Page 53 of Crowned

I stare at him, my mind racing. Magic? In me? Yes, there’s no denying that I unleashed…something when I saved Reef. But Magic? I’m not convinced.

I’ve felt out of place in Aerwyna since I got here, but now Reef is saying this place is part of me?

Cove steps closer, his usual playfulness replaced with quiet sincerity. “Reef’s right, Mai-Tai. We wouldn’t say this if we didn’t believe it. If there’s even a chance you can access that kind of power again, it could change everything.”

My heart pounds in my chest, doubt warring with curiosity. Finally, I look at Reef. “And if I can’t? What if I try and…nothing happens?”

“Then we try again,” he says simply. “And again. Until we figure it out.”

His certainty is a steadying force, grounding me in a way I didn’t expect. I take a deep breath, nodding slowly. “Okay. Let’s try.”

The four of us find a quiet spot near a secluded fountain well sheltered and hidden within the walls of the palace gardens, where the sound of water fills the air like a soothing rhythm. Reef sits across from me, his legs folded beneath him, while Cove and Bhodi watch from nearby, giving us space but remaining close enough to help if needed.

“Close your eyes,” Reef says softly.

I hesitate, then obey, shutting out the world around me.

“Now breathe. Slow and deep. Don’t think about anything else – just focus on the sound of your breath.”

His voice is a low murmur, steady and unrelenting, guiding me through the haze of my doubts.

“Where do you feel the most at peace?” he asks after a moment.

Images flicker behind my closed eyelids – places I’ve been, moments I’ve cherished. But one image stands out above the rest.

“The ocean,” I whisper. “Always the ocean.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s constant,” I say, the words spilling out without hesitation. “It’s powerful, but calming. It feels…alive.”

“Good,” Reef says. “Hold onto that feeling. Picture it in your mind – the waves, the sound, the salt in the air. Let it fill you up.”

I do as he says, letting the memory of the ocean wash over me. It’s a strange sensation, like my body is reaching for something just out of reach.

“Now,” Reef continues, his voice dropping even lower, “imagine that power inside you. Imagine it waiting, like the waves before a storm. Can you feel it?”

For a moment, there’s nothing. Just silence and darkness. But then, deep in my chest, there’s a flicker – a spark of something warm and wild.

“Yes,” I breathe, my voice trembling.

“Good. Now let it out.”

I don’t know how, but something inside me shifts, like a door creaking open. And then it happens. A rush of energy surges through me, spilling out in a wave that ripples across the garden. The fountain beside us trembles, its water rising in a smooth arc before cascading back down in a glittering spray.

My eyes snap open, and I stare at the fountain, my heart pounding. “Did I?—”

“You did,” Reef says, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

The garden feels different now – alive in a way I hadn’t noticed before. Or maybe it’s me that’s changed. My skin still tingles from the rush of magic, my breath uneven as I sit back on the grass, staring at the fountain that just moments ago danced to my will.

“That was insane,” Cove says, his grin wide as he flops down beside me. “You should’ve seen your face, Malia. Pure badass.”

I laugh, the sound light and unrestrained, but there’s a thread of nervous energy running through me. “I still can’t believe that was me. It felt like…like it wasn’t entirely under my control.”

“It wasn’t,” Bhodi says, crossing his arms as he leans against a nearby tree. His gaze is steady, assessing. “You tapped into something powerful, but it’s raw. Untamed. You’re going to need to work on reigning it in.”

“And you’re going to help me with that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

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