thoroughly perplexed.

"Francise?" she questioned sleepily.

Deep chuckles met her ears reverberating through her skull. "Saying other men's names isn't the best way to step forward as pair bonds Amelia." That deep slumberous voice roused her to action.

She sat up quickly eyes widening in shock at realizing her position. Head upon his chest hand gripping his arm. Her legs tangled amidst his own.

"Gideon. I-uh. Oh I am. . . Sorry." she was up and out of the bed and into the shower as quickly as she could go.

Deep chuckles followed her as she hid her reddened face behind her hands. She eventually moved to the shower and decided to start the day with a fresh outlook. The events of last night seemed like a dream and she wanted it to stay that way.

She wrapped herself in the towel provided and noted wryly she hadn't brought any garments in with her. She listened and smelt carefully before she entered the room. She contained her sound of shock when she noted Gideon lazing upon the bed.

"There are new robes for you with the symbols fitting of a dame for out clan. Oleander, silver, black and the daggers. I hope you don't mind I had my servants make them for you through the day." he stared up at the ceiling.

She made her way toward the ornate outfit laid out near his own. She took it and made to move into the bathing chamber when a hand on her arm stopped her.

"There is no need for modesty here Amelia. "it was the closest thing to asking as he could manage it seemed.

He reclaimed his original place on the bed and ignored her it seemed. So she over came her feminine fears and put on the karika skirt and the sash across her breasts. the pieces of fabric that wrapped about her arm just above her elbow and flowed down to sway at her sides came next.

She slipped on the plain black slippers and then placed the shawl about her shoulders embroidered upon then skirt shawl and arm pieces were the oleander blossoms. She began braiding her hair bit was stopped by those familiar hands.

"The dames of our clan wear their hair like this." he brought her hair up into a bun and then pinned it with the oleander hair pin. It rested below her bun and tinkled as she moved. "You are as breath taking as the moment I first saw you unveiled. Though I think blue and gold suits you more so than the colors of my clan."

She nodded feeling the awkwardness of this moment. " soon enough they will suit me. They are my colors now."

He smiled slightly and nodded his head glad to see her accepting him. He moved to the bathing chambers. There she heard the water begin to pound his flesh. The tentative knock on the door made her startle from her stool. She made to ask her new mate if she should grant entrance but his voice stopped her.

"You are a dame now you may permit entrance and greet guests accordingly." his voice muffled by the water.

She shook her head at the foolishness of herself and opened the door seeing a woman of the argent clan standing there.

"I am here to meet with lord Argent" she said nodding her head in respect.

"Please enter and be welcome." she said customary words of greeting.

"You are the Gideon's pair bond?" she asked taking the proffered chair across from Amelia's stool.

"Would you prefer wine blood or both." she queried as she moved to the decanters.

"Blood only. I'm a carnivore after all" the mystery lady said.

She nodded and silently did as was asked. After a few moments of silence watching the lady drink she simply started picking up the rooms mess.

The lady's laughter caused her to pause and glance over at her. "Your a pure blood dame and you are picking up the mess?" She said breathlessly.

"I am not so far removed from common folk as to not want to stay busy and productive. " she said noting the silence that followed was her sign that her words had the intended effect.

"Aria come here" her pair bond called quietly as the sounds of his shower ceased.

The lady rose and went to her pair bond. The door closed at his command. The hot flush of anger filled her cheeks and she moved out of the room. Going toward her one haven. Mira's library. Maybe she could lose herself in the shelves of books.

She was glad most were still getting ready for the celebrations of the mates and pair bonds. She found a thick book of tragedies and set down to read away her sorrows. The images didn't leave her. A pair bonded male allowing a unattached female into the privacy of his bathing chambers. Locking out his wife. Her fangs drew down in her anger.

They gold of her eyes burned brightly and the blue darkened. Metallic blue black and gold. No one dared to cross her. The dragons blood rumored to run in her bloodline lended toward wrath.

"What is a newly married lady doing here pouring over tragedies ?" A cool accented voice poured over her nerves like ice. Comforting.

She turned to find a male standing with a gypsy like attire. White tunic , red vest, and leather pants. High riding boots. The red bandanna about his long straight dark locks and the medallion on it told her of his draconian lineage. The violin case on his back told her who exactly he was. The Prince of the gypsies. Frost draconian.

"What of it?" She hissed at her long time friend.

A single raven brow rose the hint of his fang was seen beneath the lips parting in a smirk. A dagger was pulled out and it's edge tested.

"I take offense at your tone my lady"