Page 49 of Emylia

I didn’t have words.

Not a single damn one.

I just stared at him like I couldn’t breathe.

Maalikai ignored my inability to respond, and beamed with pride. “This is Jet.”

I turned back to Jet as he nuzzled my hand, looking for food. Laughter filled the air as he tickled my fingers.

“Oh, she does laugh,” Maalikai quipped from beside me.

I didn’t dignify that with a response

Distance evaporated in mere seconds, as Maalikai leaned forward until a thin layer of air was the only thing separating us. Taking a deep breath, I tried and failed to steady the nervous energy squirming through my veins.

A rare smile curved Maalikai’s lips, softening his otherwise stormy features. I was not prepared for the profound effect it had on me. Despite the nervous butterflies dancing in the pit of my stomach, I managed a reasonable smile, or I hoped I did—at this point, it was hard to tell. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I looked like a demented water nymph.

“Are you ready?” he asked, standing too close to allow me to think properly.

“For what?”

“For an adventure.”

It hadn’t occurred to me that he wanted to take me out of Ophelia.

“Maalikai—”

His name barely escaped my lips before he cut me off, “Please.”

Fixing me with the full depth of his impossible-to-refuse eyes, I visibly caved.

Damn him.

“I can bring Stormfire; I just have to get her saddled.”

I managed to take a few steps towards the stables before he grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks. Our fingers intertwined as he pulled me to him, his body flush with mine, warmth radiating from him, caressing my body in the most intimate way. I almost protested. Almost. But it felt… amazing.

Slowly, he shook his head, his eyes burning into mine, rendering me immobile. “We don’t have time; if we don’t hurry, it’ll get too dark.”

“For what?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see, but we must hurry.” Urgency crept into his voice as if each second lost was crucial.

A sigh escaped me, but my curiosity only intensified. What was it about him that made me feel so alive? Whatever it was also clearly clouded my judgment.

Not trusting my voice, I gave him a quick, sharp nod. I’m not sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way, I had stopped fighting him.

His features softened in relief. “That’s my good girl.”

I shot him a look that could rival the death in Ezekiel’s eyes. “I’d watch that fucking mouth of yours, I have no issue plunging one of your daggers straight through your pretty little eyes.”

An intoxicating smile curled across his lips, slow and shameless. “Why am I not surprised… and did you just say I have pretty eyes?”

“Gods, are you trying to seduce me or stroke your own ego?”

His gaze dropped to my lips, then back to my eyes–smouldering with the kind of confidence that should’ve been illegal. “Why not both?”

I arched a brow, crossing my arms like armor. “Because you don’t have a chance with me. You never will.” My voice trembled like even I didn’t believe the lie.

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