Page 164 of Emylia

He kissed me, slow and reverent. “It was beyond amazing. You are myeverything.” My breath caught.

“The way you sounded when you came…” His voice was reverent. “That’s my new favorite sound.”

He traced slow circles on my skin. Peaceful. Quiet.

And then?—

“I love you, Em.”

I didn’t hesitate. “I love you.”

Not because he said it first. Not because I was supposed to.

But because it was real.

Undeniable.

No matter what existed between Maalikai and me—it could never touchthis.

Not this moment.

Not this man.

Not this kind of love.

I wasn’t just in love with Sebastian.

I washis.

And deep down, I think he would always have my heart.

ChapterThirty-Four

Aknock at the door stirred me from sleep. I rolled over, reaching instinctively for Sebastian–but he was gone. The sheets were cool where he’d been.

I pushed myself upright and stumbled across the room. My eyes were still bleary, my vision fractured and slow to catch up. I found the doorknob and pulled, expecting to see him standing there, smirking, pretending like nothing had happened.

But it wasn’t Sebastian.

It was Maalikai.

And my heart dropped.

He looked friggin’ amazing. His chiseled jaw, a strong perfect curve in the deep light, his onyx hair completely black in the shadows.

“Hey,” he said quietly.

“You’re here,” I breathed.

He nodded, still standing there. “Triska, the girls, and I arrived yesterday. You were hibernating in your room.” He raised a brow. “Sebastian mentioned you were left unguarded and needed a chaperone.”

Of course he did, that one didn’t know how not to meddle, even if it broke him. “Did he just?”

He nodded again. “Besides, you and I need to talk.”

Before I could move, Maalikai stormed in, the level of grief in his eyes almost tangible, carried like a wound to the heart. I hadn’t noticed from his place outside my bedroom, but his gaze was fierce and broken. “Can I please just say something?”

Running my teeth over my bottom lip, I nodded. I wore a loose white shirt, the bottom hem only just reaching my thighs. Honestly, I hadn’t been expecting him to arrive yet, but now that he was here, I felt exposed.

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