Page 231 of Emylia

“I’m sorry.” Her apology was sincere.

That’s who Evie was; kindhearted, empathetic. I don’t think she would have it in her to harm a fly.

“It’s okay.” I laughed.

“Maybe Sebastian could brand himself with the wolf too, that way you would all be one big happy love triangle.”

Before I could help myself, I snorted. “Was that a joke?”

She merely shrugged. “Maybe Sebastian is rubbing off on me?”

It was bound to happen.

“Seriously though, how are you going to explain this?”

I sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe if I give them the rings before they see it…”

“Good luck with that.” Her lips quirked up into a teasing smile. I loved this version of Evie, happiness looked so good on her.

“I guess I should finish it then.”

With all the forging completed all I had to do was set the half piece of ruby. Which was the easy part.

I combined it all together—careful, precise, reverent.

The ruby caught the firelight, glowing like embers. The wolf—Maalikai’swolf—howled in contrast. Beautiful. Balanced.

“It’s amazing,” Evie whispered. “He will love it!”

“I really hope so.”

A part of me still felt like this was a fantasy and at any moment I would snap out of it and wake up.

“Thank you for you help.”

“You mean with scarring you wrist?”

A carefree laugh escaped me. “Honestly, I think it’s growing on me.”

“Then you’re very welcome.” She pulled me into a hug, squeezing like she didn’t want to let go and I let her hold me as I squeezed her back with just as much enthusiasm. “But seriously… how are you doing?”

“I’ll live.”

She arched a perfect brow. “You’re a disaster.”

“And yet, somehow still alive.”

“Barely.” She snorted

I rolled my eyes and slipped Sebastian’s ring on my necklace and pocketed Maalikai’s. “You ready to get out of here?”

‘Yeh.” But something in the way she hesitated made me feel like she was lying.

“Evie, what’s up.”

A sigh left her, like she carried the weight of the world. “I just can’t sleep.”

Well that was an easy fix.

---