Page 134 of Of Storm and Emerald
It was a deep shade of emerald, and the skirt was made of layers upon layers of tulle in varying cuts and lengths that were all edged in gold to mimic the veins that coursed through the natural gems.
Like her dress from Kalmeera, the bodice was made from strips of pleated fabric that crisscrossed over her torso. There were cutouts on her sternum and the side of her waist that wrapped around to the back of the dress, which were left open save for the thin straps that went across her shoulder blades.
Her ladies moved in a synchronized dance around her. They curled and pinned her hair into a magical looking updo and used emerald pins to secure the gold version of her circlet that her mother commissioned for the occasion.
The gold cuff that they slid onto her arm was cold against her skin, and the scalloped chains that hung down her bicep swayed delicately with her movements.
Her makeup was minimal, with only a little bit of rouge on her cheeks and a barely-there color on her lips, but her ladies brought an immense amount of focus to her eyes. Her lids had been dusted in champagne gold powder and then a deep brown in the outer corners, and they had even painted her lashes as Yvaine had.
When she was fully dressed, and her ladies gave her a moment of peace, she slipped on the final piece of her ensemble and smiled to herself. There was only one person who would see the addition, and she couldn’t wait to see his face.
Auraelia walked into her sitting room where Piper had been getting ready and stopped in her tracks–her friend looked stunning.
Piper had chosen peridot as her gem and wore the color beautifully.
Her gown was a sweetheart cut that tapered in at her waist before flowing out into a beautiful chiffon skirt of varying shades of muted yellow and bright greens, and the uppermost layer was a shimmering gold.
Her eyes had been dusted in the same champagne gold powder, a dark line of kohl had been flicked upwards past the outer corner to make her eyes appear larger, and her lips were painted deep, berry red.
Piper’s naturally straight hair had been left loose, but she’d slicked down the front sections then pinned them behind her ears and added tiny crystals.
The final touch to their looks was to dust any visible skin with a sheer, shimmering, powder that would make them sparkle beneath the light like gemstones.
Once both women were ready, the swarm of help filtered out, leaving them a moment's peace before they had to join the rest of the party downstairs.
“Piper, you look beautiful,” Auraelia said as she grasped her friend’s hands firmly in hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
Piper returned the gesture and smiled. “So do you. Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Let's have some fun tonight.”
They both nodded as a knock sounded on the door.
Auraelia called for them to enter, and Xander stepped into the suite.
She watched as his eyes consumed every inch of Piper, and she had to fold her lips inward to keep the grin from her face.
“You look beautiful.” There was awe in his voice, and as if he realized he hadn’t yet looked toward his sister, he cleared his throat and snapped his focus to Auraelia. “Youbothlook beautiful.”
She didn’t say anything about his misstep, she didn’t need to. Her Cheshire smile said everything. “Thank you, Xander. Is it time to go down?”
His gaze had traveled back to Piper, and she didn’t miss the deep flush that radiated down Piper’s neck as she attempted to keep her gaze from Xander’s.
When he didn’t answer her, clearly lost in his own thoughts, she called his name in an attempt to pull his attention back to the task at hand.
“Hm? Oh, sorry. Yes, it’s time to go. Are you both ready?”
“Yes, we’re ready.” Auraelia took a few steps toward the door and halted. Turning back to where Piper was still standing still as a statue. “Piper? Are you coming?”
Piper finally turned from the window that had evidently become intoxicatingly interesting when Xander entered the suite and met his gaze head on. “Yes, sorry. I’m coming.”
Auraelia’s gaze leapt from Piper to Xander, and back again. The tension between them was palpable, and she had a feeling it wouldn’t take much of a spark for them to ignite.
Rolling her eyes, she stalked toward the door muttering, “You’re both idiots,” as she walked past Xander.
The celebration was in full swing by the time they made it downstairs.
The entire main area of the castle had been turned into a staging area. The throne room was open to the main hall, as were the doors that led into the ballroom and the ones that led out into the gardens.
