Page 105 of Emylia

A laugh tore through him, and mine bubbled up through my chest and joined his, my rage melting almost as quickly as it had manifested. “I don’t really have the prerequisites to be a princess.”

“Well, I don’t have the charm,” I harped, sticking my tongue out at him for making fun of me.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to insult you. And if I’m being honest, I thinkIwould make an exceptional Queen. Can’t you imagine me in a beautiful gown, prancing through the courts?” Maalikai curtsied before pretending to twirl his giant skirt in a perfect circle, which was entirely so un-Maalikai like that I almost died in hysterics.

“You’re already a better Queen than I would be; I don’t even know how to curtsy.” I once again looked down at my dress. Now, covered in mud, sticks, and leaves. “My mom is going to kill me.”

Maalikai stopped mid-twirl, covering the distance to me in three long strides. “You would make the most perfect Queen. The people of Agertheria would be incredibly lucky to have you as their ruler.”

“You’re so full of shit.” I snorted.

Maalikai took my hand in his and gently kissed it before meeting my eyes. “It’s no word of a lie; you would be the most extraordinary Queen that has ever ruled Agertheria.”

My cheeks heated under his stare, my rebuttal dying on my lips. He continued before I could make anything beyond awkward, like he had discovered how bad I was at taking a compliment.

“Now, how about I finish carving this bow and you get some more practice. You obviously need it.”

I knew he was just teasing me, but I chose to take the bait.

“Oh really?” I lifted my bow again and let the arrow fly—dead center. Bullseye.

He didn’t even blink.

“If you start getting real frisky,” he said, voice low and lazy, “there’s throwing knives too.”

I followed his line of sight and spotted them—neatly arranged on a small table, gleaming in the sunlight. How had I missed those?

Had I really been that distracted?

Soon, the rhythmicschickof the drawknife behind me became a steady hum. The world shrank to the bow in my hand. To the stretch of the string. To the satisfying thrum in my bones every time an arrow found its mark.

I’d forgotten how this felt. HowIfelt—armed, alive, dangerous.

And for a while... nothing else mattered.

Then I heard him again—closer this time. His voice curled around me like smoke. “Wow. I can’t believe I thought you were a novice.”

I startled, spinning on instinct. Caught red-handed in pride.

“Oh, really?” I smirked, steadying my bow. “Is that your way of admitting I’m better than you?”

He chuckled—deep, warm, wrecking. Like thunder that liked the taste of rain.

“You’re not even in the same range as me.” The challenge wassin-drenched. “Besides, did I forget to mention I started when I was three? I could pretty much bring Noctharis to his knees.”

I’m pretty sure he could bringanyoneto their knees.

But I wasn’t about to admit that.

I blinked. “Three? Why the hell was a toddler learning to fire a bow?”

He shrugged. “My uncle believed in tough love. Shoot first, ask later.”

“Sounds charming.” I didn’t mean to say it aloud—but there it was.

Not that he corrected me.

“Come on,” Maalikai said, his tone shifting—lighter, almost nervous. “Let’s check out your bow. I’ve already strung it. Now all that’s left is the big reveal.”

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