Page 39 of Crowned

“I know there’s still more to discuss,” I say, getting to my feet. “But if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go to bed. I promised Malia I’d stay with her and she’s been left alone long enough.”

As the others bid me goodnight, I know that the future is uncertain, and the path ahead is fraught with danger, but as I look at the faces of my friends – my brothers – I know one thing for sure: we’re not alone in this fight. We’ll stand together, no matter what it takes.

And with that, the weight on my shoulders feels just a little bit lighter.

As Vance returns to Malia’s side, the rest of us linger in the seating area, the weight of his words still heavy in the air. The revelation that Malia is Yemaya’s daughter – and the rightful queen – has shaken us to our core. But more than that, it’s the realisation that our future, and the future of Aerwyna, hinges on her survival.

The idea that we thought she was the star, that we killed her to protect our world, makes me feel sick. We could have ruined everything. Now we have to protect her with our lives – something we should have been doing all along.

“I can’t stop thinking about that vision in the mirror,” Cove says quietly, breaking the silence. “We need to be ready for anything.”

Bhodi nods, his expression serious. “We should stay close to her tonight. I know the prof promised to stay with her, but...”

“I was thinking the same thing,” I admit, glancing towards the closed door of Malia’s room. “If something were to happen, we need to be there. All of us.”

Cove gets up from his chair, determination set in his features. “I don’t care if we have to sleep on the floor. I’m not leaving her side tonight.”

“Neither am I,” Bhodi adds, standing as well. “We’ve come too far to lose her now.”

“Should we set up a schedule and keep watch?” I ask, fighting a yawn. I’ll take the first shift, no matter how exhausted I feel.

“If we’re all in the room together, and armed, I don’t see why we shouldn’t all get some rest,” Cove replies thoughtfully. “I think with everything that’s coming, we’re going to need our strength and we should all rest when we can.”

I nod, all too glad to agree. My body feels like it’s made of lead and the day feels like it began an eternity ago.

Without another word, we all rise and move towards Malia’s room, grabbing additional weapons as we go.

I gently push the door open, careful not to make a sound. The room is dimly lit by the soft glow of a nearby lamp, casting shadows across the ornate furniture.

Vance is lying on top of the covers beside Malia, one arm draped protectively over her as she sleeps. His eyes flicker open as we enter, and I see the surprise and understanding in his gaze as we silently file into the room.

“We’re not leaving her. We all want to be close,” Cove whispers, sinking to the floor near the foot of the bed. He pulls a pillow from the nearby couch and makes himself comfortable.

Bhodi does the same, positioning himself near the door, his eyes already scanning the room for any sign of danger. I take the spot closest to the bed, within arm’s reach of both Malia and Vance.

For a moment, the room is silent, filled only with the soft sound of Malia’s breathing. Then Vance speaks, his voice low and filled with gratitude. “Thank you. All of you.”

“We’re in this together,” I reply, meaning every word. “And together, we’ll keep her safe.”

When I wake, the sun is high in the sky, its light filtering through the heavy curtains of the queen’s chambers. My body protests as I stretch, muscles stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. The sound of running water drifts from the nearby en-suite, and I realise it’s late morning – much later than I’d expected to sleep.

As I slowly sit up, taking in the room, my eyes fall on the bed. Malia is still sound asleep, her face peaceful despite everything she’s been through. What catches my attention next makes me smirk. Cove and Bhodi are curled around her, each on one side like bookends. Their positions are protective, as if even in sleep, they’re guarding her.

I can’t help but chuckle softly to myself. It looks like Vance is in the shower, and at some point during the night – or maybe early this morning – they all decided to switch places. A game of musical beds, with Malia as the centrepiece.

I wonder if she even knows.

Rising to my feet, I stretch my arms above my head, feeling the satisfying crack of my spine. As I do, the events of the previous night flood back into my mind – the revelation of Malia’s true identity, the vision in the foresight glass, and the weight of the mission we now carry. But here, in this quiet moment, there’s a sense of calm. A brief respite before we dive back into the chaos that’s surely waiting for us outside these walls.

The door to the en-suite opens, and Vance steps out, a towel slung around his waist, his hair damp and tousled. He catches my eye and raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by the sight on the bed. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stay away,” he murmurs, keeping his voice low so as not to wake the others.

“Seems like it,” I reply with a grin. “But I guess none of us could.”

Vance crosses the room, his footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet. He stops at the foot of the bed, gazing down at Malia with an expression that’s a mix of tenderness and determination. “She’s been through so much,” he says quietly. “We all have. But it’s different for her. She’s got the weight of a kingdom on her shoulders, and she doesn’t even fully realise it yet.”

I nod, understanding the gravity of his words. “She’s stronger than she knows,” I say. “We’ll make sure she’s ready for whatever comes next.”

The two of us stand in companionable silence for a moment, just watching her sleep. Then, as if sensing our eyes on her, Malia stirs, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinks a few times, disoriented, before her gaze lands on us.

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