Page 66 of Emylia

“Never.” I fought, and failed, to stifle a sob. “Em, look at me.”

Candlelight flickered the golden hues in his amber eyes, shattering the jewels like stardust. And just like that I was lost to him. This—whateverthiswas—burned between us like something holy and forbidden. The ache of it? The sweetest kind of damnation.

“Em, I love you.”

Before I could pull in a ragged breath, his lips found mine—devouring me in the way my soul had always craved.

Rising onto the tips of my toes, I deepened the kiss, pouring every last ounce of myself into it, so he would know, truly know, that I wanted this. I wantedhim, with every shattered, burning piece of me. I craved him until I couldn’t think, or breathe, orexistwithout him. And even then, it still wouldn’t be enough.

Just when I thought I could crumble no further, he pieced me back together—not gently, but like heneededto, like every fractured part of me was the only thing keepinghimfrom falling apart.

He pressed his forehead to mine, and in that breath between us, I felt it—the ruin, the ache, the kind of love that doesn’t save you.

It consumes you.

“I’m sorry. I was just being an over protective, pretentious dick.”

The glow in his face radiated, seeping into the space between us–warm, uncontainable, and dangerously infectious.

“Does this mean we are done with this fight?”

I felt his head nod above me. “Yes. But, I swear to the Gods, if Maalikai betrays or hurts you in any way, Iamgoing to kill him.”

“You think I’m stupid, don’t you?” With a sigh, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling closer to him so there was not even a slither of distance between us.

Sebastian pulled back just enough so he could look me in the eyes. “Not in the slightest. People don’t realize how big your heart is and sometimes you trust too blindly. I can’t even be mad at you because it makes you, you. I don’t ever want you to change, but by the Gods, please try not to be so reckless.”

I swallowed at his words. I’d been positive that Maalikai wouldn’t betray me. But Sebastian being just as certain of Maalikai’s nefarious intentions, threw me.

“But that’s who I am.”

“And I love you for it.” Sebastian tilted his head, amusement coloring his tone, I groaned.

Why did I do this to myself?

My obvious distress only made Sebastian laugh, before fully stepping back and gesturing to our seats at the table, beckoning me to lead the way.

“If it makes you feel any better, it could be worse.”

“Really, how?”

Sebastian looked back at the table and pointed to the other end of the town square. Looking over to where he indicated, I saw Maalikai, Josephine, and Evie. Thrainn sat on one side of him, two seats down and the girls sat on either side of him, and they seemed to be in a conversation with each other, animatedly leaning in front of him while he tried to bring a forkful of food to his mouth.

“You could be him right now.”

Regardless of all the stress and anxiety, I couldn’t help but laugh. “He has no idea what he’s in for.”

“I guess; it must be pure torture being trapped by so much beauty and adoration.”

I punched Sebastian in the arm. Hard. “Clearly, you don’t know Josephine as well as I thought.”

He shrugged and had the audacity to blush. “Seriously though, she’s notthatbad. Besides, sheissuper-hot. She just seems to always be on her worst behavior around you.” He tilted his head again, considering. “Come to think of it, you tend to bring that out in a lot of people.”

My mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding me, she isthatbad.Worseeven. And I don’t bring the worst out in people! Jerk.”

Sebastian didn’t suppress his smile; we both knew he couldn’t resist the urge to deliberately piss me off. “I dunno, she can be quite sweet and charming.”

Sometimes, Sebastian could be such a jackass. “That’s ‘cause she’s trying to get into your pants.”

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