Page 111 of Of Storm and Emerald
Breads of varying kinds filled baskets, while glass cases of pastries lined one side of the room. There were shelves of assorted cheeses, and even some fresh fruit. But the thing that caught her eye was the fresh tray of croissants that Jodie pulled out of the stone oven at the back of her shop.
Auraelia inhaled deeply, her eyes rolling to the back of her head from the delicious aroma. “Jodie, those smell absolutely divine.”
“They do, don’t they? When Daemon came back from his trip to Lyndaria he wouldn’t shut his trap about some chocolate filled pastries that he had, so I decided to give them a try.”
Auraelia cut her gaze to Daemon, eyes wide with curiosity. He refused to meet her gaze as a fresh flush, the color of the wax on a cheese wheel, covered his face. She smiled and took a few steps until they were toe to toe, and he was forced to look her way.
“You talked that sweet old lady into making chocolate croissants and then brought me all the way into the city to try them? Daemon Alexander, do youlikeme?” Her voice was only loud enough for his ears.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his hands flexing by his side in frustration. His eyes flicked toward the kitchen, presumably to make sure that Jodie was preoccupied, before he lightly gripped her chin between two fingers. The golden pools of his eyes turned molten as his desire flared to life. Keeping his voice low, he growled, and she felt it all the way down to her toes. “Princess, what have I told you about that smart mouth of yours?”
They left the bakery with full stomachs and fuller hearts. Jodie was a delight to be around, and Auraelia loved how comfortable she felt in her presence. It was like being with family instead of with someone she’d just met. Not to mention that the croissants had been even better than she imagined, and she made sure to bring some with her to share with Xander and Piper.
The rest of the afternoon went much like their encounter at the bakery. Daemon took her along the waterways that ran throughout the city. Showing her how they interconnected so that people could travel from one end of the city to the other without having to worry about foot traffic. He took her to the marketplace where people from all over Ixora could come to sell and barter their goods, explaining how their ports and exchanges worked. And everywhere they went, they were met with friendly faces eager to show him their wares. Faces that grew even more excited when they learned he was with the princess from Emerald. He met each of them with a smile and a handshake, taking the time to speak with all who approached him.
He knew his people. And in one day, he’d shown her just how much helovedhis people and how beloved he was in return.
As they continued their way through the city, he took his time, showing her everything that it had to offer. From pointing out and naming the numerous different plants and birds, to regaling her with stories from his childhood.
The day was perfect. Aside from them being addressed by their titles, she could almost imagine that they were two normal people spending the day together. Getting to know each other without treaties looming overhead, and kingdoms that relied on them.
Almost.
Auraelia was so lost in her thoughts, that she hadn’t noticed they were riding out of the city, or that Daemon had been calling her name.
“Auraelia?” Worry tangled in that one word, and it pulled her from her thoughts.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” A smile pulled at her lips, and she hoped that it would ease the worry that had etched itself into his features. But the furrow in his brow told her that he hadn’t bought it.
“I said I have something to show you.”
She laughed, and it brought some light back into her tone. “Daemon, you’ve beenshowingme things all day.”
He smiled in return, causing tiny creases to form by the corners of his eyes. “True, but this is one of my favorite spots on the island. Think of it as my Nefeli Lake.”
At his mention of her and Piper’s secret lake, she was immediately intrigued, and her smile grew in excitement.
“I think it would be a good place to talk.”
And just like that, the illusion of them being just a man and a woman enjoying each other’s company, without duty or responsibilities outside of themselves, came crashing down around her.
Despite her knowing they needed to have this conversation, she wanted to bejustAuraelia and Daemon for a little while longer.
Pasting a smile on her face, she tried to make sure that it reached her eyes as she nodded her head.
“Sounds perfect.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Daemon
Thesmileonherface wasn’t fooling anyone. Despite her efforts, it didn’t reach her eyes and he saw the moment his words popped the blissful bubble they had been floating in all day.
It killed him to break the spell they were under.
In a perfect world, they could have continued as they were. Traveling side by side without a care in the world. But they didn’t live in a perfect world.
They lived in a world where distance separated them, and treaties could keep them apart.
