Page 78 of Of Storm and Emerald
As much as he loved the back and forth teasing and flirting, he wasn’t sure how much he could take before hehadto see her.
Had to have her, taste her. Just be near her.
They were teetering precariously close to the edge of a delicately balanced blade. It was only a matter of time before it tipped over.
Daemon stood from his desk and headed out for the day.
There was a solstice to plan, and his mother to disappoint. Because no matter how much he wanted to see her, he knew he couldn’t invite her to solstice. If his mother, or sister, got their hands on her, there was no way that he was going to be able to let her go.
He would have to go to her. He didn’t know when, or how, but it needed to be soon. His world grew more and more gray with every day they spent apart.
And he couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Auraelia
Oneandahalfmonths of letters.
One and a half months of not feeling his touch or hearing his voice. With only his written words to dull the ache in her soul.
And over the last few weeks, those letters had become fewer and farther between. Their game of teasing and flirting turned into short and unfeeling correspondence.
They lacked the emotion and laughter that she had become accustomed to.
They lacked depth and feeling.
They seemed to lackhimaltogether, almost as if they had been written by someone else.
And then they just stopped.
She knew he was busy. Summer solstice in Kalmeera was said to rival the Fall solstice celebration that Emerald threw in conjunction with Topaz. And with King Evander still ill, she knew that he had a lot on his plate.
So, she let it go, and let him be. She was not the type of woman to wait around for a man.
So, she didn’t.
She set about her days, doing everything she could do to occupy her time. She sparred with Piper, and even Xander when he wasn’t too busy.
Her mother tested her limits with magic and pushed her boundaries. Ser Aeron helped her feel and focus on growing her connection to the magic around her. He had her focusing on archery as of late, wanting her to practice using the air around her to bend the path of the arrow.
She went to council meetings, where her mother continued to skirt around any information regarding the Court of Garnet, shutting down any and all questions that Auraelia and Xander would ask. It was always the same. Always, ‘nothing for you to concern yourself with,’or‘we will discuss it later.’And despite their constant protestations, she stood firm.
Auraelia spent most of her free time in the kitchens helping the staff prepare for summer solstice. Despite their celebration being smaller than the one in Kalmeera, they still celebrated the longest day of the year. The castle kitchens worked tirelessly to get sweets and pastries made in time for the parties that would be held throughout the city. Then, days before the celebration, Auraelia, Piper, Xander and a few other nobles would ride into the city to help their people set up and pass out goodies.
“Your Highness, you really don’t need to do that,” the head chef said as she watched Auraelia chop vegetables.
Auraelia smiled and looked up from her task. “I know, Liza. But I like doing it. It keeps my hands busy and my mind still. Plus, this is where I hear the best gossip.” She winked at the plump woman who shook her head and returned to stirring the many pots on the stove.
She’d hoped that she’d be able to pick up something about Garnet during her time in the kitchen, but it seemed that either no one knew anything, or they got extremely tight lipped when they saw their princess.
Auraelia bounced and flitted from one task to another, filling her days to the brim.
But when the nights came, and she was alone, she missed the man she had come to know. And couldn’t help but wonder if he’d tired of their games… If he was tired of the distance.
“Auraelia…Auraelia.”
“Rae,” Piper whispered as she dug her elbow into Auraelia’s ribs. “Your mother has said your name at least twice now.”
