Page 86 of Emylia

He took one step inside and then another until he was standing in the middle of my room, arms crossed against his chest. His eyes sparked as they flicked to Maalikai, darkening further as he took in the space between us, or rather, the lack of it.

“You right there bud?”

Maalikai was instantly on his feet.

Oh Gods.

Their eyes met and for a second the air stilled. It was although everything ceased to exist. Charged energy danced between them, an odd current raising the hairs on my arms.

Onyx met liquid molten and for a second the air stilled, air literally evaporating around us. It was as though everything ceased to exist except the three of us.

Sebastian broke the silence first, his eyes flaring with malice but his voice remained deceptively calm.

“It’s okay buddy, I’ve got it from here.” The undercurrent was quite literally dangerous.

Maalikai’s jaw visibly tensed, his eyes narrowing on Sebastian like he was his prey.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Sebastian’s tone altered, edged with a quiet challenge. “It wasn’t a suggestion.”

Maalikai let out a low, humourless laugh. He took a step closer, gaze hard, voice dangerously low.

“Make me.”

Within a heartbeat, Sebastian had taken a deliberate step forward, closing the gap between them until no air remained.

Maalikai didn’t budge, matching the intensity, refusing to back down. Tension snapped, a visible rift broke between them.

Sebastian moved, lightning fast, his hand clamping on Maalikai’s shoulder, as if he intended to physically guide him out of the room.

Big mistake.

Like a born leader, Maalkai moved with the edge of a predator, knocking Sebastian’s hand away. Sebastian reacted instantly, his temper flaring into an inferno, his eyes matching the fire raging in his heart.

He swung, aiming directly at Maalikai’s jaw. My heart leapt, Maalikai effortlessly caught Sebastian’s fist mid-air, his fingers tightening like iron.

A deep growl rumbled from Sebastian, guttural and raw, almost animalistic. His body tensed, muscles rippling unnaturally beneath his skin. His eyes began to glow faintly, that molten amber brightening with something primal.

A snarl silenced everything as Sebastian wrenched his fist free, baring his teeth before launching himself forward. Maalikai met him halfway.

He was fire, Maalikai was ice as they collided.

Muscles rippled on impact, the room filled with a dangerous, violent energy, their movements brutal and filled will malice. The room shook with their movements, rattling furniture. Neither one willing to yield.

Maalikai moved with precise, lethal control, while Sebastian was all rage and instinct. A chair splintered as Maalikai ducked and countered, driving his shoulder into Sebastian’s ribs and slamming him into the wall.

Sebastian roared, the sound inhuman. He shoved Maalikai off, the snarl on his lips feral.

“Stop.” The word exploded from me, raw and urgent, but the word hung in the air, falling on deaf ears.

Their aggression escalated further, their movements sharp and laced with venom. These weren’t sparring movements, these were kill shots. Each blow could end the other if they landed.

Maalikai’s elbow slammed into Sebastians throat, cutting off his oxygen, but it only stoked the fire. With a burst of inhuman strength, Sebastian roared, shoving Maalikai off with so much force he was hurled across the room.

Maalikai hit the floor hard, a thud that reverberated through the room, and my body, his muscled form sprawled across the floor. The look in Maalikai’s eyes was instant.

Murderous.

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