Page 238 of Emylia

I’d have to brush her later. Right now, I needed to be ready before?—

“Princess.”

I jumped.

Maalikai stood in the doorway, sapphire eyes sharp and unreadable. In two strides, he reached me, his hands sliding to my waist as he pulled me against him. His warmth engulfed me. The curve of his body aligned perfectly with mine, the scent of pine and mint sending heat spiraling through my core.

It appeared he’d finally forgiven me for lacing his drink.

A sigh escaped me, soft and unbidden. His growl followed, low and rough, as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he whispered, voice gravel and thunder against my skin.

I smirked, nipping his ear. “I knowexactlywhat I do to you.”

“Oh, do you?” His mouth tilted. “Then you’ve only got yourself to blame for this.”

His lips met mine—firm, claiming, a slow-burning fuse. Fire sparked beneath my skin. I deepened the kiss, unapologetic, fierce. Hoping he could feel just how much of me was already his.

His muscles tensed. His breath hitched.

When he finally broke away, his grin was crooked, dangerous. “Well. That was something.”

“Correction,” I murmured. “That waseverything.”

He kissed the corner of my mouth, breath hot. “You’ll be my ruin.”

The words melted through me like molten gold. But the moment was shattered by what came next.

“So you never told me how your midnight rendezvous was the other night?”

My smile faltered. I looked up sharply. “Excuse me?”

Maalikai’s eyes didn’t waver. “I was tasked with your protection,” he said, voice low but sharp. “And I take that seriously.” He stepped closer, jaw tight, eyes like flint. I didn’t move–didn’t even breathe–as the heat between us shifted from chilly to dangerous. “Drugging me,” he continued, “just so you could sneak off and have a secret meeting with Sebastian?” He shook his head once, slow and bitter. “That feels a bit extreme.”

My fingers curled at my sides.

“You could’ve just told me,” he said. “I’d have given you the space. No fight. No questions. But sneaking around behind my back.” His voice broke off, not from weakness–but from control. Fists clenched. Breath tight. Like he was holding something back. Or maybe deciding whether or not to let it go. “That hurt more than you think.”

“And if you’re wrong?” My voice dropped, laced in venom.

“Sebastian arrived back late that same night.” His voice was low–controlled, but barely. “And then you… magikally disappear from your bed. Don’t return. No word. No nothing.” He took a step closer, eyes burning into mine. “Then I find out that you drugged me.” A bitter laugh escaped him. “Not because I was a threat. Not because I’d done something wrong. But just to take me out of the picture.” He shook his head slowly, the weight of it all folding in on itself. “Like I didn’t matter. Like I was easily disposable to you.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I sound like an asshole.”

“Hate to break it to you–you kinda were.”

Wow. Just wow.

“So, you honestly think I snuck out of my own bed to frolic with Sebastian.” He nodded. “And if you’re wrong?”

He didn’t flinch. “I’m never wrong.”

My jaw clenched. “So, what then? You’rejealous?”

He was quiet for a beat.

I pushed. “I thought you were okay with this. Man enough to risk a broken heart, remember? Or was that just talk?”

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