The sun crept into the chamber slowly, cautious as if unsure whether it was welcome.
Light spilled across stone and silk alike, catching on scattered veils, discarded armor pieces, and the slow rise and fall of sleeping bodies. The room was warm from the depth of multiple people overnight.
Amon lay on his back, one arm draped lazily over a tangle of limbs and silver hair, a faint smirk tugging at his mouth.
Someone was still awake.
He turned his head slightly.
"Good morning, Nima," he murmured, voice low and measured, careful not to wake the others.
Across the room, Nima paused mid-motion.
She lowered the small tower of books she had stacked beside the window, setting them down with precise care. Morning light kissed her face, revealing features too sharp and symmetrical to be mortal, beautiful in a way that felt intentional rather than accidental.
The crown of dark metal she usually wore lay discarded on a nearby chair, alongside her blood-red veil.
Without it, her horns were fully visible.
They curved elegantly from her temples, pitch black and impossibly smooth, swallowing light rather than reflecting it. Even in the gentle morning glow, they seemed untouched by brightness, as if shadows clung to them by choice.
Nima met Amon's gaze.
For a moment, she simply looked at him, eyes intelligent, amused, and far too alert for someone who had clearly not slept. A faint blush warmed her cheeks, softening the severity of her expression and lending her a rare, almost shy humanity.
Then...
*Smack.*
A sharp sting snapped Amon's head to the side.
"Ow," he muttered.
He glanced down.
Tina was awake.
Or at least awake enough.
The scaled girl had somehow managed to migrate closer in her sleep, one leg thrown over his hip, one arm locked around his torso like a vice. Fine crimson scales crept up her cheek and along her neck, catching the light as she squinted at him with one eye half-open.
"You were smiling," she accused groggily.
"That's illegal now?" Amon asked.
"Yes," Tina replied without hesitation, tightening her grip. "Before breakfast."
Nima snorted softly.
"You hit him," she spoke, withdrawn.
"He deserved it," Tina said, already drifting back toward sleep, her forehead pressing into Amon's shoulder as if claiming it.
Amon sighed, but didn't move her.
Instead, his gaze returned to Nima.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
Nima shrugged lightly. "Someone had to make sure we weren't immediately poisoned, arrested, or stabbed in the night."
Amon's chest moved as a smirk began to rise on his face again.
She moved closer, leaning against the window frame, arms folding loosely as she studied him. "The castle is restless," she added. "Even now. Servants whispering. Guards are changing rotations more often than necessary."
"Otto's doing?" Amon asked.
"Otto's," she confirmed. "And the queen. I listened through the walls as passing guards spoke about the rapid armament."
Amon exhaled slowly.
"This is a pain," he said.
Tina shifted again, mumbling something unintelligible, claws flexing slightly before relaxing.
Nima's eyes flicked to her. "Shes a sloth," she noted dryly.
"I know," Amon replied, lightly tightening his one free arm to rest around her.
"Too lazy for any right," Nima said, deadpan.
That earned her a brief smile.
Amon glanced around the room at the others still sleeping, some crawled around one another for the limited amount of duvay, whilst others tried to climb to him and Tina.
"This place is dull," Nima spoke with boredom in her voice.
"I know, but it's home," Amon responds.
Silence stretched as the two stared into each other. However, before either could break the silence, one of the two, snuggling into one another, awoke.
"M-morning," Lily spoke as she stretched, revealing her amazing figure along with a pair of small dragon wings.
The wings stretched as well before the girl, hugging Lily under the covers, awoke as well. The two look at each other, showing their unnatural likeness. Their was twins, then their was Lily and Tily.
Tily hugged her sister as her hair moved like snakes, slithering around her sister. Lily looked down, mildly annoyed as the silver strands of hair moved with sentience to Lily's own silver hair.
Lily watched before pulling a hand back and forcefully smacking Tily. "Ouch!"
Tily curled into a ball at her sister's hit as her hair retreated back, returning to its normal, lush state.
The two began arguing over the hit, causing others around Amon to also awaken. Weirdly, Amon was thankful for the different features of the two sisters, as if it wasn't for Lily's wings or Tily's sentient hair from a normal person's view, they looked identical.
Sprawled near and atop one of Amon's legs came another figure, her back fair and pale, showing her mighty peaks before the duvey was razed, and she began inspecting the room.
"Still a shit whole," Maera spoke with mild anger at the state of the room. Although to a normal person's eyes it was spotless of dust or any type of foreign biological matter. To Maera and her dragonic eyes, she could see even in the darkness of night the movement of dust.
Finally came Ronara, she slept like a koala, strung her arms up as he claw like arms glissened in the sun, barreling into the room. She cared little for the duvey as she locked onto Amon and jumped onto him.
"Wayyy," Amon said as Ronara's claws dug lightly into his skin. Sitting atop his crotch, Ronara looked with happiness.
"Careful, Rona, don't wanna make me blee,d do you?" Amon asked in a hurry as he carefully moved Rona's hands. Their texture was rough yet smooth, her scale like hands making claws that could easily tear flesh from bone.
Suddenly, a knock came from the door.
*bangbang*
"Uncle Amon? Are you awake?" A young female voice came from beyond the door as everybody turned and locked onto Amon.
"Ye-Yes, give us a moment." That was the signal from Amon as all the women within the room ran for their veils and gowns. Frantically yet systematically placing them on.
This happened within ten seconds as they all sat or stood separated from one another. Without further ado, the door opened as Rhaenyra walked in. Dressed head to toe in a stunning black dress.
Her eyes scanned the women within the room. They had alll arrived on the back of Balerion and yet only two attended the dinner after the celebrations.
Her hand reached for the necklace Amon had gifted her as she finally saw Amon half in bed, half out. His tone and muscled body overwhelmed her vision as her face turned bright red.
Turning to look down to avoid the gaze of her Uncle, Rhaenyra spoke with a flustered tone.
"Fa-Father, w-would like to invite you for breakfast."
As Rhaenyra finished those words, two women, obvious to Amon as Tina and Tily, flared at the sound of food. Even behind their veins of blood, Rhaenyra could feel the dragon-like hunger coming from the two as she swallowed.
"Thank you, dear niece, we'll be but a moment," Amon sounded without worry as Rhaenyra turned and quickly left the room.
With the closing of the door, everybody let out a sigh before Maera turned to Amon.
"Well?"
Amon looked at Maera as everybody returned to making themselves presentable.
"We eat."
Those words were simple, yet Tina and Tily both jumped as they quickly fashioned their heels and arrived at the door before any of the others could mutter a single word.