Page 25 of Emylia

Cute.

Too bad for him, I wasn’t in the mood to kneel.

I didn’t care how unnerving his power was.

He had no control over me.

None.

He didn’t get to command shit.

Especially not me.

“Screw. You.”

I didn’t soften my words.

I didn’t look away.

Didn’t flinch.

Let him see it—all of it—the fury, the fire, the part of me that refused to bend.

Iwas reckless and unapologetic. I definitely wasn’t one of those girl’s you brought home to meet your mother.

I was a troublemaker, and I didn’t have a second to waste on the bullshit. Josephine had claimed him—whether he realised it or not. There was no point competing. No matter how much I loathed her, even I could admit she was drop-dead gorgeous.

No guy in their right mind would pay me a single second of attention when Josephine could be their first choice. And even though he seemed to dismiss her for now, it wouldn’t take long.

She always sank her talons in eventually.

He didn’t blink.

No anger. No surprise.

Just the faintest pull at the corner of his mouth—like I wasamusing.

“Noted.”

No reaction.

Not even a flicker.

Just that maddening stillness—like he was letting me burn out on my own.

And Gods, I hated him for it.

Almost as much as I hated how much I wanted to win whatever game this was.

“Well, this was fun.” I flashed Josephine the kind of smile that saidchokeon it. Then turned on my heel and walked away like I hadn’t just imagined smashing her head into the nearest wall.

“Good riddance.”

I paused just long enough to look over my shoulder, eyes narrowing. “Careful, Josie. The stick up your ass is showing.”

Her expression was priceless, all fury and full of murder. I didn’t wait to enjoy it.

Without a word, I turned, disappearing down the path. The last thing I saw before forcing myself to look away was the ghost of a smile on Maalikai’s lips.

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