Page 69 of Of Storm and Emerald
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Images of her and Daemon intertwined in her sheets as he helped her play with her newfound abilities between rounds of sex crept into her mind.
She let his phantom voice ground her as she dove into her magic. Letting it warm her center before spreading out to her extremities. Let the tingles in the tips of her fingers build until it felt like she was holding static in her hands.
Holding onto that feeling, she opened her eyes as she willed the air around her to wrap her in a cocoon of warmth. Drying her clothes and hair in the process.
Her eyes locked onto her mothers, as a smug smile pulled at the queen’s lips.
Auraelia pulled her magic back into her center, calming the surge of air that she had summoned and stepped into the suite.
By the time she made it back to her room, the sun was setting beyond the castle wall, casting the sky in hues of pinks and oranges. Her sore muscles screamed at her from over-exertion, as she hauled her weary body through her suite and toward her bathing chamber.
When she reached the door to her room, the sound of water running and the smell of lavender and chamomile permeated the air. She took a deep breath, letting the relaxing scents fill her lungs. Hauling her body through her room, she came to the doorway of her bathing chamber.
There, squatting next to the tub as it filled, was Piper.
“Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite person? Because you most definitely are at this moment,” Auraelia said with a sigh.
Piper chuckled and stood. “I believe that you’ve mentioned it on occasion, yes.” She winked at Auraelia as she wiped her hands off on a towel. “I figured that you would want andneed,if that stench is anything to go by, a nice hot soak.” Piper scrunched her nose to exaggerate the statement. “But maybe you should shower first, because Rae, you reek.”
Auraelia looked down at herself and pulled the edge of her shirt up to her nose, recoiling at the stench that burned her nose. “Oh, sweet goddess.” Her lips tilted down in disgust. “You weren’t kidding.”
Piper released a full belly laugh at her friend’s expense. “Come on, I’ll even help you out of your corset. But after that, I’m shoving you in that shower if you don’t do it yourself.”
Auraelia laughed and walked across her bathing chambers to where Piper stood, turning so that her friend could unlace her corset.
After her lesson with her mother, she had to sprint across the castle and the grounds to make it to her lesson with Ser Aeron. Unfortunately for her, she was still late which meant that she had to clean the horse stalls afterward.
Between magic training with the queen, combat training with Ser Aeron, and sparring with Piper, Auraelia was exhausted. Tack on mucking stalls to the tail end of it all, and she was spent. Her muscles were sore, and she just wanted to collapse into her nice, warm bed.
Piper stripped Auraelia of her corset and prompted her to lift her arms so that she could help her out of her tunic. “Do you think you can handle the rest, or do you still need me?”
“No, I’ve got it. Thanks, Piper.”
“No problem. I’ll go down to the kitchen and let them know that you’re ready for dinner.”
“Thanks, really. I appreciate you.” A small, tired, smile bloomed on her face.
“I know, I know. Now stop being sappy and go get un-stinky. I’m begging you.” Piper turned and walked out of the chambers. Her chuckle echoing back into the bathroom.
“Love you, Piper!” Auraelia hollered after her.
“Yea, yea. Love you too. Now go shower!”
Auraelia stripped the rest of the way down. The cold tiles were bliss on her sore feet as she walked over to the shower stall that was tucked into the corner. Not bothering to wait for the water to warm, she stepped into the frigid streams and washed quickly.
By the time she was finished, her large tub was full and waiting for her.
She sank into the deliciously warm water. Letting her head rest on the edge, she closed her eyes. Her mind wandering back to the last time she had been in this tub, and with whom, as the heat melted her cold, pebbled flesh and soothed her screaming muscles.
When the water began to chill, she stepped from the bath and dried off. Twisting her hair into a towel, she put on her dressing robe and padded into her bedchamber. Piper still hadn’t returned from the kitchen with dinner, so Auraelia laid down on her bed and pulled the letter from her pocket.
Prying the wax seal off, she took a breath, and unfolded the letter.
She clutched the letter to her chest, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Since Piper still hadn’t returned, Auraelia rolled onto her side and reread her letter until exhaustion claimed her and she drifted off to sleep.
She woke hours later to a dark room and the sound of crickets outside of her window. As she pushed up into a sitting position, the rattle of metal against porcelain pulled her attention. There, laying on the bed next to her, was a tray of goodies…and a sleeping Piper.
