Page 76 of Emylia

How long had he been searching for me?

“Sebastian, I um…" A pang of guilt rendered me speechless.

Furrowing his brows, Sebastian’s mouth formed a thin line, only enhancing his disapproval. “Didn’t stay in the Gods-damned house!”

Acid churned in the base of my stomach, reacting to the hysteria in his voice. “I suppose you could say that.”

His mouth pursed. “You suppose I could say that? I’ve been worried sick that something happened to you and here you are with your big-shot boyfriend without a care in the world. I should’ve known you would do something idiotic,” he whisper-shouted at me, his hands gesticulating in anger.

I was speechless; Maalikai was not. With a hand protectively remaining on my arm, he squared up against Sebastian.

“It’s fine; I kept an eye on her,” he growled, primitive rage barely harnessed.

“I don’t needanyoneto keep an eye on me.” I spat back, but they both ignored me.

Hatred ignited in Sebastian’s eyes, glowing the darkest shade of scarlet. Power crackled through him, the pulse a magnetic pull as if it beckoned me, his eyes imbuing frozen rage that was akin to my own. Nostrils flared as he turned his barely restrained wrath on Maalikai. Lips curled back in rage, teeth bared—feral, furious, and barely controlled.

“Was I talking to you, bud?”

My stomach balked at the sheer intensity of Sebastian’s voice, but Maalikai didn’t falter. “She was never in any real danger.”

The look in Sebastian’s eyes chilled me to the bone. “You’ve known her for all of two damn seconds. She deserves way more than anything you’ve to give, so I’ll give you a hot tip. Back the fuck away.”

Whoa.

“Sebastian!”

Never, not even once, had I heard Sebastian talk like that.

His eyes were on me in a heartbeat. “Don’t let me get started on you. I expected more fromyou. You’re better than this.”

What. The. Heck.

My eyes betrayed my hurt. Pushing myself past Maalikai, I rose to my full height, standing my ground against my best friend.

“You don’t mean that.” For a second, I swear I saw a flicker of remorse. “Take it back.”

Sebastian opened his mouth to say something, but before he had the chance, a shadow cast over all three of us, rendering us speechless. Tearing my eyes from Sebastian’s, I looked up to see my uncle.

Maalikai moved defensively to my side, his fingers brushing against mine.

Protectively.

The way it made me feel was a sin in itself.

Damn. Him.

“My house. Now.” There wasno room in Thrainn’s voice for argument. It was an order of the highest decree.

Without a word of complaint, the three of us walked silently through the streets until we were safely back inside Thrainn’s house. Sebastian ushered me inside my room, closing the door behind us, waiting for Thrainn to arrive.

Only two minutes passed before Thrainn stormed in, his features curled into a furious grimace.

“What in Nexus do you think you were doing?” he shouted without preamble.

If he thought he could intimidate me, he was sorely mistaken. I knew I’d stuffed up, but he had started it.

“You want to treat me like a damn child, then I’ll act like one.”

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