Page 233 of Emylia

“Yeah, you know me—I’m an overachiever. Did everything Thrainn needed in record time.”

My eyes dragged over him again, slower this time. “And I see you didn’t wreck yourself doing it.”

“Don’t be like that,” he said, flashing a grin. “I thought you’d be grateful. I rushed back to let you know—your banishment’s officially over.”

“What?”I launched into his arms, air catching in my throat, weightless as he spun me in a circle, the world tilting around us.

“Now that’s better,” he murmured, his voice warm at my ear.

But his smile faded as he scanned my room. His eyes landed on the mattress on the floor. The lump beneath the blanket.

“…Do I want to ask why Evie’s sleeping on the floor?”

“Cause Maalik was in the bed.” His look screamedcut the crap. “Slumber party?” I offered sweetly.

His brow furrowed. “Okay… and why is Maalikai still passed out? He’s supposed to be guarding you.”

He set me down and stormed across the room, yanking the covers off Maalikai’s unconscious form.

“Thank the Gods,” Sebastian muttered, recoiling. “For a second I thought you were going to be naked.”

Maalikai groaned and rolled to his back, squinting at the ceiling like it offended him. His movements were slow. Off.

He rubbed his eyes like he wasn’t entirely sure where he was. Maybe I’d added a little too much sleepy tonic to his drink.

Oops. Live and learn, I guess.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “Is he drunk?”

Maalikai sat up with a wince, dragging a hand down his face. “No.”

Sebastian’s gaze flicked to Evie—now sitting up, stiff with guilt—then landed on me. The moment our eyes met, I knew I was done for.

Dead silence.

Then—

“…What did you do?”

“Me?” I blinked, stepping behind Evie like she could somehow shield me. “Nothing.”

Maalikai’s head snapped toward me. “The drink. You laced it with something,” he accused.

“Us?” I echoed. “Never.”

“‘Us?’” Sebastian repeated. “As in Evie too?”

“Ah…” I winced. “Oops.”

Sebastian looked between the three of us—Evie’s wide eyes, Maalikai’s slow-burn glare, and my barely concealed smirk.

Then he laughed. Just once. A short burst of stunned amusement.

“Gods, you’re absolutely feral,” Sebastian muttered–like he was scandalized but loving every second, laughter curling at the edges of his voice.

He looked at me like I was chaos incarnate–and he wouldn’t have me any other way.

“You laced his drink– and had Evie give it to him?” A slow grin tugged at his mouth. “That’s… honestly kind of brilliant. Completely diabolical.” He blinked, half appalled, half in awe.

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