Crowned (Santa Catalina University)

Chapter 40

The air reeks of smoke and ash, heavy with the scent of blood and sweat. Every breath feels like a weight pressing against my chest, thick and suffocating. The palace walls tremble under the impact of the assault, each explosion rattling the stone beneath my feet.

Aerwyna is still under siege, and everything we’ve fought for hangs by a thread.

I stand in the central chamber, surrounded by frightened civilians, their wide eyes reflecting every flickering lantern and distant flash of battle. Children cling to their mothers, their small cries swallowed by the constant thrum of chaos outside. My heart clenches at the sight. They’re all looking to me – people I’ve never met, people who don’t even know who I really am – but they trust me. They have to.

I force my shoulders to square, even as my pulse pounds like a war drum. “Everyone, stay calm,” I say, my voice sharper than I intended. “We’re safe here.”

It’s not true.

We’ve sealed the palace doors, barricaded every entrance, but I know it won’t hold forever. The Shadow Legion is relentless. I can feel their presence pressing in, a dark tide threatening to drown us. And yet, the lies tumble from my lips anyway, because what else can I offer these people but false hope?

The civilians start moving, gathering their children, tending to the wounded. I step back, pressing my hands to the cool stone wall, the weight of the night pressing down on me. Outside, the sounds of the battle roar louder – clashing metal, shouts, and the gut-wrenching crack of magic ripping through the air.

Vance, Reef, Bhodi, and Cove are out there. Fighting. Bleeding. Dying.

And I’m here, helpless.

The thought sends a sharp pang of guilt through me. I can’t stop imagining them, standing shoulder-to-shoulder against the darkness, giving everything they have to hold the line. I should be there with them. But Vance made me promise to stay, to protect myself and the lives I now carry.

I press a hand to my stomach, the faintest swell hidden beneath layers of fabric. The triplets. My children.

“You’re not just protecting yourself anymore,” Vance had told me when I begged to fight by his side. “You’re protecting them too.”

It doesn’t make it any easier.

The palace trembles again, a thunderous boom reverberating through the stone like a death knell. The lanterns flicker wildly, casting jagged shadows across the room, and a wave of panic ripples through the civilians. The air is thick with fear, their whispers like static crawling under my skin.

I scan the room, my gaze darting between the frightened faces, the wounded soldiers lying on makeshift pallets, the mothers clutching their children – and I force myself to breathe, to focus. If I fall apart now, so will they.

“Everyone, listen to me!” My voice echoes across the chamber, cutting through the growing whispers. Eyes turn toward me, a sea of desperation and doubt, but also a flicker of hope. “We’ve prepared for this. The palace is strong, and the guards are holding the line. Stay together. Help one another. We are going to get through this.”

The words taste hollow, but they’re enough to spur people into action. A few of the more able-bodied civilians begin organising, tending to the wounded and distributing water. It’s not much, but it helps. It gives them something to hold onto.

The sounds of the battle grow louder, the clash of steel and the dull roar of explosions rattling the walls. I grip the back of a chair, my knuckles white, straining to hear something – anything – that might tell me how the others are faring. My mind conjures the worst: Reef overwhelmed, Bhodi falling under a barrage of enemy magic, Cove shouting for backup that never comes, and Vance?—

I stop myself, sucking in a sharp breath. They’re alive. They have to be.

“Malia!”

The sound of my name rips me from my thoughts. I turn toward the doors just as they burst open, slamming against the stone walls. Summer stumbles inside, her face pale and streaked with blood. She’s clutching her side, her movements shaky and unsteady.

“Summer!” I rush to her, my heart lurching as she collapses into my arms. The smell of blood is overwhelming, and her skin is cold, clammy. “What happened? How are you here? What are you?—”

“They’ve...” Her voice is weak, barely a whisper. “They’ve given an ultimatum.”

The room seems to freeze around me, the murmurs of the civilians falling silent as all eyes turn toward us. Summer’s trembling hand reaches into her pocket, pulling out a crumpled scroll sealed with dark red wax.

I take it from her, my hands shaking as I break the seal and unroll the parchment. The words scrawled across the page are stark and final, their meaning slicing through me like a blade:

Malia must come to us. Alone. Or the city burns.

The room tilts, the weight of those words crashing down on me. My breath hitches, and I clutch the scroll tightly, my nails biting into the parchment.

“They…they said they’d destroy everything,” Summer chokes out, tears streaming down her bloodied face. “I tried to stop them, Malia. They found the communicator and dragged me here with them. I ran when they were distracted. I tried?—”

“It’s not your fault,” I whisper, brushing her hair back from her face. My chest aches at the sight of her like this – so broken, so fragile. The anger I once held toward her dissolves in an instant, replaced by an overwhelming need to protect her. “You’re safe now. Stay here. We’ll handle this.”

Her eyes well with tears, and she shakes her head weakly. “I’m sorry…I didn’t want to betray you. I just…I didn’t know what else to do.”

“I know,” I say softly, pulling her close for just a moment. “I forgive you.”

Her body sags against mine, and I motion for the healers to come forward. They move quickly, helping her to her feet and guiding her toward the far side of the chamber. She glances back at me one last time, her lips trembling.

“Be careful,” she whispers.

I nod, my resolve hardening as I look down at the scroll once more. The ultimatum burns in my mind, and my pulse races as I realise there’s no way out of this.

I don’t have a choice.

I remain frozen for a moment, staring down at the scroll in my hands. The words blur together, the edges of the parchment curling where my grip tightens. My stomach twists, dread clawing its way through me.

They want me to walk into their hands. Alone.

