Page 189 of Emylia

“What did I do?”he drawled, unfazed.

“You said to meet youhere this morning for training. Withyou. That Sebastian was doing an errand.”

He shrugged. “I did.”

“Youlied.”I shot back, seething.

“I told you I’d fight for you,”he said, voice even. “And I don’t mind getting a little dirty.”

“Oh. Wow. Don’t mind me,”Sebastian muttered. “You two keep going at it.”

My heart slammed into my ribs. Both Maalikai and I turned—but it was Maalikai who moved first. He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders like he wasn’t still burning from need.

“She needed a push.”

We all knew he wasn’t talking about training.

“Oh, I’m sure you were about to give her one,”Sebastian said, his jaw flexing.

Gods, he was barely holding it together.

“This isn’t what you think,”I said quietly. “We were just training.”

He met my eyes then.Reallymet them.

“I think you’re falling in love with both of us,”he said. “And I think that terrifies you.”

Silence dropped like a blade. Neither of them looked at each other. Only at me. And I—I had never felt more split down the middle.

An audible sigh left Sebastian. “Look, I’m fine with this. Truly, I am. But I just can’t watch it unfurl in front of me. I’m not that… well-adjusted.”

His gaze flicked between us—my flushed face, Maalikai’s bare chest, our closeness. And the way I hadn’t moved far enough away. Like I was still drawn to him, even as I tried not to be.

“This wasn’t—” I swallowed. I didn’t even know what itwas. “That.”

He gave a half-laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s fine. I mean… he’s already shirtless and so are you, so clearly he had a head start.”

“Sebastian,”I said, stepping forward.

He raised a hand. “Don’t.” He took a deep, shattered breath. “I shouldn’t have come. Looks like I missed the warm-up. You guys keep training. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

A pause. “I’ll sleep in the guest house tonight.”

Then he turned to go. But he faltered.

And added, quieter: “You two kids have fun.”

His smile barely reached his eyes. But it was there—tucked into that smartarse remark like humor was the only defense he had left.

“No.”

Sebastian turned, amber eyes flaring as he watched me—confused, but curious. “No?”

“The two of you are impossible.” I threw my hands up. “This love-hate thing you’ve got going on is sending me crazy. You both need to stop the crap and decide what you actually want.”

Maalikai didn’t move—just crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby tree, maddeningly calm.

“I thought I was pretty clear,”he said. “I want you.”

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