Page 76 of Of Storm and Emerald
As the lady’s maids set up their lunches on the table by the windows, Piper made sure to stay as far away from them as possible. There had been a few times where she’d bumped into Auraelia and triggered a vision. And since she was still working on controlling the frequency and severity of her visions, Piper had told Auraelia she didn’t want to take any chances.
“You can just leave them on the table, ladies. We’ve got it from here, thank you.”
“Of course, My Lady. We also brought in some more hot water bottles for your cramps if you need them.” The tall blonde lady’s maid, Kyra, replied with a small curtsy. “Are the old ones in your chambers, My Lady?”
Auraelia nodded, a sweet smile pasted onto her face.
“And will you be needing any other supplies? New linens?”
“More pads would be much appreciated, Kyra, thank you. I believe the bed linens are still fine though.”
“Of course, and I’ll check on the linens and take care of them if need be.”
Auraelia nodded her assent.
Kyra strolled through the sitting area, muttering instructions to the other ladies with her before they dispersed to complete their tasks. Once they finished, they bid Piper and Auraelia farewell and exited the way that they came.
“Are we sure she’s not a spy for your mother?” Piper asked as she plopped down in one of the chairs by the table of food.
Auraelia chuckled, “I’m quite sure. It wouldn’t do her much good since I tell mother practically everything as it is, so why would she need a spy?”
“I don’t know, maybe she’s trying to make sure that I’m still a good influence on you or something.”
Laughter erupted from both women, but it was Auraelia who spoke first. “Piper, my dear, sweet friend. My mother thinking you’re a good influence on me is about as likely as Xander being crownedQueen.”
Laughter continued on throughout lunch. Between bites of turkey and cheese finger sandwiches–their favorites– and berry and cheese plates, they reminisced over their adventures throughout their friendship.
From sneaking out to go to pubs in the city and swimming in their secret lake, to late night conversations over broken hearts and sometimes broken minds.
They wholeheartedly believed that they were soulmates.
Not in the lover’s sense of the phrase, but in the sense that two souls were meant to travel this world together. To be there for each other no matter what.
They believed that your soul could pull to different people in a multitude of different ways. That some people even had more than one soulmate, just maybe not in the same capacity or purpose.
Though she'd never experienced that particular sensation until she met Daemon.
Daemon.
Sensing the trailing of thoughts, Piper kicked her under the table.
“Ouch, what the hell was that for?”
The look on Piper’s face was incredulous. “You’re really going to sit there and tell me youweren’tjust drooling over mister tall-dark-and currently unavailable?”
“I–I um–”
“No, ma’am. It’smybirthday. No broody, tattooed, male fantasies allowed. I don’t care how delicious they are…unless they are found in those novels we’re supposed to be reading.”
“Fine, fine.”
The rest of the day went by in a blissful blur. It had been a while since they didn’t have to run all over the castle to be one place or another. Whether it was training, council meetings, or grievance mediating, they rarely got to justbe.
They spent the rest of the day alternating between reading their novels and trying to trigger Piper’s visions– and avoiding the outcomes. They ate copious amounts of mini cakes and pastries that they would undoubtedly regret later. Drank wine until they thought they were going to be sick and read a handful of novels.
Kyra had come back at some point to bring fresh menstrual supplies and to change the bedding. As well as keeping them in full supply of hot water bottles for their cramps.
It was a much-needed day of rest and fun, for both of them.
