Chapter 50
Chapter Fifty
A soft knock at the door.
I tiptoed around Evie, still curled on the spare mattress on the floor, cocooned in my favorite blanket— hers now, probably . She was out cold, lips parted slightly, utterly spent from our midnight antics at the forge and the feast that had ensued.
I cracked the door open—and froze.
Sebastian leaned in the doorway like he belonged there, one shoulder against the frame, arms crossed, a force of smoke and fire and something rawer than either. His hair was damp with sweat and ash, his shirt wrinkled and half-buttoned like he'd dressed in a hurry. And Gods—he was beautiful.
But he looked wrecked.
Eyes rimmed with fatigue. Jaw tight. Like he hadn’t slept in days.
“What are you doing back?” I asked, heart stumbling over the sight of him.
He raised an eyebrow. “Gee, it’s nice to see you too.”
I exhaled sharply, guilt cutting through the surprise. “I didn’t mean it like that. You’re just... you’re not supposed to be back for a few more days.”
He shrugged one shoulder, like it cost him. “What can I say? You can’t keep me away.”
I studied him, every inch of him. The way his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. The tension coiled in his shoulders. The faint tremble in his fingers. Something wasn’t right.
I lifted a single brow, my voice quieter now. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, you know me—I’m an overachiever. Did everything Thrainn needed in record time.”
My eyes dragged over him again, slower this time. “And I see you didn’t wreck yourself doing it.”
“Don’t be like that,” he said, flashing a grin. “I thought you’d be grateful. I rushed back to let you know—your banishment’s officially over.”
“What?” I launched into his arms, air catching in my throat, weightless as he spun me in a circle, the world tilting around us.
“Now that’s better,” he murmured, his voice warm at my ear.
But his smile faded as he scanned my room. His eyes landed on the mattress on the floor. The lump beneath the blanket.
“…Do I want to ask why Evie’s sleeping on the floor?”
“Cause Maalik was in the bed.” His look screamed cut the crap . “Slumber party?” I offered sweetly.
His brow furrowed. “Okay… and why is Maalikai still passed out? He’s supposed to be guarding you.”
He set me down and stormed across the room, yanking the covers off Maalikai’s unconscious form.
“Thank the Gods,” Sebastian muttered, recoiling. “For a second I thought you were going to be naked.”
Maalikai groaned and rolled to his back, squinting at the ceiling like it offended him. His movements were slow. Off.
He rubbed his eyes like he wasn’t entirely sure where he was. Maybe I’d added a little too much sleepy tonic to his drink.
Oops. Live and learn, I guess.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “Is he drunk?”
Maalikai sat up with a wince, dragging a hand down his face. “No.”
Sebastian’s gaze flicked to Evie—now sitting up, stiff with guilt—then landed on me. The moment our eyes met, I knew I was done for.
Dead silence.
Then—
“…What did you do?”
“Me?” I blinked, stepping behind Evie like she could somehow shield me. “Nothing.”
Maalikai’s head snapped toward me. “The drink. You laced it with something,” he accused.
“Us?” I echoed. “Never.”
“‘Us?’” Sebastian repeated. “As in Evie too?”
“Ah…” I winced. “Oops.”
Sebastian looked between the three of us—Evie’s wide eyes, Maalikai’s slow-burn glare, and my barely concealed smirk.
Then he laughed. Just once. A short burst of stunned amusement.
“Gods, you’re absolutely feral,” Sebastian muttered–like he was scandalized but loving every second, laughter curling at the edges of his voice.
He looked at me like I was chaos incarnate–and he wouldn’t have me any other way.
“You laced his drink– and had Evie give it to him?” A slow grin tugged at his mouth. “That’s… honestly kind of brilliant. Completely diabolical.” He blinked, half appalled, half in awe.
“You wouldn’t be saying that if you were on the other end of it,” Maalikai muttered, rubbing his head like it still throbbed.
“She drugged a badass,” Sebastian shrugged. “That’s fair in my book. If he’s dumb enough to fall for it…”
“Technically, it was more of a… targeted sleep aid,” I said, grabbing my satchel like this was all perfectly reasonable behavior.
Sebastian shook his head, a crooked grin tugging at his lips. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
I tilted my head, smile wickedly sharp. “Where’s the fun in that?”
I turned to Evie, triumphant. “Come on—we have to pack. We’re unbanished !”
Evie grinned, jumping up like she hadn’t just committed minor treason.
But Sebastian didn’t move. His arms crossed.
That grin? Gone.
“Yeah. About that…”
I paused. “...What?”
“You can’t go anywhere. Not yet.”
My heart sank. “What do you mean, not yet ?”
“One more magik lesson,” he said, voice low. “Fire.”
Everything in me stilled.
Of course. Fire had always been last.
The most dangerous.
The one I was still afraid of.
The one I wasn’t sure I could survive.
Because I knew how much my power had grown. It was a constant in me now—like breath. I think I’d feel naked without it. But more power meant more risk. And one small slip... we’d all burn for it.
“Your mom’s already waiting.”
Evie bounced in place. “Let’s go, then.”
Sebastian lifted a hand. “Not you, E.”
Her smile fell. “What? Emmie said I could come. Right, Em?”
I looked at Sebastian, then back at her. Panic flared in my chest—I knew he saw it.
He stepped in, voice gentler now. “Normally? Yes. But not today.”
“Why?”
Silence.
She looked at all of us and realized what we were shielding her from.
“…Oh Gods. How risky is it?”
I managed two words. “Fiery death.”
Her eyes went wide. “You could die?”
“It’s okay,” I said softly, reaching for calm I didn’t feel. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
She didn’t look convinced.
Honestly? None of us were.
“Stay here,” I said, cupping her cheek. “Pack your stuff. We’ll be back in no time.”
“Emmie, please don’t go. I just got you back.”
I pulled her into my arms, squeezing her so tightly it felt like I was trying to tether myself to this moment. To her.
“I’ll be fine.”
“If you’re not,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I’ll learn magik. I’ll ride to the gates of Elinthia myself–tear it apart if I have to–just to bring you back.” She paused, breath shaking. My heart shuttered.
“Then I’ll kill you myself–for having the audacity to leave me again. Or for making me cross kingdoms just to undo your stupidity.”
A laugh broke from me—brittle, but real. “I would love to see the day I cower before your magik.”
Her breath hitched–then tore free, jagged and breathless, like her heart had splintered with it. “Losing you isn’t something I’d survive–and you damn well know it.”
Tears stung my eyes before I could stop them, blurring everything but her voice. My heart shattered—loud and violent in my chest—as if her pain had carved straight through it. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
Because what do you say to someone willing to burn the world down just to bring you back?
I didn’t speak.
I couldn’t.
I just stepped forward, wrapped my arms around her—and held on like it was the only thing keeping either of us from breaking completely.
She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, hers shimmering. “I promise you, Emmie—if I ever lose you, nothing will stop my fury.”
The way she said it hollowed something inside me.
Maybe I’d rubbed off on her a little too much.
I gave her one last squeeze, then turned toward the door.
And left.
I really, really hoped I’d be coming back from this.
Preferably alive.