Page 31 of Of Storm and Emerald
Daemon gripped her hips and spun her around, pulling her flush against his chest. Lightly gripping her chin, he tilted her head up so that their gazes were locked. “Don’t tempt me, Princess. I’ll pull you into my shadows and never let you go.” Then he devoured her mouth with his before turning her back around. “Now, be a good girl, and do as you’re told.”
Though his tone was joking, it still sent a flood of desire between her legs.
She did as he commanded and focused on her chambers.
She pictured her cobalt and silver embroidered coverlet draped across her bed, and the starry midnight blue canopy that hung above it. She felt the air stir around her as darkness consumed the light outside her lids. She felt him press a kiss to her temple then whisper, “See you soon, my star.”
The next thing she knew, the world was temporarily stripped away, and when she opened her eyes, she was in her chambers.
Alone.
Auraelia shuffled to her bed, still dressed in Daemon’s dressing gown, and climbed in. Pulling the soft fabric tighter around her body, she inhaled his scent as she stared at the beaded stars above her, a smile on her lips.
“You dirty, dirty, bitch,” Piper shrieked as she bounded into Auraelia’s room, breaking her pleasant reverie. Jumping onto the bed, Piper grabbed a pillow to make herself comfortable, “You better spill all the filthy details.”
Auraelia smiled at her friend, then subconsciously pulled the lapels of Daemon’s dressing robe higher.
“Wait a goddess damned minute. Is thathis?!”
Auraelia turned the color of her mother’s peonies and nodded before burying her face into her own pillow.
Piper shrieked and began hitting her with the pillow she’d snagged earlier. “Oh, no, ma’am. You’re going to tell me every sordid detail of that encounter last night–”
“Encounters,” she interrupted, a smirk on her lips.
“Oh, my goddess. Rub it in, why don’t you.” Piper rolled her eyes and emphasized her mock disdain with another hit of her pillow. “Either way, I need to know. Preferably before your nosey lady’s maids come in here and start asking questions about where you got aman'sdressing robe.”
At that, Auraelia jumped up from her bed, a slew of curses leaving her mouth as she stripped out Daemon’s robe and tried to find hers to replace it, all while Piper went into a fit of hysterics on her bed.
“Rae, calm down. I sent them to get your breakfast before I came in here. Give me some credit.”
Auraelia stopped and took a deep breath before looking back at her friend. “I will tell you everything. Just help me get dressed.”
Excitement flooded Piper’s face, as she swiftly climbed from the bed and rushed to Auraelia’s side. “Don’t forget, we have training with Ser Aeron this morning. Oh, and then your mother wants you to sit in on the council meeting with all the nobles this afternoon.”
Ser Aeron, the commander of the queen’s army, was the only father figure in Auraelia’s life. He was a large man, standing taller than Xander and as wide and strong as an oak tree. His beautiful ebony skin was a high contrast to his hair, which looked like someone spilled pepper into a canister of sugar. It was twisted into locs that hung to his waist and were secured at the nape of his neck. Being the commander of the queen’s army, he was responsible for overseeing the training of all the soldiers, but he took it upon himself to personally train Auraelia and Xander. When Piper would distract her from the sidelines–which lead to numerous nicks and bruises–heinsistedthat Piper join in on the lessons stating,“Every man and woman needs to learn to defend themselves at the very least, and since Piper is your Lady in Waiting she needs to be able to guard your back, in more than just the politics of nobility.”
He was correct, of course.
Piper was well versed in the politics of court and made sure that Auraelia didn’t falter, but there was an added layer of comfort knowing that she could hold her own in combat should the need ever arise.
“Do I have time to change in between?” Auraelia asked.
Piper’s brief hesitation was answer enough.
Auraelia pulled out clothes for the day and started to dress, all while she relayed every dirty detail to Piper, whose eyes sparkled like the stars with delight.
“Holy shit, Rae! I’m all hot and bothered just hearing about it,” Piper exclaimed, fanning herself as she slid down the pillows while Auraelia finished recounting her night with Daemon.
Auraelia giggled at her friend’s theatrics and shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
Sitting up, Piper forced a serious expression onto her face. “How big are we talking here? I need specifics.” She held up her hands and slowly started pulling them apart. “Just tell me when to stop, okay?”
“Piper!” Auraelia’s eyes widened in shock and she hit her friend over the head with her pillow. “I am not giving youthatdetail!”
Piper pouted and stood, then muttered under her breath, “You’re no fun.”
Resigned to the fact she wasn’t getting any more details, Piper skipped away to let in the lady’s maids who had arrived with their breakfast. The smell of fresh croissants and coffee wafted through the suite and made her mouth water. As she finished lacing her boots, there was a knock at the suite door.
