Page 229 of Emylia

“Em?”

Startled, I turned too fast. “Evie?—”

She stepped around me at the same moment I tried to pry open the cast. Her elbow clipped my ribs, making me lose my grip. The cast—and the glowing ring inside—slipped from my hand.

The world slowed.

The ring fell.

I didn’t think. My hand darted out on instinct, catching the metal with my wrist.

Agony exploded through me as searing heat kissed flesh.

A scream ripped from my throat. I staggered backward, slamming my hand into the water barrel.

“Oh my goodness, Em! Are you okay?”

Tears blurred my vision—not from the pain, but from the fear.

“Is the ring okay? Did I ruin it?”

“That’snotimportant right now?—”

“It is to me,” I growled through gritted teeth. “Just tell me it’s okay.”

She swore, or the closest she came to swearing, which was merely a ‘damn it’.

“What do I do?”

“Use the tongs to pick up the ring then submerge it in the bucket of water.”

Her face crinkled into a look that said she couldn’t do this, however she didn’t falter. She snatched up the ring with the tongs, and dropped it into the quench cask. Then turned it over slowly, examining it.

“Well?”

“It’s fine.” She stepped closer, showing me. “Perfect, actually.”

I let out a breath that had been lodged in my chest for what felt like eternity. The black-silver wolf stared back at me, mouth raised to the crescent moon.

“Thank the Gods.”

“Now let’s look at you.”

“I’m sure it’s fine.”

The look she gave me said that she wasn’t going to take no as an answer, so I acquiesced.

Evidently, it was not fine.

The skin bubbled, red and angry, already blistering where the metal had kissed me.

“Oh my gosh, Em.” Evie’s voice came out at a whisper.

“It’s alright. I’ve got this.”

I drew a breath. Ihadto get this right.

No more failed attempts.

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