Page 81 of Of Storm and Emerald
The common area was beautifully simple, with light natural wood floors, ivory furniture, and aquamarine-colored accents throughout the space. There was a small writing desk to one side of the room, and a fully stocked bar cart nestled between two tall bookshelves on the other.
But Auraelia’s breath caught as she stepped into her room. Deep, rich, turquoise hues touched practically every surface.
Crossing the room, she ran her hand along the bed. The frame was brushed gold, and the teal bedding was light to counteract the heat of the isles but heavy enough for when nights were cool. Pulling back the coverlet, she ran her hand along the sheets, the satin cool and silky beneath her fingers.
There were chairs with gold frames and teal velvet cushions, and golden sconces hung on the wall over two matching side tables.
It was luscious.
Luxurious.
And all Auraelia wanted to do was sink down into the covers of her bed, and sleep.
Slipping out of her travel dress, she pulled her robe from her trunk and wearily padded into the attached bathing chamber to freshen up.
She vaguely remembered Daemon mentioning that the castle had updated plumbing. So, she crossed her fingers and prayed to the goddesses that her memory wasn’t playing tricks on her. When she was greeted by a large clawfoot tub with a spout and handles, she sighed in relief.
As the tub filled, the sound of her door opening pulled her attention.
“Rae?”
“I’m in here, Piper, just trying to run a bath before I collapse into bed.”
Piper shuffled into the room; towel wrapped around her head.
“I see I wasn’t the only one with that idea,” she chuckled.
“I smelled like sweat and salt water, it was gross.”
A tired laugh escaped. “Touché. Are you ok? We haven’t really had a chance to talk about you seeing Aiden again after almost two months of no contact.”
Piper sighed and perched herself on the counter next to the wash basin. “I’m fine. He’s an asshole who comes crawling as soon as he doesn’t get what he wants, and I get to have my fun when I want to.”
“Piper–”
“Look, Rae. I’m not looking for anything serious. I’m not. I don’t know why I let myself get wrapped up in a good lay, but I did. If it turns into something more, that’s fine. But don’t you think for one second that I would ever leave you and Lyndaria for a fine piece of ass.” She winked, trying to bring humor into the conversation. But there was still lingering sadness and hurt behind her eyes.
Deciding not to pressure her oldest and dearest friend and crack open a wound that she was trying to mend, Auraelia laughed. “As if I would let you leave anyway. You’re stuck with me.”
“Forever and always?”
“Always and forever, Piper. Always and forever.”
Piper hopped down from the counter and bounded across the space, pulling Auraelia into a firm embrace. “Thank you, Rae. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
She pulled back and clasped Piper’s cheeks between her hands. “You would be terribly bored.”
They both chuckled, and then she placed a quick kiss on her friend’s cheek before releasing her hold.
Once Piper left, Auraelia slipped into the warm water of her bath–letting the heat seep into her tired muscles. After a short soak, and a quicker wash, she stepped from the bath. Drying her body with one of the fluffy teal towels, before wrapping another around her hair.
She padded into her room, quickly changing into her nightgown, and then she let herself sink into the bed, the cool satin gliding across her clean skin like a lover's touch.
Towel still wrapped around her hair she drifted off to sleep. Her final thought of the night was of Daemon, and whether he knew that she was under the same roof that he was.
It was midday by the time she rolled out of bed. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of her room, warming the space.
Slipping from the bed, she pulled on her dressing gown and padded over to the windows. Throwing them open to reveal a balcony that overlooked the sea.
