Page 29 of Crowned

I nod, my resolve hardening. “We will,” I say, my voice steadying. “For Aerwyna and for our queen. And for Vance and Malia.”

My mind is reeling, going over and over everything the queen said. And the things she didn’t say. Or rather, the things she didn’t say to me.

When she asked for privacy to speak to Vance it never crossed my mind to deny her request, but I didn’t expect to be knocked out either. It was like being forced underwater in a noiseless, dreamless sleep.

Which of course only made me more curious about what they might be talking about.

Vance hasn’t said a word, just guided me towards the portal with a firm hand on the small of my back. His touch is steadying, grounding even, but the silence between us is heavy with unspoken words.

As the portal opens before us and the world around us begins to blur, I finally gather the courage to break the silence.

“Vance, what did she say to you?” My voice is soft, almost tentative, as if I’m afraid of the answer.

He glances at me, his expression unreadable. There’s a storm brewing behind his eyes, and it’s clear that whatever Yemaya told him has shaken him to his core.

“She said…a lot of things,” he finally replies, his voice rough with the weight of it all.

I wait for him to continue, my heart pounding in my chest. When he doesn’t, I press on. “And?”

“And…she told me that you’re the future of Aerwyna,” he says, his gaze locking onto mine. “That you’re not just the heir to the throne – you’re the key to everything.”

His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I feel my knees weaken beneath me. I’ve never wanted power, never wanted responsibility. I’ve spent my whole life running from it, trying to carve out a small piece of normalcy in a world that’s anything but normal.

“I don’t understand,” I whisper, shaking my head. “Why me? I’m not…I’m not strong like you, Vance. I’m not ready for any of this.”

Vance’s expression softens, and he steps closer, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. “You’re stronger than you think, Malia. Yemaya sees it, and I see it too.”

“But what if I fail?” The words spill out before I can stop them, my fears laid bare. “What if I can’t protect Aerwyna? What if I’m not the leader they need?”

“You won’t be alone,” Vance says, his voice firm. “We’re in this together. You, me, and the others – we’ll figure it out, just like we always do.”

I search his eyes, looking for the reassurance I so desperately need, and find it in the unwavering resolve that has always been there, even in the darkest of times.

“And what about you, Vance?” I ask quietly, a new thought forming in my mind. “What did she tell you about…us?”

There’s a flicker of something in his eyes – relief, maybe? – before he answers. “She told me that we were never meant to be together. Me and her that is. She confirmed what I’ve known for a while now. That…that the four of us were always meant to be yours.”

His words send a shiver down my spine, a mix of emotions swirling within me – relief, confusion, and something else I can’t quite name. “So…what does that mean for us?”

Vance takes a deep breath, his gaze never leaving mine. “It means that whatever happens next, whatever challenges we face, we’ll face them together. As equals. As partners. And whatever love we find, it will be our choice, not dictated by fate.”

I let out a sigh of relief as a sense of calm settles over me. “Together,” I echo, nodding slowly. “We’ll figure it out. For Aerwyna.”

“For Aerwyna,” Vance agrees, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

But as we take our first steps towards the portal that will take us to Aerwyna, a nagging thought lingers at the back of my mind – who is the traitor among the Elders? And can we really trust anyone, even each other, when the stakes are this high?

I push the doubts aside for now, knowing that we have a long road ahead of us. The fate of Aerwyna hangs in the balance, and ready or not, I have a part to play.

And I’ll be damned if I let people down. My people.

Elder Halim’s eyes soften slightly. “You must be careful. Trust no one outside this room. The mole could be anyone.”

He stumbles and I reach out to catch him. But he brushes me away. “I’m fine. Just need a minute.”

I lead him to the seat behind the desk and get him a glass of water which he sips gratefully.

Outside in the city, sounds of conflict carry on the air and my gut churns. Why is our land so war-torn? The Shikari, the Shadow Legion, the mole within the council…it’s all connected…but why?

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