Page 88 of Emylia

Sebastian’s lips twitched slightly, but his expression remained resolute. “If that’s what it takes to keep you safe, then yes.”

“If he’s not leaving, than neither am I.” Maalikai’s voice was a moody growl, dark eyes sparking with defiance as he folded his arms over his chest.

“Like fuck you’re staying.” Sebastian’s rage was instant, the red tinge fully encompassing his eyes now.

Without hesitation I stepped forward, so there was only a slither of space between Sebastian and I. Gently, I ran my hand along his cheek.

“Look at me.” A heartbeat passed and then his eyes were on mine. His gaze was forged in flame, scarlet lit with fury and longing. “You’ve got me. I will always be yours.”

In that second he looked like he’d won. His muscles fully relaxed. “So I can stay?”

I nodded my defeat.

His eyes shot to the beast of a man behind me. “And him?”

A ragged breath left me. “He can stay too.”

Our eyes locked as he looked at me. Really looked. And something in him cracked, just a little.

Whatever fire had been burning in them shifted. Gentled. Tempered by something else entirely. The storm in his eyes didn’t disappear completely, but it dulled.

He exhaled slowly, giving in without a fight.

“Fine, he can stay.” He took a stuttered breath, like he was resigning himself to something he knew would hurt. “Maalikai, give me a hand.” He shot me a look. “You stay here.”

It wasn’t like I was going to go anywhere, but I nodded as I watched them both leave my room. Three minutes later, they returned with a mattress and bedding.

They tossed the bedding on the floor, building a bed fort, like they were anything but enemies. Like Sebastian and I used to do when we were younger and if I was honest, still did whenever we visited each other.

“What are you doing?” I asked incredulously.

Sebastian’s eyes met mine. “This way, we don’t all need to share a bed.

“So, you’re both planning on bunking with me?” My eyes met Maalikai’s and stilled at the heat in his eyes.

Gods help me.

Sebastian eyed Maalikai but there was no malice in his gaze. “I guess he can stay.”

“And you’re both sleeping in the same bed?”

Sebastian’s smile tipped up into a nefarious smirk. “If that’s what I need to do to keep you safe, then trust me, I would. But no, not tonight. Tonight you aremine.”

Okay then.

Maalikai’s eyes darkened, the jealousy simmering just beneath the surface with a rage so perverse, I was afraid he’d burn the world to the ground while we slept. His jaw ticked with tension, biting back the words I knew he fought to contain.

But he did it—for me.

Sebastian sat down next to me, leaning his back against the headboard.

Intuitively, my body mimicked his; my head finding his shoulder and burying into the warmth. “You don’t have to stay with me.”

A soft, grumbled laugh rolled through him. “Don’t even start.”

“But…”

“There is no place I would rather be than here, with you.”

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