Page 51 of Crowned

For the first time since I walked into the room, I let myself feel the full weight of what I’ve learned. The mole, the Shadow Legion’s plans, the celestial alignment – it’s all spiraling out of control, and we’re barely holding on.

But as I look around at the others – the tension in Reef’s stance, the determination in Cove’s eyes, the quiet resolve in Vance’s expression – I feel a flicker of hope.

We’ve faced worse before.

And this time, we have Malia.

If anyone can pull us back from the brink, it’s her.

The tension in the room shifts the moment I step inside. They’re all here – Reef leaning against the far wall as though he’s resting from hours of pacing, Bhodi sprawled in a chair like he hasn’t slept in days, Cove perched on the edge of the table, his bright smile breaking through the shadows of the conversation. And Vance, standing at the head of the room, as composed and sharp as ever, his presence commanding without effort.

All of them turn to me as I enter, and for a moment, I falter under their collective gaze. But then Cove’s smile widens, softening the intensity.

“There she is,” he says, his voice warm and easy. “We were just talking about you.”

“Good things, I hope?” I quip, stepping closer.

“Always,” he replies, and there’s a lightness in his tone that makes the corners of my mouth twitch upward, despite the weight of the last few days.

Vance clears his throat, drawing my attention. “We were just going over what Bhodi’s contact reported,” he says, gesturing to a crumpled scrap of parchment on the table.

I glance at Bhodi, who straightens in his chair and runs a hand through his dark hair. He looks worn down but resolute. “We’ve got a lead,” he says. “But it’s shaky. If we move too fast, we risk tipping off the wrong person – or worse, going after the wrong target.”

“We’ll handle it,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “But right now, we need to think bigger than just chasing shadows. Aerwyna’s my home now, but…” I pause, glancing around the room. “I need to get my things from my old home. My real home.”

The words hang in the air for a moment, and I expect resistance. Vance, ever cautious, is the first to respond.

“Malia,” he begins, his tone measured. “I understand the sentiment, but leaving Aerwyna right now isn’t just reckless – it’s dangerous. The Shadow Legion knows what’s at stake, and they’ll be watching for any sign of movement.”

“I won’t be gone long,” I counter. “I just…I need a piece of that place. Something to hold onto. To remind me of who I am and where I came from.”

“Not to mention,” Cove chimes in, his smile turning mischievous, “she’s got us to keep her safe. You really think anyone’s getting past all four of us?”

Vance’s lips press into a thin line, his gaze flicking to Reef, who gives a small nod of agreement.

“She’s right,” Reef says simply. “We can protect her.”

Bhodi leans forward, his arms resting on the table. “It’s not just about her safety. It’s about the Council. They’ll never approve her leaving Aerwyna, not now. Plus, we’re in hiding. Kinda.”

“Then we won’t tell them,” I say, the words leaving my mouth before I can think better of it.

All eyes turn to Vance. For a moment, he looks like he might argue, but then he lets out a long breath, shaking his head.

“This is a bad idea,” he mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose. “But if we’re doing this, we’re doing it my way. No Council, no approvals. I’ll open a portal, but it’ll take a couple of days to arrange. And when we go, we go together. Straight there and straight back. No detours. No risks. And no, Bhodi, we’re not in hiding. We’re keeping a low profile. The Elders know Malia has left the hospital, know she’s with you guys, and know our most likely location. We’re not hiding.”

His gaze sweeps the room, landing on each of us in turn, as if daring anyone to challenge him.

“Agreed,” I say quickly, relief washing over me. “But we are hiding something from everyone.”

Vance frowns. “We are?”

“We’re hiding you. They think you’re dead, right?”

“I didn’t think of that. I guess when the time comes, we’ll have some explaining to do, not that I knowhowto explain it. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Cove grins, leaning back on his hands. “Guess that means we’ve got a couple of days to kill. How about we show you around the palace some more in the meantime?”

The sudden shift in energy catches me off guard, and I can’t help but smile at the suggestion.

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