Page 121 of Of Storm and Emerald
At his entrance, the priestess in charge looked up from where she was sitting behind a large mahogany desk–her eyes narrowing at him as he stalked across the room.
The library was a quiet and peaceful space, and Daemon had thoroughly disrupted that peace.
“Is there something that I can help you with, Your Highness?” She tried to keep her voice light and cheery, but there was an undercurrent of annoyance.
“I need anything, and everything, you have on the Court of Garnet.”
At the mention of Garnet, the priestess’s eyes widened slightly. Shock briefly crossed her features before she composed herself once more. She cleared her throat and cast her eyes downward, then continued to work on whatever she was doing before his disruption.
“I’m not sure we have anything on that particular court, Your Highness.”
Rage burned beneath his skin, his shadows scratching beneath the surface, begging to be released as his temper grew.
The muscles in his jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth to keep his anger in check. His hands flexed at his sides as shadows began to pool at his fingertips.
“Priestess,” his voice came out as a warning growl. “I know we have something on that damned court, and you will tell me where it is. And you will tell menow.”
She looked up from her work, fire burning in her gaze as her lips set into a hard line. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. But anything we may have on that court is locked away in the archives. And the only person with access to it–”
“Is my father.” Daemon’s nostrils flared as realization set in.
“Correct. Only the king’s magic will open the archives.So, until you are king, there is nothing I can do for you.”
He huffed out a breath, gave the priestess a curt nod, and then left the way he came.
There was no way to get any information on Garnet without talking to his father. The same father who had been avoiding him for the last month and a half.
He knew he wouldn’t get anything from him, and it looked like his mother wasn’t going to be much help either.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, he shadow-walked back to his rooms.
He needed to let Auraelia know what he learned, even if it was only that he had no way of learning anything without his father’s help.
With his letter sent off, he settled onto one of the couches in his study–a glass of whiskey dangling between his fingers and his head propped on one of the cushioned arms.
It wasn’t long before he felt his magic coiling through the air, and a letter appeared on his chest swathed in ribbons of shadow.
He grabbed the parchment and sat up, placing the glass of amber liquid on the table.
Quickly opening the note, he read her words and a smile pulled at his lips as one line resonated above the rest.
“I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks.”
Chapter Forty
Auraelia
Thelastthreemonthswere simultaneously the longest and the shortest she’d ever experienced.
Long, because she missed Daemon, and knowing that she would see him for fall solstice made the time creep by. And short, due to her days being filled with trying–to no avail–to find any and all information that she could on Garnet.
But it was finally two days before the solstice celebration, which meant preparations were in full swing and the lords and ladies from other courts would begin arriving later that evening and through the following day.
Auraelia and Piper had been busy in the kitchens since the early morning. Helping chop, dice, and sauté the multiple different fruits that were being turned into sauces and purées for various dishes.
The smells that filled the large kitchen were decadent and delicious.
Freshly baked breads and cakes, assorted pies and pastries, and of course–at Auraelia’s special request–trays and trays of buttery, chocolate croissants.
