Page 63 of Of Storm and Emerald
“Mother.” Daemon tilted his head, a look of amusement on his face as he rolled his eyes.
“What? Can’t a mother ask after her son?”
“Of course, but we have plenty of time to catch up.” He chuckled once more and shook his head. Moments passed before he cleared his throat, his tone taking on a more serious tone. “How’s father?”
Queen Avyanna sighed, “Your father is much the same when it comes to his illness, but his body is tired. I fear that without a cure, or at the bare minimum knowledge of what it is that ails him, he will soon leave this world and join Narissa in Arcelia.”
There was a moment of tense silence between them as Daemon let the information soak in. He was about to speak when she looped her arm through his, a smile stretching across her face as she gazed up at him. “Come, we’ll go see him together.”
Daemon looked at his mother and saw beneath her smile.
Saw the sadness and fear in her eyes despite the mask she tried to keep in place to pacify everyone around her.
It made his heart ache.
Laying his hand over his mother’s, he gave her a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Lead the way.”
A glimmer of light entered his mother’s cornflower blue eyes before she turned and led the way to his father.
They made their way through the castle to the master suite. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the tarnished gold handle of the door, but before he could turn the knob, his mother squeezed his bicep, snagging his attention. She gave him a warm, reassuring smile, then nodded. Daemon steeled his spine, then turned the knob, and stepped into the room.
Just as his mother had said, his father was in the same condition that he had been in when Daemon left. But he looked…small, and King Evander was anything but a small man. He stood six-foot-five and was as strong as a hurricane. His father’s once golden skin was now pale and ashen. His chestnut hair was muted, and there seemed to be more gray than not. The strong man that taught him almost everything he knew, laid frail in a bed propped up by pillows. Yet his moss-colored eyes still held the fire that had always burned in their depths.
Daemon spent hours sitting with his father, telling him all about his trip to the mainland of Ixora. He told him of the coronation, and the balls, the food, and focused entirely too long on the deliciousness of the chocolate croissants that Auraelia had introduced him to. He spoke of the kindness he’d received, and of the council meeting that he had been invited to attend. He told him everything.
Everything except about his time with Lyndaria’s princess.
“You seem to have had a pleasant time.” His father’s voice was strained, like he hadn’t used it in days.
Daemon nodded and pulled the letter from Queen Adelina out of his pocket. “I almost forgot. Queen Adelina asked that I give this to you. Something about trade agreements and some other information?”
He watched as his father opened the letter and read it carefully. Watched as his father’s brows furrowed, then passed the letter to his wife. When Queen Avyanna finished, she sighed and gave her husband a questioning look. King Evander shook his head in response to whatever unspoken question had been asked, the queen sighed once more, then stood.
Daemon rose too, his eyes flitting between his parents. “What’s in the letter, Father?”
King Evander was barely able to shake his head. “Nothing that needs to be discussed right now, my son. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m tired and think I will rest for a while.”
Queen Avyanna came around the other side of the bed and fluffed the pillows behind the king’s head. Sweeping hair off of his brow, the queen stooped down to place a kiss on her husband’s temple before turning toward her son. “Come on, Daemon. I’m sure you’re exhausted.” Grabbing his arm, she led him toward the door.
When they were on the other side, she pulled the door closed softly behind them. Her shoulders dropped as she let out a breath he hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She then straightened her spine and turned to her son with a sly smile on her lips. “So,” she began, “Tell me about Princess Auraelia.”
He must have had shock written on his face because his mother chuckled and shook her head. Placing a warm hand on his cheek, she smiled. “Your eyes were glowing when you spoke of her, and I know it wasn’t because she introduced you to chocolate croissants, Daemon.” Her eyebrows were raised, and a knowing smirk was on her lips. “Walk with me. You can tell me all about her while we walk and then while we eat. I’m sure you’re hungry.”
Daemon released a resigned sigh as he extended his arm for his mother.
He escorted her through the castle to the dining hall, and as they sat down to eat, he told her about Auraelia.
About her beauty and her sass.
Her stubborn head and her pure heart.
And he told her about the way that his soul pulled to hers.
When he finished, his mother’s eyes were rimmed in silver and full of love and pride. From across the table, she grasped both of his hands in hers, and gave them a tight squeeze. “Invite her to the summer solstice celebration.”
Daemon was wide-eyed and speechless. The summer solstice celebration was a huge event in the Court of Sapphire Isles. It had been decades since they had invited anyone outside of the islands to the festivities, let alone a princess from another kingdom.
“Wh–what?” He stumbled over his words, unsure if he had heard his mother clearly.
