Page 96 of Emylia

I internally grumbled. The green dress I wore was nice, but I never went out of my way to make sure I kept my dresses presentable, so wrinkles crinkled almost every inch of the dress I wore.

“Into the stables; we’re going for a ride.” I didn’t dare tell her where or why.

Josephine’s neurotic smile fell for the briefest of seconds before returning in full force. “It’s kind of sad isn’t it, Evie?”

Sighing, I chose to take the bait. “What’s that?”

“That Emylia thinks she actually has a chance with Maalikai or Sebastian.” She turned to face me, no longer pretending to speak to Evie. “Maalikai looks at you once and you think that you’re special. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not.”

I didn’t have the time or patience for this; I just wanted her to get straight to the damn point. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m not sure what Maalikai’s perverse obsession with you is at the moment but let me tell you something. One, it will be fleeting at best. And two, if I can’t win him over, there is no way in Nexus you would ever have a chance. And don’t get me started on Sebastian, if you haven’t swayed him to be with you yet, you’ve got no chance.”

Josephine struck an invisible wound I’m sure she wasn’t aware of. Her words fortified the festering self-worth issues that refused to leave me alone.

I did the only thing I could think of; pretended like it didn’t obliterate my soul.

“I’m not sure if you know this, but not all of us try to fuck every hot guy that looks our way.”

A carefree laugh escaped her. “Oh, I’d forgotten. Not a single guyhaslooked your way before, have they? That’s why you’re still a virgin, right?”

Red stained my face, my skin burning in embarrassment. There was no way she could know that for sure. Not unless Sebastian had spilled my secret, and he’d never do that to me. She was bluffing, but I was struggling to hide my mortification.

“Oh my gosh, I was just joking; but it’s true, isn’t it?” Her laughter rippled like a siren’s song, laced with the madness of a banshee and the bite of a Goddess scorned.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I had become completely lost for words.

Sebastian and Maalikai took that moment to saunter back into view. A relieved breath slipped from my lips, yet unease coiled in my stomach, twisting with the fear that Josephine might reveal her new discovery.

And that would be beyond mortifying.

“Hi, Josie. Hi, Evie.” Sebastian gave them both a wave as he stopped next to me, Maalikai beside him, wearily watching the two women like they were savage beasts.

Closing my eyes, I prayed to all the Gods that neither of them had overheard our conversation, but I doubted I was that lucky.

The sweetest of smiles lit up Josephine’s gorgeous features as she turned to Maalikai. “Hi, Maalikai.”

“Are we interrupting?” Sebastian asked cautiously.

“No, not at all. You guys have fun, but I seriously doubt Emylia knows how to do that.” Neither Josephine nor Evie waited for a response, instead, they left, their heckling laughter the only thing remaining.

When they were out of earshot, Maalikai turned to me. “Everything okay?”

All I managed was a nod. A rather pathetic nod.

He wasn’t having any of it. Taking a step forward, he cupped my cheek, forcing me to look straight into his soul-embracing eyes. “You can tell me.”

Taking a deep breath, I forced the whirlwind of hurt to stop churning in the deepest recesses of my stomach. It wasn’t Maalikai’s fault I was feeling like this.

It was mine.

I’d known that I’d never really had a shot with him nor Sebastian. There was no tangible reason why either of them would be interested in me. But some slither of hope had let me believe that there was something between us. For some unknown reason, probably Sebastian talking me up, I felt like they actuallysawme. And, somehow, deemed me worthy.

But Josephine was right, I wasn’t worthy. Deep down, I’d always known that, but in this moment, it was soul-crushing.

Maybe it was because I wanted it so much, or maybe it was because I was sick of being nothing to everyone. Or maybe my soul was craving something more.

Either way, I couldn’t stand staring into Maalikai’s perfect midnight blue eyes and feeling nothing short of inadequate. And the worst part?

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