Page 37 of Emylia

The silence that followed was deafening, the entire crowd holding a collective breath. The sound of clashing swords reverberated through my entire body, leaving my skin crawling with the odd vibration. Harsh, labored breaths only added to the rising tension, fear almost a tangible entity.

I saw my uncle’s next move before Maalikai did. I’d trained with Thrainn.I knew every single move in his arsenal. He was brawn and brute strength, an unbreakable force of destruction. A single blow, properly landed, could end this match instantly. They both know it.

Sweat permeated his dark features as he swung his sword, gathering momentum with terrifying force. A wicked grin turned his features into a malevolent sneer, comparable to the murderous glower Ezekiel was notorious for.

Maalikai’s eyes flickered, barely registering the attack before instinct took over. Determination burned through his features like an eclipse swallowing the sun. His sword met Thrainn’s in a deafening clash, his arms visibly trembling under the sheer power that was Thrainn. My uncle bore down, and for a breath, Maalikai buckled.

But he didn’t break.

With a desperate surge of strength, Maalikai pushed back, forcing Thrainn to stumble back a step. A heartbeat’s worth of space opened between them—but that’s all Malakai needed. Within a second he had reset his stance, poised to strike again.

Neither fighter blinked.

Neither yielded.

Thrainn struck again, but this time, Maalikai was ready. He twisted to the side, letting the massive blade score the dirt where he had stood seconds before, a plume of dust billowing in its wake. Thrain’s attacks became sharper, wilder, more relentless. And yet, Maalikai dodged each one with unnerving ease, his speed an impossible blur of motion.

Thrainn was vicious. Unrelenting. Each strike a crescendo of rage–fury sharpened, each assault more savage, more precise, more merciless. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until Thrainn paused, giving Maalikai a moment of respite.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go easy on you, lad?” Sweat dripped over Thrainn’s brow, the salty liquid clinging to the tips of his wild man of red hair.

An irresistibly cocky smile tipped one side of Maalikai’s lips. He looked like he relished the challenge.

Reckless.

Gods, he was so damn reckless.

He also didn’t look nearly as tired as my uncle. All those heavy blows were costing the brute of a man.

Sebastian shifted beside me. “Do you want me to wipe the drool from your mouth or are you all good?”

I shot him a lethal glare. “Shut up.”

Maalikai grinned, wicked and unhinged He was unsettlingly diabolical. He shifted his sword to his other hand, loosening his grip before tightening it again, ready to strike. He radiated such effortless confidence that I nearlydidhave to wipe the drool from my lips.

Damn,I had to watch myself, if I was this transparent with Sebastian I was in a world of misery. For starters, the idea of hurting him was unbearable. I had to reign in my feelings. Starting with no more eye-fucking Maalikai.

“The question is, do you want me to stop going easy on you?” Maalikai’s words froze my heart, icicles permeating through my veins and filling it with frost.

The corner of my uncle’s jaw twitched. It was the slightest movement; I doubted anyone except Sebastian and I would’ve noticed.

“Did you see that?” The words left me in a whoosh of disbelief.

Sebastian leaned forward, not daring to take his eyes off Thrainn. “I sure did. You still feeling confident?”

“Without question.”

I wasn’t going to admit it to Sebastian, but I wasn’t so sure anymore. Thrainn was clearly rattled and sometimes that’s all the advantage needed.

A sharp whistle cut through the air. Steel caught the sunlight, reflecting through the crowd as Thrainn’s sword came crashing down, fueled by pure, unbridled fury.

And Maalikai?

He sidestepped it.

Like it was as easy as breathing.

Like it was just another step in a dance he had already mastered.

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