Page 169 of Emylia

I wrapped my arms around her. The sound of crashing waves calmed my racing heart. I closed my eyes, letting the serenity wash over me, hoping it would calm the rage in my soul. “It does. Thank you.”

She smiled gently and returned the embrace, then glanced over my shoulder. “Seems you have company.”

I turned toward the path.

Maalikai emerged first—dark and quiet as ever—closely followed by Sebastian, who gave me a hesitant half-smile I didn’t quite know how to read. They stood just within the clearing, both of them silent.

Watching.

Waiting.

The weight of the morning—and everything unspoken between the three of us—settled in the air like mist.

But I couldn’t focus on that now.

Not on broken hearts.

Not on bruised choices.

Not on the ache of wanting two people I could never truly claim.

Because today, I would learn to harness the magik burning in my blood.

Even if it was the only thing I could control.

ChapterThirty-Six

Remnants of rain clung to the grass, crystal-clear orbs sparkling as they caught the sun’s return. Though the ground still glistened, the sky above had cleared to an impossible blue—serene and deceitful.

“This isn’t going to be easy.” Apprehension coated my mother’s voice, but I couldn’t tell if it was fear of what I could become… or fear that magik might consume me before I ever got the chance.

“I’ve never been fond of easy,” I replied.

She didn’t smile. Her brows knitted together as she searched my face, the tension in her shoulders never easing.

“I’ll have to push you past the point of breaking.”

Air filled my lungs. “It’s okay, Mom. I can do this.”

She gave a single nod, then stepped back.

“Harnessing is relatively easy. You would’ve done it by accident the first time you touched Xayreia—that’s the name of the tree where Elessandria was conjured.”

I remembered the moment—placing my hand on the roots of the tree and feeling something shift. There were no incantations. No glowing lights. Just… connection.

“All you have to do is open yourself up to the magik,” she said.

“Sounds easy enough.” I tried to breathe through it, but her worry was infectious.

She pressed her mouth into a tight line. “Remember, your tree isn’t like Xayreia. She’s younger. It’ll be harder for you to harness her power.”

“Excellent,” I muttered.

She ignored my sarcasm. “Go on. Give it a try.”

I stepped toward the willow, placing my palm gently on her bark. The surface was cool and rough beneath my skin.

I waited…

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