Page 78 of Crowned

Before I can argue further, the sound of an explosion reverberates through the air, making the ground tremble beneath us. Shouts grow louder, panic rippling through the corridors.

Vance grabs my arm, his grip firm but not unkind. “Stay inside. Promise me, Malia.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight, and nod reluctantly. It’s the only way they’ll focus on the fight without worrying about me.

The palace feels like it’s holding its breath as I retreat to the inner sanctum. The shouts outside grow more distant, muffled by the thick walls, but I can still feel the tremors of each impact. My legs tremble as I pace the room, my hands shaking despite my efforts to steady them.

I glance at the radio on the table – a direct line to Vance and the others. It’s silent now, but the faint static feels like a lifeline. I press my fingers to my temples, trying to push away the images of what could be happening outside.

They’re out there, risking everything, and I’m in here, useless.

The tremors grow stronger, the sound of gunfire and shouted orders breaking through the walls. My stomach churns. I can’t just wait here, not knowing.

I dart to the door and push it open, the cool air of the hallway rushing over me. The corridors are empty now, everyone either locked in their quarters or out on the front lines. I move quickly, my footsteps light on the stone floors.

The eastern gate comes into view first, and what I see stops me in my tracks.

The Shadow Legion isn’t an army – they’re predators, moving with calculated precision. Their fighters wear black tactical gear, faces obscured by masks that only make them more menacing. Explosions light up the courtyard as their forces push forward, breaching the outer defences.

Reef is in the thick of it, moving like he’s done this a hundred times before. He’s quick and brutal, taking down anyone who gets close. Bhodi is holding the line near the gate, his sheer strength keeping them from advancing further. Cove is up on the walkway, barking orders to the defenders as they scramble to contain the breach.

I shouldn’t be here. I know that. But my feet carry me forward anyway, weaving through the rubble as I make my way towards the courtyard.

Cove spots me first, his face twisting in frustration as he leaps down to block my path. “Are you insane? What are you doing out here?”

“I couldn’t stay in there,” I say, my voice shaking. “I had to see?—”

“See what? Us getting killed?” he snaps, grabbing my arm. “Malia, you can’t be here. If they see you?—”

Another explosion cuts him off, and we both stumble as the ground shakes violently beneath us. The blast sends a cloud of smoke and debris into the air, obscuring everything.

When the dust clears, I see Reef running towards us, his expression grim. “They’re focusing on the gate. We’ve got maybe ten minutes before they push through.”

Cove curses under his breath, his grip on my arm tightening as he flags down a nearby guard. “Take her back. Now.”

I yank my arm free, my pulse pounding in my ears. “No. I’m staying.”

Reef glances between us, his jaw clenching, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he tosses me a comm unit. “Stay behind the barricades. Don’t do anything stupid.”

I nod, slipping the device into my pocket as I move toward the nearest barricade, heart pounding as I duck behind the steel plating. The world around me is chaos – gunfire echoing through the air, shouts overlapping in a cacophony of desperation. Dust and smoke sting my eyes, but I force myself to focus. Every second feels like an eternity.

Reef and Cove disappear back into the fray, their forms vanishing behind the swarm of black-clad fighters pushing toward the gate. My breathing is shallow, my chest tight as I press my back against the barricade, trying to take it all in. The Shadow Legion isn’t just trying to breach the gate – they’re systematically dismantling everything in their path.

I can hear the sharp crack of Bhodi’s voice as he orders reinforcements, his commanding tone cutting through the chaos. My fingers itch to do something, anything, but I know that if I step out, I’ll be more of a liability than an asset. I’m not trained like they are. I’m not a soldier.

But I’m not powerless, either.

A scream cuts through the air, sharp and piercing. It takes me a second to realise it’s not coming from the fighters – it’s from somewhere behind the gate. My stomach drops as I realise what it means. Civilians.

Before I can stop myself, I’m moving again, darting between barricades toward the gate. I catch sight of Reef just as he takes down one of the Shadow Legion fighters, his blade catching the faint light as it slices through the air.

“Reef!” I shout, my voice cracking. He turns to me, his eyes narrowing.

“What the hell are you doing here?” His voice is sharp, but there’s a flicker of worry in his expression.

“There are people trapped by the gate,” I say quickly, pointing toward the sound of the screams. “We have to get them to safety.”

Reef hesitates for a fraction of a second, glancing over his shoulder at the growing swarm of fighters. Then he nods, his jaw tight. “Stay close to me.”

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