Page 58 of Emylia

"Oh, is that so?"

My breath hitched. "I… um."

He must’ve seen the panic in my eyes, because he placed a gentle, reassuring hand over mine. "Relax. I’m just teasing."

A hush settled between us, charged with everything unspoken.

Maalikai broke it first. "So... was our adventure enough to finally earn your name?"

I blinked, caught off guard.

I had completely forgotten I never told him. That moment felt like another lifetime.

"Nope. Not even close." The edges of my lips tugged into the smallest hint of a smile.

He tipped his head back, exhaling as if praying for patience. "Seriously?" My smile grew. "You do know you’re completely insufferable, right?"

"And I don’t even have to try." My tone was lilting, teasing.

Maalikai stepped closer, his fingers slipping through mine—slow and deliberate. The contact made me falter.

"What are you doing?" The breathless whisper escaped before I could stop it.

He cleared his throat. "Learning from my mistakes."

Intrigued, I raised a brow. "Oh really? And what lesson is that?"

"That no matter how honest I am, or how hard I try... you’re going to push back. So instead of waiting for permission, I’m just going to take a chance. I’m escorting you to the feast. No questions asked."

I arched a brow. "And if I object?"

"Then I’ll pray to every God and Goddess, that just this once, you don’t fight me. Please—let me win this one."

I bit my bottom lip, pretending to deliberate. "You do realize that you saying you’renotasking for permission is basically the same as asking for it.”

Maalikai shrugged, all cool defiance. "What can I say? The chivalry in me refuses to die." A few beats passed. Then— "Please. Put me out of my misery already."

I loved watching him squirm far too much. But he’d waited long enough.

I exhaled slowly. "Okay."

"Okay as in yes?"

"Okay as in—if you don’t act fast, I might change my mind."

He didn’t hesitate. In a heartbeat, he swept me into his arms, carrying me into Ophelia.

And with a half-smile tugging at my lips, I let him.

Just before we stepped through the threshold into Ophelia, I reached a hand to his chest, stealing his gaze.

“Can you please put me down.” Without a murmur of objection, he gently placed me on the ground, dexterous hands steadying me as he took hold of my hips.

His eyebrows drew together, furrowing. “Did I do something wrong?” The concern in his eyes almost broke me.

“Not at all.” I cleared my throat, fighting the urge to look down at the ground while I spoke.

“Then why are we stopping?” The puzzlement was plastered across his face; I didn’t blame him.

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