Page 278 of Emylia

And then it grew wilder. Volatile. Like it demanded Retribution. Revenge. Pain. They all lived in me like fire beneath my skin–ready to burn. Ready to extinguish the fire that had claimed their souls

And then—his hand.

Maalikai.

My tether to something other than pain.

The only thing holding me together.

Maalikai’s touch broke through the darkness, anchoring me to the present—to purpose.

“We need to find the others,” he said softly.

I nodded, afraid my voice would shatter if I tried to speak.

Silent–shaken–I followed him through the blood-soaked ruins of the house. Room by room. Breath by breath. We searched.

Until we reached the last door.

My uncle’s bedroom.

Maalikai opened it.

The unmistakable clash of metal on metal made my heart stop. I flew to his side, weapon raised, lungs burning, ready to kill whatever stood inside.

And then I saw him.

Red hair. Wild eyes. Blade clenched in blood-slicked hands. Ready to kill.

Thrainn.

Relief collapsed my knees. The iron tendrils wrapped around my chest cracked and gave way. I dropped my sword and threw my arms around him, sobs tearing free as my tears soaked his shoulder.

Behind him stood Aunty Triska, pale but uninjured, clutching Rebekah close. Tears streamed down her face in rivers, but she nodded once—they were alive.

Unharmed.

At least on the outside.

“What happened?” I choked out.

“They came from the mountains,” Thrainn rasped. “Just like Maalikai warned. They swept in before we knew we’d been infiltrated. When the line broke—when the men fell—I ran. I ran to save my wife. My daughters.” His voice fractured on the word. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, staring at ghosts of the past.

“Steph–she…”

My hand found his, my heart cracking. “I’m so, so sorry.”

Tears had already carved channels down his face. “I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t save any of them.”

I squeezed his hands tighter, grounding him. “What about Sebastian? Evie?”

His expression unraveled.

“I—I don’t know. I couldn’t find them.”

Something inside me splintered. But I clung to the belief they were alive.

Sebastian always found a way.

---