Page 149 of Emylia

“Wait, what?” My voice was shrill.

The only way Sebastian and Maalikai could enforce Uncle Thrainn’s ‘punishment’ is if they came home with me, and if they were basically attached to my hip. They would have to take it in turns and never leave my side. Essentially, they would be my personal body guards.

“Unless either of you have any objection about accompanying Emylia to her home and staying for as long as the exile binds her?”

“Of course not, you have my word.” Of course that would be Sebastian’s response.

“It would be my honor.” I barely met Maalikai’s gaze.

“Good man. Sebastian, you leave with Emylia and Ari. Maalikai, stay here and help Triska pack, you will escort her and my girls with you. They will stay with you for the duration of Emylia’s punishment. To make sure they all remain safe in times of uncertainty.”

Josephine’’s eyes were wild, bitterness seething from her as she took a step towards Thrainn. “You can’t do this.”

“I am your Chief, my decision is final.” Taking a deep breath, his look softened. “Now, let’s put this nastiness behind us and bid farewell to our guests, we won’t be seeing them for a little while.”

Before anyone could respond, Uncle Thrainn spun on his heel, striding off in the direction of his house, leaving Josephine fuming in his wake.

Running to catch up, I grabbed his arm, making him stop. Hesitantly, he turned to me, visibly sighing as he saw my face.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Dark brown eyes met mine, holding them with a steel that could challenge my own. “Like I said last night, I would take you back kicking and screaming if I had to.”

Horror rippled over my skin as the implications of his words sunk in.

Was he serious?

“This was all to get me to go home?” His silence answered the question for me. “Why is it so important to you that I return home?” I demanded, bitterness seething in my voice.

His eyes flared in frustration. “It is the only place I can guarantee your safety.”

A skeptical laugh escaped me. “If warriors can come here, there will be nothing stopping them from reaching my house. They would kill us easily. You may as well let me fight with you.”

Rage boiled under the surface of my uncle’s skin, his nose flaring as he took one and then another frustrated breath. “The wards won’t let anyone enter once Ari seals them shut. You will be completely protected, even if Ophelia falls.”

My eyes met Sebastian’s for a second before colliding with Thrainn’s.

“What? What does that mean? What wards?”

“Your mother will keep you safe.” He nodded but said nothing else.

The only way that would be possible was if my mom could wield magik. But she couldn’t, she was just a healer. If she could channel magik, she would’ve told me. Wouldn’t she?

Yet, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

“My mom’s a mage?” The words left me in a quiet whoosh.

Uncle Thrainn’s eyes darkened, as though he had only just realized what he’d divulged, but the look was gone in an instant, his face devoid of any emotion. “It’s time to go.” He left without another word.

Well, that was one way of ignoring my question. I sprinted after him, determined to get an answer. Before I could press the subject further, I came to a halt outside Uncle Thrainn’s house; my mother and aunty were already waiting with the younger kids dancing around their feet.

Damn it.

There was no way he was going to answer me now.

Plastering a pitiful smile on my face, I hugged my aunty. My enthusiasm was hopeless at best but considering everything that’d just happened, including my banishment, I thought I was masking everything pretty damn well.

As I turned to my uncle, my face dropped. Honestly, despite his evil ploy to send me away, I did hate disappointing him. Giving him a tight squeeze, I hoped he would forgive me.

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