Page 39 of Of Storm and Emerald
Auraelia’s face screwed up in pain, but it quickly faded as a small golden glow emanated from his hand and spread over her arm. When he withdrew, a pink line of new skin was revealed where moments ago split flesh had been. Daemon openly stared at Ser Aeron as he stood and walked to Piper, presumably to do the same for the injury inflicted by Auraelia.
As the color returned to Auraelia’s face, he turned to Piper. “Princey? Really?”
Auraelia choked on her water and turned wide eyed to her friend.
Piper merely shrugged, and now that her leg was fully healed, she pushed up from the ground.
Turning his attention back to Auraelia, Daemon gently rubbed her back, “Are you okay to stand?”
She nodded and gave him her hand–only wavering a step before she found her balance.
“You should eat something. You just exerted a lot of energy with that amount of magic.”
Ser Aeron’s hulking frame shadowed over Daemon, watching him closely with narrowed eyes. Daemon looked up to match his stare. “If you would be so kind as to grab someone and ask them to bring the princess something to eat, I would be eternally grateful.”
He tried to keep his voice even, but he didn’t like being scrutinized and watched over like a child.
Auraelia placed her hand on the commander’s arm and nodded. “It’s alright. I’ll be right here.”
When she smiled at the bristling man, the wrinkles in his brow smoothed and his shoulders dropped away from his ears, the tension visibly leaving his body. Ser Aeron grabbed her hand in a brief squeeze then turned to complete his task, leaving Piper, Auraelia, and Daemon to stand in a circle of awkward silence.
“Well, this is fun, but I’m going to go check and see if Ser Aeron needs any help.” Piper gave Auraelia an indecipherable look as she excused herself.
He watched in fascination as the two women seemed to have a silent conversation, something only people who knew everything about each other could do. When Auraelia sighed, clearly giving up whatever silent argument they were having, Piper smirked.
“Your Highness…es.” After a quick nod in their direction, and a wink in Auraelia’s, Piper turned and skipped away.
When she disappeared from view, Daemon guided Auraelia over to a bench nestled under a line of trees at the edge of the training field.
“She seems like fun.”
Her eyes were downcast, but she smiled. “Understatement of a lifetime.”
“How long have you been friends?”
“I can’t remember a time when we weren’t.”
When they reached the bench, Auraelia sat down and leaned back on her hands. Tilting her face to the sky, she let the sun that filtered through the leaves dance over her. She smiled, and it was full and unhindered, and Daemon’s heart skipped. He knew she was beautiful, but here in her element, completely at ease and enjoying the sunshine, she was radiant.
Auraelia inhaled through her nose, then continued her train of thought. “She’s been my lady in waiting since we were babes, and I guess being around someone every day for your entire life, you start to connect. When we were no more than ten, she and I snuck away from the governess and into the kitchens.” Shaking her head, a small chuckle escaped at the clearly happy memory. “We stole a plate of sweets and hid in the garden. Obviously, it was a terrible idea and we got extremely sick, but we bonded over puking in the rose bushes. Neither of us ever told a soul…until now.” A blush crept onto her cheeks. “She’s been my sister and partner in crime ever since. My life would be immensely dull without her.” After a few minutes, she turned to him, “What about you and Aiden?”
Daemon smirked, “Our families have been friends for generations. So, like you and Piper, we grew up doing everything together, and a lot of things that we shouldn’t have been doing, too,” he said, ending in a laugh. “He’s a pain in my ass, but he keeps me grounded.”
They drifted into companionable silence, the only sound around them coming from the breeze as it drifted through the leaves.
After a short while, Ser Aeron reentered the training field holding a small basket in his massive hands. The image of a large, burly man holding a tiny basket–one that presumably belonged to a small child–was certainly a sight to behold, and Daemon could barely contain the amusement in his voice when he reached them. “Ser Aeron.”
Quickly narrowing his eyes at Daemon in warning, he then turned his attention to Auraelia with a smooth bow. “Your Highness, the kitchen put together an assortment of your favorites. I’ve also informed Her Majesty of the incident and that you may be a few minutes late to the council meeting this afternoon.” Completely ignoring Daemon, he handed Auraelia the basket full of goodies.
When she smiled, his icy exterior seemed to thaw a fraction. “Thank you, Ser Aeron. Truly.”
As if on cue, Auraelia’s stomach made its presence known, triggering a flush that colored her cheeks.
“I’ll leave you to it then.” Ser Aeron bowed, and gave Daemon one more withering stare before he left.
“Oh, my goddess,” Auraelia said under her breath, as she stuck her head in her hands.
Daemon shook his head and laughed “Okay, Princess, let’s get some food in that stomach of yours, shall we?”
