Page 89 of Of Storm and Emerald
Piper’s eyes widened as his tone. “That’s not what we saw.”
“How–how do I fix this, Piper?”
“Oh, Daemon, that’s not something that I can help you with.”
Piper’s icy exterior seemed to have thawed during their conversation. But her walls went straight back up as soon as she locked eyes with Auraelia. And with the song coming to an end, he graciously let her leave their dance.
He turned, looking for Auraelia on the dance floor, and found her about to enter into yet another dance with a man who was not him.
Fuck that.
Daemon walked calmly, yet quickly, across the floor before coming to an abrupt stop at her side.
His sudden appearance startled her.
The smile she gave him was manufactured and her eyes were still icy and hard. “PrinceDaemon. If you will excuse me, I was about to dance with–sorry, what was your name again?” She gave her pathetic excuse of a dance partner a kind smile.
“Uh–Simon, My Lady.”
“Right, Simon. So, if you would please excuse–”
“Princess, I’m sure that Simon is a splendid dancer, but I am offering my hand in his stead,” Daemon said as he shot a look at Simon that said,‘bow out.’
And he did, bowing to both Daemon and Auraelia, before he excused himself.
Auraelia's head moved back and forth on a swivel between Simon’s retreating form, and Daemon’s smug smile.
“You’ve got to be joking right now.”
“On the contrary, Princess. You’ll find I’m quite serious. Shall we?”
“The hell we shall.”
“Auraelia, it’s one dance. You’re a guest at my court, it would be expected that we shared at least one.”
She looked away from him for a moment and took a few deep breaths and she flexed her fingers. The amount of control she’d gained over her magic in the few weeks since he’d seen her was amazing.
“Fine.Onedance.”
Daemon bowed. “As you wish, Princess.”
As he led her out onto the dance floor, the other couples seemed to vacate the space–leaving only them on the floor.
“Did you plan this?” she asked, her annoyance clear as crystal.
“I didn’t. But it’s the first time, in averylong time, that we’ve had visiting royals, and the fact that we are on this dance floortogetheris a big deal. So please, try not to look like you want to blow me off a cliff.”
“What a wonderful idea.”
Daemon’s eyes widened at her response.Fuck, in her current mood she probably could.
With her disingenuous smile firmly in place, Daemon began to sweep her around the dance floor.
The feel of her once again in his arms made his heart swell. Her scent enveloped his senses, and with them pressed so tightly together, he could feel her heart racing. Its quickened pace matching his own.
He tried–and failed–numerous times to start a conversation with her during their dance. But the fact that she never brought her eyes higher than his shoulders stung. All he wanted to do was pull her closer. Tell her he was sorry. Fix this rift that had formed between them.
As the song slowed, and their dance came to an end, he decided to try one more time.
