Page 141 of Of Storm and Emerald
Auraelia watched as Davina twisted her fingers in front of her face, admiring the way the tips shimmered in the light. “Well, cousin, if you don’t want to play, perhaps I should play with someone else, hmm?”
With a flick of her wrist, there was a piercing scream that came from the edge of the crowd, and Auraelia would know that sound anywhere.
Piper.
Xander’s shield faltered when he realized who was screaming, and it was just long enough for Auraelia to send a bolt of her lightning at Davina.
She barely grazed her shoulder, but it was enough to pull her focus, and stop her from doing whatever torture she was inflicting upon Piper.
Xander reinforced his shield and pushed it out to cover everyone else in the area.
“Daemon, go find Piper.Now.” Auraelia’s gaze stayed locked on Davina as she spoke and felt the air shift as Daemon shadow-walked to her friend.
Davina gripped her shoulder where Auraelia’s lighting struck, and when she pulled her hand away, it was tinged with blood–her once carefree demeanor twisting into one of rage and retribution. When she laughed, it was full of hatred, her nostrils flaring in anger as she stared at Auraelia. “This isn’t over, Princess. As a matter of fact, it’s only the beginning.”
Davina looked over Auraelia’s shoulder to where Daemon was standing once more, with Piper sagging against him. “Oh, and Daemon. Better hurry home to mommy and daddy. We have a wedding to plan.”
As she turned away, her cape fluttered behind her in the wind that drifted in through the shattered windows. When she crossed the threshold, a man appeared in a flurry of snow, and then they were both gone.
Xander dropped his shield, and it was as if every person in the room exhaled at once, but they were all still frozen in place. Their gazes turned to Queen Adelina, where she still laid against the cold marble floor.
Auraelia kneeled next to her mother and grasped her hand, before she turned her gaze to Piper. “Are you okay? What did she do to you?”
Piper sipped from a glass of water and shook her head. “I’m not sure. It felt like there was a cold hand wrapped around my heart and squeezing it.” A shiver coursed through Piper at the memory.
Auraelia turned back to her mother’s prone body. “I need to know who gave her the poison.” It was said more to herself than anything, but Xander reached over and grabbed Auraelia’s hand in his.
“We’ll find the person responsible, Rae.”
She nodded and sat there in silence as her thumb idly stroked her mother’s hand, the events of the day playing out in her head.
But as Piper’s vision filtered back through her memories, an idea formed.
“Piper–” her head whipped toward her friend, “I need you to try and trigger a vision.”
“What?” Wrinkles formed on Piper’s forehead as her brows shot up toward her hairline.
“I need you to trigger the vision you had of my mother. Maybe if you hold her hand, or–or touch her in some way, you can get a clearer vision.”
“Rae, I don’t know about this.”
“Piper,please. I’m begging you. Please. Just…try?” Tears began to well in her eyes once more. She needed this, needed some kind of hope to cling to.
Piper’s gaze flicked over Auraelia’s face, sorrow filling her eyes as she agreed.
Sliding over until she sat behind the queen’s head, Piper placed a hand on each of Queen Adelina’s temples.
As soon as Piper made contact, she inhaled sharply as the vision took hold and her gaze became distant. Only a few minutes passed before Piper pulled her hands away, severing the vision caused by the contact. “Rae–”
Auraelia grasped Piper’s hands in her own, and for the second time that day, she asked her friend to share her gift.
The feeling of being underwater wasn’t nearly as suffocating this time around as the vision played out in her mind’s-eye.
The milky white clouds that prefaced every vision Piper shared faded away, leaving crystal clear images. Images that flew through her mind at such a rapid pace that it made her head spin.
Auraelia watched as her mother spoke with guests.
Watched as she danced with Xander.
