Page 135 of Emylia

“Mmm.” Thrainn’s gaze drifted to Sebastian—still very shirtless, still very unbothered. “And was someone... attacking?”

Sebastian stretched, lazy and smug, his muscles somehow looking even more defined. “Only me, Chief. Just doing my duty—making sure Emylia was safe. And that all herneedswere met.”

Maalikai’s jaw tensed.

“I see.” Thrainn looked back at me, and if he noticed my soul trying to evacuate my body, he didn’t comment. Instead, the faintest curve touched his lips.

“Well,” he said lightly, “if you’re done saving the day, perhaps next time—knock.”

I shot him a dirty look. The entire bazaar ambush was still fresh, and it was way too early for jokes. Especiallythiskind.

“Anything else I should know about?” he added, far too casual.

I gave him one of my cheeriest smiles—which, in itself, should’ve been a dead giveaway. I didnotsmile like a lunatic banshee this early in the morning.

Or, hopefully, ever.

Especially after our heated argument last night.

“Nope,” I said, voice high-pitched and unconvincing. “Nothing.”

“Nothing at all,” Sebastian added. “Emylia was just saying how she’s in the mood for pickles.”

Oh. My. Gods.

I was going to kill Sebastian.

Very slowly and very painfully.

“Triska might have some jars stashed away if you want me to ask for you?” The innocence of Uncle Thrainn’s words would’ve made me laugh if I wasn’t so mortified.

“No, thank you; suddenly, my craving seems to have shriveled up and died.” Picking up a pillow, I threw it at Sebastian, knocking him off balance. “Just like someone else I know will be joining it.”

Sebastian’s smile only grew wider. “Now, now, no need for nasty words.”

I was going to give him some nasty words in a second.

Before I could escape this beyond-awkward conversation, we were joined by Josephine and Evie—because why not?

Josephine’s bright-eyed enthusiasm turned glacial the second she caught sight of a still-shirtless Sebastian lounging in my room… and Maalikai, broody as sin, glaring daggers, while Thrainn stood like a boulder in the doorway, blocking any hope of escape.

Their gazes pinged between Maalikai, Sebastian, and me, and just like everyone else, they pieced it together in record time. No doubt their minds leapt straight to the most scandalous conclusion.

Gods. Did everyone in this house think I was that much of a hussy?

Okay—sure, maybe they weren’tcompletelywrong. But to believe I’d lost my virginity and slept withtwoguys in the span of a single day?

That wasludicrous.

“What’s going on here?” Josephine’s words were clipped as she looked directly at me with a look that could kill.

“We were just discussing Emylia’s craving for pickles.” My uncle chuckled.

Losing the ability to talk, I stared at him like he’d grown two heads. He was just as bad as Sebastian. When he saw my horror-stricken face, he gave me an apologetic shrug. “Well, we were.”

At a loss for words, I shook my head in disbelief. “I’m— I’m going to go say good morning to Stormfire.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sebastian offered.

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