Page 85 of Of Storm and Emerald
Queen Avyanna stepped up next to her. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
She nodded. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.”
A small smile graced the queen’s lips before she grasped Auraelia’s wrist and pulled her from the column. “Take a few minutes if you wish. But when you’re ready, simply step out to the top of the stairs and we will have you and your party, announced. Okay?”
She nodded her assent, then turned back toward the column while the queen and princess made their own entrances into the celebration.
Piper came to stand next to her, and they peered out at the crowd covering the lawn.
“Did you find him yet?” Piper asked as she scanned through the sea of faces.
“What? Oh, no. I haven’t seen him. I haven’t really been looking.”
“Auraelia Rose, you’re amuchworse liar than you think, so I don’t know why you even bother. Now, let’s find that mot–”
Piper’s words trailed off as her eyes widened and her mouth set into a firm line.
Auraelia knew that look. Knew thatno onewanted to be on the receiving end of that look. She turned her head in the direction that Piper was looking, “What is it–”
The words died on her lips.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!
There, standing across the garden, was Daemon, talking and laughing with a beautiful woman as she ran her fingers through his hair.
Fire raged through her veins, and her breath came out in barely controlled huffs.
She’d given him grace for his lack of correspondence when she thought it was due to his duties. She’d even given him grace when she thought he was no longer interested. But it was another thing entirely to lead someone on while seeking company from someone else.
And that was where she drew the line.
Auraelia pulled away from the column and straightened her spine.
Taking a deep breath, she walked out to the top of the steps just as Queen Avyanna instructed, with Piper and Xander trailing behind her.
With her emotions bouncing all over the place, her hold on her magic slipped a fraction. An angry breeze pushed through the garden, causing the flames on the candles to flicker.
Daemon turned toward the steps, just as the footman at the end of the stairs started his announcement.
“Introducing, Crown Princess Auraelia Rose of the Court of Emerald. Escorted by Prince Xander of the Court of Emerald, and Lady Piper.”
She felt his gaze on her throughout their introduction. She saw him move toward her out of the corner of her eye. But she refused to give him one minute of her attention.
If he wanted tominglewith other people, then she would do the same.
She wasn’t a doll to be kept on a shelf, only to be played with when the mood struck. She was Princess Auraelia Rose, heir to the Court of Emerald.
And it seemed he needed to be reminded of that fact.
‘My Star’ indeed. Checkmate, asshole.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Daemon
Daemonwasdeepinconversation with Sariah when he noticed Aiden walking purposefully across the garden, an anxious gleam in his eye.
“Where’s the fire, Aiden? Also, where the hell have you been, I haven’t seen you in two days.”
