Page 144 of Emylia

But I was.

Gods, I was terrified.

Of wanting too much.

Of not being enough.

“Think about it, Princess,”he said, voice almost a goodbye. “You don’t need to be perfect to be worthy. You don’t have to prove your value by bleeding for it. You are worthy of love–not despite your scars, but because of them. Because of the fire, the chaos, the doubt. You are not too much. You are enough. Exactly as you are. Even shattered… you’re still everything.”

And then he stepped back.

And I let him.

Even as every part of me fractured.

Even as I stood there, aching for a version of myself I wasn’t sure I deserved to be.

ChapterThirty

In a daze, I started to blindly follow Maalikai outside but no more than three steps later my path was blocked.

“Emylia.” I didn’t even bother looking up, choosing to ignore Josephine’s sadistic voice.

I had come so close to escaping her clutches, but she couldn’t give me a break, could she? Yet I knew if I didn’t get this confrontation over and done with, she wouldn’t leave me alone.

After what I’d just been through with my uncle, Sebastian and now Maalikai, I didn’t have the patience to deal with her. I just wanted this to be over.

“What do you want, Josephine?”

Looking up, I only just realized how close Josephine was, invading my personal space. Evie, as usual, remained slightly behind her, arms hanging loosely to her sides, her veridian eyes watching me curiously.

“Whoa, are you right there?” I snapped, taking a step back.

“I’ve been more than patient with you, but you just couldn’t keep your grubby little talons to yourself, could you?”

I closed my eyes, feeling wearier than I had in years. “What are you talking about? And explain quickly. It’s cold, and I didn’t bring my cloak.”

Her white-blonde hair was done in braids all wrapped around her head and she wore a deep burgundy gown and fur coat. “I warned you that Maalikai was mine, but you couldn’t leave it alone. You dug your feral little claws into him anyway.” Her nose flared, her eyes glowing a demonic brown.

“I’m pretty sure Maalikai is his own person and can make decisions for himself.”

“And I’m pretty sure you’re a hussy that needs to keep her fucking mouth shut.”

Whoa, the feralness in Josephine’s eyes chilled me to the core, forcing me to take another step backward. There was no point; she reclaimed the distance, forcing herself into my personal space for a second time.

“What in Nexus, Josephine?”

“You are continuously getting in my way and I’msickof it.” Her voice was shrill and erratic like she had finally lost her sanity. She even stamped her foot in the dirt.

“What are you talking about? You get everything you’ve ever wanted. All you have to do is bat your eyelashes and people fall to their knees.”

A cynical laugh escaped her, intensifying the hysteria she seemed to wear like a crown. “Not the people who matter.”

Was she serious?

She was the golden girl of Ophelia—what more did she want?

“Like who?”

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