Of Storm and Emerald (Gems of Ixora Book 1) by Jessica Hoffa

Author:Jessica Hoffa [Hoffa, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Auraelia

The moment she stepped through the door of her mother’s suite, she was pelted with a stream of water. And it had been nonstop ever since.

Despite the fact that she still had training with Ser Aeron later, her mother kept pushing her. Trying to get her to dive into the well of her magic and find the bottom. To find what all lurked in the depths of that well. They had been at this for hours, with no end in sight.

Hours of her being soaked to the bone when she hadn’t shielded her mother’s advances. Hours of her mother telling her to ‘feel for her magic’ and ‘just let it come to you, don’t think so hard.’ Only for her to then tell her to ‘focus’ and ‘concentrate’ two moments later.

“Auraelia, you need to focus. Concentrate on your breathing. Feel your magic fill your body, and then expel it.”

Her mother’s annoyingly unhelpful mantra for the day rang through the garden courtyard outside the queen’s suite.

Goddess, help me.

“I’m trying, Mother. I haven’t been doing this for years like someone else in this garden.” She knew as soon as the snide words left her lips that she was in trouble.

Queen Adelina tilted her head to the side, her eyes wide and a hard set to her jaw, as she cast a wave of frigid water at her daughter. Auraelia shrieked at the sudden onslaught but managed to put a shield of air between herself and the wave.

When her mother recalled her magic, Auraelia hesitantly dropped her shield. As mist created by the clash of magics fell through the air.

“Better! Much, much better. Come, let’s eat.”

Wet, and out of breath, she followed her mother to the doors of her suite. The smell of roast and potatoes wafted through the air and out to the courtyard, making her mouth water and her stomach grumble.

When they reached the doors, Queen Adelina stopped in her tracks and turned to her daughter. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t track water into my rooms, my love.” The small tilt to her mother’s lips giving away the challenge behind her words.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You caused the soaked clothes,” Auraelia, exhausted and hungry, lashed out at her mother.

Completely unfazed by the minor tantrum, the queen shrugged. “I did, yes. But last time I checked, you have the ability to remedy that situation.”

Auraelia stood frozen under her mother’s gaze, at a complete loss of words.

“Now,” she continued, “When you’re dry, you may enter and eat.” Then she turned on her heel and headed into her suite to the table of food that had been set up. “Oh, and dear? I would hurry. It’s almost time for your lesson with Ser Aeron, and you know how much he loathes you being tardy.”

You have got to be kidding me.

Auraelia expelled an exasperated sigh, throwing her head back in the process.

Okay. Dry clothes. It shouldn’t be that hard, right?

Shaking out her hands as she rolled her neck from side to side, Auraelia closed her eyes and tried to concentrate.

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