Page 72 of Emylia

“Come on,” I told Sebastian, already pushing through the crowd.

We moved in unison across the town square toward my family. I kept a close eye on my mom as we jostled our way through the people to get to the other side. Many were already surrounding the injured male, and my uncle worked his way through the crowd to the stranger’s side.

My eyes snapped to my uncle’s and my stomach dropped, chilled to the bone by the fierceness in his gaze. When he saw us, he didn’t take his eyes off mine for a single moment.

Then he started barking orders, “Sebastian, take Triska, Ari, my daughters and Emylia back to my house; don’t let them leave until I tell you it’s safe.”

My mother’s eyes swept over me as she nodded, acknowledging and agreeing with Thrainn’s orders.

The ferocity in Sebastian’s amber eyes chilled me to the core. “Let’s go.”

Surely, Thrainn couldn’t have been talking about me. I was the least vulnerable woman in Ophelia. I’d spent my whole life training to become a badass warrior. I could cause more damage than most of the men.

I was an asset, not a liability.

Sebastian’s hands dug into my arm as he began to drag me back to their house. I dug my heels in, looking back over my shoulder at my uncle. However, he’d already left the area, cradling the injured man in his arms and carrying him away like he weighed nothing.

Sebastian’s teeth clenched as he spit one word at me. “NOW.”

I shook my head. “No, I can help.”

My mother and Sebastian exchanged a look, while Aunty Triska and Evie worked to keep the twins close, as they jogged forward toward safety. Before I had a chance to argue, Sebastian swept me into his arms, carrying me through the streets of Ophelia like I was a damn damsel in distress.

“Put me the fuck down.” I seethed.

Sebastian ignored me, following quickly behind my mother as she opened the door to Uncle Thrainn’s house.

His home sat on an incline, just above the rest of town–not by accident, but by design. As chief, the position carried weight, and so did the structure itself. It was larger than most, more refined, a quiet declaration of the role he held and the respect he commanded.

The stone entry floor met my feet as Sebastian gently set me down, giving me a wide berth like I was a wild beast.

And at the moment, I was.

“What the fuck?”Rage consumed me, becoming a living, breathing entity.

“Emylia!” I ignored my mother’s outrage as I squared up against Sebastian, rising to my full height and staring him down like I could rip flesh from bone.

Sebastian slowly raised his hands in surrender. “I was only doing what the chief asked.”

“Looks like I have a bone to pick withhimthen.”

I tried sidestepping Sebastian, who had placed himself between me and the door, but he was too fast, moving his enormous frame so it completely blocked my path.

“I can’t let you do that,” he said.

I resisted the urge to take a running start at him and take him to the ground. “Why. The. FUCK. Not?”

Sebastian took a step forward, leveling his gaze with mine, imploring me to listen to reason.

“He’s the chief, Emylia. What would you have me do?” My gaze softened, but only marginally. “And if you haven’t noticed, you’re not the only one missing out on all the action. I’m confined here too. I had orders.”

A breath of hot air escaped my lungs before I could stop it–fast, uncontrolled–heat curling off my skin like steam.

“Fuck this.” I tried to sidestep Sebastian again but with an ease that sent my stomach on fire, he stopped me a second time.

With infinite patience, he took my hand in his, cupping my fingers. His eyes were all-consuming, but his voice was soft. “He promised your dad he would protect you. That’s what he’s doing. That’s whatI’mdoing.”

I heard a soft sob from my mother, who stood behind me. Realizing that I was being unreasonable, I took a long breath in and tried to rationalize my need to go and see what was happening outside.

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