Page 38 of Crowned

“Malia is queen of Aerwyna now?”

“She will be. Yes. But I can’t figure out how to get her on the throne without revealing her identity and placing her in more danger.”

“Is that something that can wait?” Bhodi asks, frowning.

“I don’t know. I’m sure it’s all linked, but the queen warned that there’s a traitor here, and she’s tasked us with stopping them so that Aerwyna doesn’t fall into the hands of the Shikari.”

The room falls into a heavy silence as they absorb what I’ve just told them. I can see the doubt in their eyes, the struggle to reconcile what they’re hearing with the reality they know.

Bhodi is the first to speak, his voice low and serious, and tinged with the bitterness of anger. “And you believe her? You believe our absent ‘queen’ who couldn’t even be bothered to return and save her homeland? Who abandoned her daughter to a life of abuse and neglect? Who wants others to do her dirty work for her?”

“Watch your tone and show some respect. I know you’re speaking from a place of love for Malia, but you will not disrespect Yemaya,” I say firmly. I understand where his hurt and frustration is coming from, understand being torn between love and loyalty, but I will not let him cross a line. “I do believe her. And more than that, I believe we’re the only ones who can stop this. Malia and I were chosen to escape death for a reason. We have to see this through.”

Cove frowns, still not fully convinced. “But why you? I get Malia, but what are we missing?”

“She didn’t explain everything,” I admit. “But apparently, Malia was never the star. I was.”

Silence slams into the room.

Bhodi lets out a sharp laugh, but there’s no humour in it. “You’re joking.” His expression flickers between disbelief and anger, his body going tense as if bracing for a hit. “No, seriously—what the fuck do you mean you were the star?”

Reef curses under his breath, running a hand through his hair before shaking his head. “That doesn’t make sense. We’ve all been operating under the assumption that Malia was the key to everything.” His voice tightens. “You’re saying all of this was built on a lie?”

“No. My death, alongside all of yours and Malia’s willingness to die for our mission, completed the prophecy.”

Cove crosses his arms, his expression unreadable but his jaw tight. “So what, we were just… collateral?” His gaze darkens, emotions swirling beneath the surface. “We all would’ve died, and it wouldn’t have been about her at all?”

I exhale slowly. “I don’t think it was a lie, not completely. But the prophecy wasn’t what we thought. It wasn’t just Malia—it was all of us.” I hesitate. “And my death was supposed to seal it.”

Bhodi mutters another curse, pacing now, energy crackling off him like a live wire. “This is bullshit.” His chest rises and falls sharply. “You—” He points at me, then stops, shaking his head again as if trying to rearrange everything in his head. “We were all supposed to die, and that was supposed to fix everything? That’s?—”

“Fucked?” Reef finishes grimly.

“Yeah,” Bhodi growls.

Cove exhales, rubbing the back of his neck before pinning me with a sharp look. “So Aerwyna is safe?”

I shake my head. “The prophecy didn’t account for the traitor helping the Shikari from the inside.”

Cove's eyes narrow. “What the hell does that mean?”

“So this is almost like a new threat we have to face,” Bhodi says, his voice more controlled now but still edged with tension.

“Maybe?” I hesitate. “But whatever’s coming… we’re the key to stopping it.”

Reef exchanges a look with Cove, then turns back to me. “And Malia? Does she know what she’s up against?”

“She does,” I reply, a note of pride in my voice. “She knows she’s to be queen, but not that she’s Yemaya’s daughter. But she’s ready to fight, just like we are. We have to protect her. She’s been through so much already, and there’s more ahead.”

The room is quiet as they process everything, the weight of what I’ve just shared settling over us like a heavy cloak. Finally, Cove speaks, his voice softer than before. “If you believe this is what we need to do, then I’m with you. Always.”

“Me too,” Reef adds, his gaze steady. “We’ve come this far together. We’re not turning back now.”

“Obviously, I’m in. You’d be hopeless without me,” Bhodi sniggers.

A sense of relief washes over me, and I nod, feeling the resolve solidify within me. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together. For Aerwyna, for the queen, and for Malia.

“Thank you,” I say, meaning it with every fibre of my being. “We’ll figure this out. We’ll win.”

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