Page 190 of Emylia

Sebastian took a step forward, nostrils flaring. “And I want her to know, without a doubt, that it’s meshe wants—when she finally chooses.”

“Then let her reallychoose,”Maalikai shot back. “Let her feelit. All of it.”

“I am.”

“Clearly,”Maalikai sneered, eyes flicking over him. “By the way you stormed in here with your panties in a twist.”

The gold in Sebastian’s eyes darkened—scarlet bleeding into the edges. It wasn’t just fury.

It was something primal.

Sebastian’s hands curled into fists at his sides. Maalikai didn’t flinch, but his jaw set like stone—too quiet. Too still. Like he was already calculating exactlywhere he’d land the first punch.

Their egos were in full force, sharpened into blades. Both predators, staking their claim. Trying to out-intimidate the other. Yet, all they were achieving was pissing me off.

I stood between them—emotionally bruised and so damn over it.

“Enough!”I snapped.

They kept talking. Over me.

Like I wasn’t even there.

“I swear to the Gods…”I muttered, spinning on my heel. “I’m about to strike both of you down.”

Sebastian hesitated. “Where are you going?”

“To actually do something productive and catch us some lunch—while you two stand here comparing the size of your blades.”

They followed. Ghosts behind me.

Of course they did.

I didn’t hear them. But I feltthem. The way you feel a storm looming behind you, like thunder settling against your spine, heavy and still–just before the sky decides to split open before a strike.

Their footsteps were soft.

Trained.

Measured.

Protective.

I crouched near the stream, fingers skimming the surface, watching fish dart through shadows.

The hunt settled something inside me. Reminded me who I was. Not someone torn in half. Not a prize to be claimed.

Just me.

Behind me, one of them murmured. “She’s going to be the death of us.”

A pause.

“Not if we kill each other first.” Sebastian shot back, a visible smile making its way into his voice.

Silence.

Then Maalikai, dry as ash: “You’re not leaving, are you?”

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