Page 88 of Of Storm and Emerald
The rest of their dance was silent, both lost in their own worlds. And when it ended, he sought out the one other person who would know what was going on–Piper.
She was standing with Auraelia and Xander, a group of men surrounding them all vying for a chance to dance with the two new beauties at the party. Even Xander had his fair share of ladies itching for his attention.
But as soon as Daemon entered the circle, the twittering ladies turned their attention toward him. Auraelia’s scoff was barely detectable, but he heard it all the same. But before he could get a word in, she was off to the dance floor with some other lord’s son.
“Ladies, I’m so sorry, but I’m previously engaged. If you would, please excuse me.” Daemon added a warm smile that usually made the ladies blush, and then pulled himself from their grasp.
As they turned their attention back to Xander, he sidled up to Piper.
“Lady Piper.”
“You.”
“I’m sorry, did I do something?”
Piper released a chuckled scoff and angled herself away from him but kept her eyes on Auraelia on the dance floor.
Ok, that’s it.
Daemon stood in her line of sight, causing her to lift her gaze to his. “If you would do me the honor of a dance, Lady Piper.” His tone was slightly clipped.
A sickly-sweet smile crept onto her face, and it made his stomach sour. “I would rather stick my hand in an open flame. Thanks, though.”
Daemon smirked, “That could be arranged, you know. I have a friend who I’m sure would be more than willing to accommodate.”
Piper narrowed her eyes at him, and then at his still extended hand.
“Piper, you are a guest inmycourt. I danced with you when I was a guest atyours, it would be…diplomaticof you to return the gesture.”
She rolled her eyes but placed her hand in his. “You do know that dancing with me isn’t going to win you any favors, right?”
“I just want to know what’s going on.” Daemon turned his softened, pleading, gaze toward her as they made their way to the dance floor.
“You really have no clue, do you?”
When he shook his head, she sighed. “You’re an idiot.”
Daemon listened intently as Piper explained what was going on.
“You stopped writing.”
“I–”
“Whatever excuse you have, I’m not the one who needs to hear it.Sheis. You stopped writing and that fractured something inside her. She hid it well, but I could see straight through the facade.”
Daemon continued to lead them around the floor, but his heart cracked as every detail was laid at his feet.
“When we got the letter from your mother inviting us here, I saw a tiny spark come back into her eyes. Then we arrived and found out thatyoudidn’t want her here. And to top it all off, she saw you flirting with someone right before we walked out.”
“What? I wasn’t–”
Piper cut him off once more, “Again, whatever excuses, or reasoning you have, I’m not the one who needs to hear them.”
Daemon was silent. He didn’t know what to say, or if there was anything that he could say.
“You see how bad this looks from her perspective don’t you? You convinced her to give this—giveyou—a chance and then she comes here and sees you talking to another women. Sees women throwing themselves at you at every turn.”
“I wasn’t flirting with anyone,” he said through clenched teeth.
