Chuckling, Auraelia nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
The line went by quickly, and by the time everyone had been served, Auraelia’s stomach was growling.
Liza cut her a stern look. “You didn’t eat before you came down here, did you?”
Curling her lips inward, Auraelia made to look anywherebutat the harsh glare coming from her head chef.
“Auraelia Rose!”
Shit.
“Getting into trouble, Princess?” Daemon’s voice sent a wave of heat down her spine and flooding into her cheeks.
“You!” Liza pointed an accusing finger at Daemon, her hard gaze turning from Auraelia to him. “Why didn’t you make sure she ate before coming down here?”
Daemon’s eyes widened, his gaze flicking between the plump woman and Auraelia. “Uh…excuse me?”
“She hasn’t eaten! I’m not even sure she’s eaten at all today. Have you?” Liza’s eyes cut back to Auraelia as she finished speaking.
Feeling like a child being reprimanded for stealing chocolate from the kitchens—which she was quite familiar with—Auraelia gave a grim smile. “I was…busy?”
“I swear by the Goddess.” Liza threw her hands up in exasperation, then rubbed her temples before turning back toward Daemon. “If you don’t get some damn food in her, I don’t care if you’re a prince; I’m going to come afteryou. Because evidently,shecan’t be trusted to eat when she’s supposed to.” The last of her tirade was spat directly at Auraelia, and she cringed.
Auraelia had seen Liza angry before—and it was a scary sight to behold—but it had never been directed at her.
Daemon, however, seemed to be struggling to contain a laugh as he responded to the woman. “I will ensure she eats. You have my word.” He gave her a low bow, then grabbed two plates from the stack at the end of the table and proceeded to load them up with a little bit of everything that remained. When he finished,he smiled at Auraelia. “I’ll be in the hall whenever you’re ready to go.” Shooting her a wink, he turned on his heel.
Once he was out of earshot, Liza slowly turned toward Auraelia with a knowing smile on her face.
“What?”
“Nothing…Princess.”
“Liza.”
“Don’t ‘Liza’ me. He seems like a good one. He’s easy on the eyes, too.”
“Liza!”
“I may be old, Auraelia. But I’m not blind.”
Shaking her head, Auraelia untied her apron and placed it into the chef’s outstretched hand. “Off to bed with you, Liza. And take the morning off.”
“The morning off? Have you lost your mind?”
“We have plenty of pastries and fruit to go around. You’re taking the morning off. That’s an order.”
Groaning, Liza conceded and pulled Auraelia in for a hug. “Take care of yourself, Your Majesty. We would be lost without you.” Tears lined the chef’s eyes when they pulled apart, but she blinked them away and gave Auraelia a stiff nod. “Now, off with you before your stomach wakes the kiddies.”
Shaking her head with a chuckle, Auraelia stepped from behind the table and headed to where Daemon was waiting for her.
“Goddess, that woman knows how to cook,” Daemon exclaimed as he leaned back in his chair and swiped a napkin across his mouth.
“That she does.”
When silence fell between them, Daemon reached over and grasped her hand. “What is it?”
“I’d like to go see Xander. I know they will let me know if there are any changes, but—” Her words were cut short by a knock at the door.
