Page 113 of Of Storm and Emerald
“Simple answer? I want you. But it’s not as simple as that.” He pulled his gaze from hers and lifted his feet from the water. Placing them flat on the rock face, he rested his forearms on his knees and stared out at the water that darkened with the sky.
Her hand was soft and gentle as she rested it on his shoulder, pulling his attention back to her. “Nothing about this is simple, Daemon. And we’re not going to figure everything out sitting here on this rock. But what wecando is make sure that we’re on the same page. That we both want the same things. I don’t want to leave here just as confused as I was when I arrived. I want toknowwhere we’re going from here.”
Daemon’s gaze bore into hers. “What is it thatyouwant, Auraelia? I’ve been telling you for days now that I want you, but I haven’t heard those words returned.”
A flush crept across her cheeks. It was barely perceivable in the dimming light, but he saw it just the same. When she tried to look away, he turned to kneel in front of her. Grasping her chin between two fingers, he slowly turned her face back to his and palmed her cheek as he ran his thumb across her cheekbone. “Tell me, please.”
Tears began to well in her eyes, and his heart sank with the idea that she may have changed her mind. But when he went to pull away, her hand held his to her face and she leaned into his touch.
Her tears began to spill over and run down his hand as she spoke. “I want you, too. When you left Lyndaria, you took a piece of me with you, and I don’t want it back. I’ve never felt like this before, Daemon, and I’m terrified.”
He wiped away the streams of tears that were flowing freely now and kissed her lips. Pulling away, he smiled and shook his head in disbelief. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted to hear those words?”
Her laugh was a hiccup through the tears, but she held his gaze. “So, what now?”
“Well, my star, now we figure out what we’re going to do about all of this. I know we can’t solve the problem with the treaty right now, or even in the immediate future. But like you said, we need to make sure we’re on the same page.”
Twilight took over the sky and stars began to shine like pinpricks of light through a dark tapestry, as he and Auraelia talked through their options. With their plan falling into place, the weight that blanketed his heart began to lighten.
“So, we’ll continue to write? As often as possible?” Auraelia asked, her eyes narrowed slightly with the question. No doubt remembering that it wasn’t long ago that he’d stopped.
Daemon nodded and continued to trace the line of her knuckles with his thumb. “I’ll also try to come to Lyndaria as often as I can. It’s not going to be easy with my father still ill, but I would pull the stars from the sky if it meant that I got to be with you.”
Auraelia flushed at his words and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
As the conversation continued, she decided that she would try to talk her mother into letting her visit Kalmeera as well, but they both knew that with the Fall solstice festivities with Topaz approaching–and all of the preparations that were required to pull it off–it wasn’t likely to happen.
As the heaviness of their conversation lifted, so did the corners of her mouth.
“So, it’s settled then. Communication and visits whenever possible,” she said with an excited gleam in her eyes.
“Yes, and we will both work on trying to find some way out of this damn treaty. One that works for both of us.”
Auraelia nodded her head in agreement, and smiled as he brought her hand to his lips, placing a light kiss on her knuckles. He wasn’t lying when he said that he would remove the stars from the sky if it meant he got to be by her side. If he had his way, she wouldn’t be leaving the Isles at all.
When he released her hand, and met her gaze once more, she seemed genuinely happy. A smile brighter than the moon stretched across her face and stardust sparkled in her eyes.
And he would do anything to keep it that way.
When the moon was in the sky, and the last fragments of sunlight rested on the horizon, Daemon stood and began to pull his shirt over his head.
Auraelia’s eyes widened slightly in confusion before she narrowed them. “What are you doing?”
“Going for a swim,” he answered as he unlaced the ties on his pants.
Her gaze traveled slowly down his body, stopping briefly at his hands, before bouncing back up to his face–eyebrow raised and a look of skepticism on her face. “A swim?”
Daemon stopped undoing his pants and squatted down in front of where she still sat. “Yes, a swim. Would you like to join me?”
She swallowed thickly, her gaze flicking from his face to the natural pool. “I–um.”
Daemon grabbed her hands and stood, pulling her with him. Stepping into her space, he ran his knuckles down the side of her face to her neck, then down her arm–her skin pebbling under his touch. When he turned her toward the water, her intake of breath was barely audible, but it still broadened the smile on his face.
The once crystal-blue waters were now a perfect mirror to the sky above. The moon and stars reflecting in the pool below.
Daemon pulled her back flush to his front and whispered into her ear, “Come swim among the stars with me, Auraelia.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
