Page 35 of Emylia

“Deal.”I didn’t hesitate. “And if Uncle Thrainn loses?”

Not that that was ever going to happen.

There was a wicked gleam in Sebastian’s eyes, one that could rival the trickster God Ezekiel himself–sharp, smug, and far too pleased with whatever chaos he was about to unleash.

Before he even spoke, I knew I’d just bargained for more than I was willing to lose.

“If Thrainn loses, you have to ask Maalikai out.”

“What in the actual Nexus?”My voice pitched. “No friggin’ way.”

“And here I was thinking you had balls of steel.”

The condescension dripped off every word, thick and deliberate.

Yep. He was pissed.

Too emotionally stunted to say he was hurt, so he weaponized bravado instead. Fucking guys—Gods forbid we actually talk about feelings.

Not that I was much better.

I rolled my eyes. “That’s beside the point. I’m not going to ask out someone I don’t even know just because I lost a bet. That’s stupid.”

“I thought you were confident you weren’t going to lose?”

He tossed it out casually, like it didn’t land right in my gut and twist.

He had a point. A smug, infuriating point. There was no way Uncle Thrainn was going to lose—not in this realm, not in the next.

But the thought of talking to Maalikai, let aloneasking him out—and doing it on Sebastian’sterms? Yeah. That had my stomach tying itself into knots.

“I am,”I said, standing my ground.

“Then what’s the issue?”

His smile was a challenge now. Sharp. Knowing.

And Gods, I hated that I didn’t have an answer.

“If you like I can even hold your hand, so you don’t get scared,” he taunted.

Girls in the village loved Sebastian. Not only was he hot as fuck, and I mean, holy hot damn hot, but because of his playful personality. Which currently was pissing me off.

“Shut up!” I wasn’t sure what he was playing at, but it would be uncharacteristic of Sebastian not to have a plan; he was up to something. “What do you get out of this?”

“I get to see you act like a bumbling idiot, and we both know how much enjoyment I get out of that.”

Of course he did. Why was I not surprised, “Seriously?”

He shrugged offhandedly. “Ophelia gets so boring when you’re not here to torture. I’ve got to make up lost time.”

“You know I friggin’ hate you.”

“No, you don’t. You love me; in fact, I’m your favorite person in the world.”

“No, you’re not. There are the twins; they’re not as much of a pain in my arse as you are.”

Sebastian’s laugh was brilliantly carefree. “So, what’s it going to be? Are you a coward, Em, or do you want to make a deal with Ezekiel?”

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