Page 115 of Of Storm and Emerald
In his hand was a delicate silver chain that was shorter than the one that held her sapphire pendant. But instead of another blue stone, this necklace held an oval cut raw emerald.
“Where did you–?”
“The market. I saw you eyeing the stone while we walked around, and while you were preoccupied with the fabric vendor from Pearl, I slipped away and purchased it.” A flush colored his cheeks the most beautiful shade of pink.
Pushing up onto her toes, she grabbed his face and pulled it to hers, planting her lips firmly on his. It was meant to be short and sweet, but it quickly turned into something more. Her fingers gripped his neck, while his roamed her back and pulled her flush against him.
The kiss was devastating and beautiful.
It said everything they needed, and wanted, to say without them uttering a word.
But when Piper cleared her throat at the door, they pulled apart. Both of them breathing heavily, their eyes never straying away from each other’s face.
“Rae, I’m sorry, but it’s time to go. Everything is loaded onto the ship, and we need to leave soon if we want to make it back before it gets too late.”
“I’m coming, just give me a minute.”
Out of her peripheral, she saw Piper nod before turning back toward the sitting room.
Daemon tucked a strand of hair that had come loose from her braid behind her ear, then leaned down to press a kiss to her brow and fastened the necklace around her neck.
She reached up and ran her fingers across the stone.
It sat right below the hollow of her throat, and warmed against her skin as her magic swam to the surface, recognizing the familiarity of the element.
“Thank you, Daemon. It’s beautiful.”
Daemon gave her a shallow nod, as he ran his hand across her cheek once more. His eyes tracing every line of her face, committing it to memory. He kissed her once more on the lips, then pressed another to her brow before linking their hands together. “Come on, you have a ship to catch.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and despite her efforts, a single drop trailed down her cheek. She gripped the emerald pendant in her hand, drawing comfort in the way her magic pulsed through the stone, and let it calm her racing heart. She took a deep breath–a feeble attempt to steel herself against the sadness that was trying to consume her–and turned to board the ship.
As she stepped aboard, the flurry of people around her–all bustling about as they prepared the Nevermore to depart–were nothing but a blur of shapes as she made her way across the deck. Sounds were muffled, and everyone seemed to be moving at high speed while she had slowed to a crawl. Muted sounds turned to nothing, and it was as if the world fell silent.
It wasn’t until Piper stood before her, her hands grasping her shoulders, that the world slowly drew back into focus.
“Rae.Rae! Are you ok?”
Auraelia shook the fog from her mind and met the worried gaze of her friend. “Yeah, I’m fine. Is everything set to go?”
Piper nodded, then linked her arm through Auraelia’s, pulling her toward the bow of the ship.
They stood linked together in silence.
Her head rested gently against Piper’s shoulder as they watched the city drift out of view, until it was nothing but a pinprick of light outside the tunnels that led out of Kalmeera.
“Oh, sweet goddess, that’s nice.” Piper threw herself onto Auraelia’s bed, her face sinking into one of the feather pillows at its head.
“Do you mind?” She stood at the end of her bed with her arms laced across her chest.
Piper rolled onto her back, leaning against the pillows with her arms crossed behind her head. “Not at all, actually. That trip was entirely too long, and riding back in a coach just made it longer. And your bed is much closer than mine at the moment.”
She smirked, but Auraelia rolled her eyes. “You know the horses wouldn’t have been able to carry all of our luggage. Especially since Queen Avyanna sent us back with those trunks full of Kalmeeran garments.”
Piper shrugged, and then readjusted herself on the pillows.
Exhausted, and not in the mood for Piper’s antics, Auraelia went into her bathing chamber.
After her shower, she walked back into her room, only to be met by Piper sprawled across her bed sleeping, a small snore echoing through the quiet.
