Emily gave me a small, sad smile. “Yes, you can. You know you can trust me.”
I cursed and rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling.
Then, before I could stop myself?—
“I’m starting to have feelings for Malik.”
The confession hung in the air, thick and damning.
Emily didn’t say a word.
I let out a shaky breath. “I have this connection with him that I can’texplain. I woke up in his arms, and it felt… right. Like I belonged there, and for those few moments, it was like Roman didn’t even exist.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I don’t understand what’s happening to me. Do I have some death wish? To be drawn to a monster? To deny the man I swore to love?”
Silence stretched between us.
Then—softly—Emily whispered, “…Oh, Olivia.”
A teasing lilt crept into her voice as she added, “You’re just our mother’s daughter. You love the darkness, too.”
The words struck me like a hammer.
“Ugh!” A frustrated groan ripped from my throat as I pressed my palms to my face. “I don’t want to be like our mother. I haven’t even forgiven her! How could I possibly forgive myself if I ended up a?—”
I cut myself off, but it was too late.
Emily’s grip tightened around my wrist, pulling my hands from my face. “Olivia! Don’t say it.”
I squinted at her, but she held firm.
“Our mother was not a whore,” she said fiercely. “Look at me.”
I let out a shaky breath but met her unwavering gaze.
“Mom was complicated, Olivia. You know that. She had to make choices that went against everything society dictated. And now? You have to do the same.” Her eyes blazed with conviction. “You’ll never be ordinary. You have to deal with that.”
I swallowed hard.
She might be right.
But still, the idea of betraying my marriage-of betraying Roman—made my stomach turn.
Why did we have to be separated? Why did I have to feel this pull toward Malik?
God, I miss you so much, Roman.
I forced the ache away.
“Maybe…” My voice wavered. “Maybe Malik cast some kind of spell on me?”
Emily hesitated, then nodded. “Maybe he did.” She exhaled. “He is the darkness, after all. We don’t know what he’s capable of yet.” A shudder ran through her. “But I am grateful he saved us… that he healed me from my burns.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “That was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. It seems like a dream now, but at the time… it was wretched.”
A quiet hush fell over us, both sinking into our thoughts.
Finally, Emily sighed. “We have to figure out what to do, Olivia.”
