Page 138 of Emylia

“Are you implying I have anything to do with your crappy mood?” His mock-indignation was laughable.

I turned around, arms crossed against my chest. “What more do you want me to do? Last night I chose you and yet you still had to rub it in, like I was a prize to be won.” I was half furious, half fire, and he knew it. But for once, the joke didn’t come.

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling hard. “Look, I’mtrying.” His voice cracked, stripped of its usual ease. “I don’t know how to do this—I’m notgoodat this.” He met my gaze, his heart wide open and burning.

Another stuttered breath escaped him. “I am so undeniably in love with you and it’s wrecking me. And Iwantyou to be happy, I really do. But for Ezekiel’s sake, Em…” His voice fractured, barely holding it together. “I am so in love with you, it hurts. And knowing thatthatguy, has a chance with you, destroys me. The only one I ever want you to be with… is me.”

The words shattered something in the air between us—something fragile and sacred. My breath caught. My heart cracked wide open. For half a second, silence stretched between us.

Volatile.

Trembling.

He looked like he regretted his words already—like he’d just ripped his soul out and handed it to me. And I was just standing here, holding it, like I didn’t know what to do with it.

Then I kissed him.

It wasn’t careful. It wasn’t sweet. It was everything I hadn’t said. Everything Icouldn’tsay.

My hands gripped his shirt, dragging him down to me like I was drowning and he was the only thing keeping me above water. Our mouths met in a collision—too much, too fast, too desperate. He froze for a heartbeat—stunned, maybe. Or terrified this was something I’d take back.

But I didn’t.

And Gods, when he kissed me back—really kissed me back—it was like setting fire to everything I thought I was supposed to want. I told myself this wasn’t a choice. That I still hadn’t made one. But this kiss was violent, raw and irreversible.

No logic.

No caution.

Just need.

And I knew, I wasn’t just walking away from my choice, I was obliterating it in this moment, so I could never go back to Maalikai–there was no way he would want to be with me now.

In this moment, just for a single second. I chose Sebastian. Even if it burned everything else down.

And although definitive heartbreak was waiting at the end of it… for now, all that mattered was the way he held me, like I was the answer to every prayer he’d never dared speak aloud.

“Fuck Em.” He rested his forehead against mine, his breath coming in sharp waves. “Why?”

I exhaled, broken. “Because I can’t seem to let you go. And even though Ican’tchoose you. I also can’t choose him either. So why not burn everything to the ground?”

A single tear escaped me, rolling over my cheek, he caught it before it could fall, the tiny droplet a perfect translucent arch on his fingertip.

The he gave me a look that was undeniably him, half-wrecked, half-wicked. “Is this the perfect time to tell you I got you a present?”

A ripple of shock ran through me. “You got me a present?”

“Well,” he said with a cocky grin, “I made you a present.”

There was always a catch with Sebastian—usually something ridiculous that left me mildly traumatised.

Warily, I studied him, arms crossed. A sigh escaped me as I caved, just like he knew I would. “Alright. What is this magikally life-altering gift?”

Sebastian reached into his pocket and pulled out a neatly folded cloth, no bigger than my palm. Gently, he placed it in my open hand. I regarded it with suspicion—rightfully so. Knowing him, it could be literally anything.

“Go on,” he urged, eyes glinting with excitement. “Open it.”

Hesitantly, I unwrapped the cloth until something hard and jagged dropped into my palm. I turned the object over slowly, confused. “Why would you give me an arrowhead?”

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