The weight of the decision presses down on me, suffocating, and yet the path feels inevitable. Every instinct screams at me to stay, to find another way, but what other way is there? If I don’t go, they’ll burn Aerwyna to the ground. Everyone in this room – every mother, child, soldier – will die.

“Malia.”

Vance’s voice is a low growl, sharp and commanding. I turn to see him standing in the doorway, his frame backlit by the faint, flickering light of the torches outside. His armour is battered, streaked with soot and blood, but his presence is as unyielding as ever.

He strides toward me, his eyes narrowing as he notices the scroll in my hands. “What’s going on?”

For a moment, I can’t speak. The words feel like lead on my tongue. But there’s no time for hesitation, no room for secrets. I hand him the scroll, my fingers brushing his as I let it go.

His gaze hardens as he reads, the muscles in his jaw flexing. When he finishes, he crumples the parchment in his fist, his other hand curling into a tight fist at his side. “Absolutely not.”

“Vance—”

“No,” he snaps, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “You’re not doing this. I don’t care what the Shadow Legion threatens – they don’t get to dictate what happens. You’re not walking into their trap.”

I step closer, my voice quiet but firm. “I don’t have a choice. If I don’t go, they’ll destroy the city.”

“Then we’ll fight,” he growls. “We’ll defend Aerwyna with everything we have. But we’re not sending you to them like some kind of sacrifice.”

I shake my head, my hands trembling. We’re losing. I can see it in his eyes. The blind fear. “How many more people have to die, Vance? How many more lives are we willing to lose before we try something else? This isn’t just about me – it’s about all of them.” I gesture to the civilians huddled around the room, their fear palpable.

He stares at me, his jaw tight, his expression torn between anger and desperation. “You’re carrying our children, Malia. Do you understand what’s at stake? It’s not just your life on the line – it’s theirs, too.”

The reminder hits me like a punch to the chest. My hand moves instinctively to my stomach, the weight of his words sinking in. My throat tightens, tears stinging my eyes. “You think I don’t know that?” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Every step I take, every breath, I know. I feel them. And it’s killing me to do this, but if I don’t, there won’t be a future for them. Or for anyone else.”

His expression softens, and he takes a step closer, his hands coming up to rest gently on my shoulders. “Malia,” he says quietly, his voice raw with emotion. “You’re not alone in this. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”

“But I do,” I murmur, my tears spilling over. “Because I’m the only one who can end this. They’re doing this because of me. Because they want me. If I don’t go, they’ll never stop.”

His grip on my shoulders tightens slightly, his forehead leaning against mine. “You’re the strongest person I know,” he says softly. “But strength doesn’t mean doing this alone. Let me help you. Let us help you.”

I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his touch steady me. “Then help me by understanding why I have to do this,” I whisper. “Please, Vance.”

For a long moment, he doesn’t respond. The silence between us is heavy, filled with unspoken fears and heartbreak. Finally, he exhales, his shoulders sagging slightly. “You’re not going alone,” he says firmly.

“I have to,” I reply, my voice barely audible.

His gaze sharpens again, but before he can argue, the sound of another explosion rocks the palace. Dust falls from the ceiling, and distant screams echo through the hallways.

The moment shatters.

He pulls back, his hand lingering on my arm as he gives me a long, searching look. “Promise me you’ll come back,” he says, his voice thick with unspoken emotion.

I nod, my throat too tight to speak. Because if I don’t say the words out loud, I haven’t really lied.

Vance’s words linger in the air, as I turn toward the doors of the chamber. My legs feel like lead as I move, each step dragging me closer to something I can’t undo. The gazes of the civilians follow me, their fear palpable, but it’s the trust I see in their eyes that sends a pang of guilt straight through my chest.

They think I’m walking toward salvation.

I know I’m walking toward destruction.

The faint murmur of their voices grows louder as I approach the doorway, and I hear snippets of their whispered prayers, their hopes that I’ll be the one to save them. The pressure feels unbearable, pressing against my ribs until I can barely breathe.

“Wait!”

I stop at the sound of Bhodi’s voice, his boots pounding against the stone as he rushes toward me. His face is streaked with dirt and blood, his expression dark and full of frustration. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Bhodi, don’t—” Vance starts, but Bhodi barrels on, his voice rising.

“You’re seriously just going to walk out there? To them ? What are you thinking, Malia?” His tone is sharp, almost frantic, and I see the fear lurking behind his anger.

I face him, my hands clenched tightly at my sides. “I don’t have a choice. If I don’t go, they’ll destroy everything. This isn’t about me anymore, Bhodi.”

“It’s always about you!” he snaps, his voice breaking. “Don’t you get it? You’re the centre of this whole damn thing. If you die, it’s over. There’s no Aerwyna without you.”

His words hit harder than I expect, but I force myself to stand tall. “And there’s no Aerwyna if I don’t do this,” I say quietly. “You think I don’t know what’s at stake? You think this is easy for me? I won’t be the queen of a ghost realm. I can’t rule over a mass grave, Bho.”

He flinches, his jaw tightening. For a moment, he looks like he wants to argue, to fight me on this, but then his shoulders slump. “This isn’t fair,” he mutters, his voice barely above a whisper.

I take a step closer, reaching out to touch his arm. “None of this is fair,” I say softly. “But we don’t have time to think about that right now. I need you, Bhodi. All of you. If this goes wrong...you’re the ones who will have to fix it.”

His eyes flash, his usual confidence faltering. “You’re not supposed to die, Malia,” he says, his voice raw. “You’re supposed to live.”

“I will,” I say, though the words feel hollow.

Reef and Cove appear behind him, their expressions mirroring his. Cove’s blue eyes are dark with worry, and for once, his usual smirk is absent. Reef looks like he’s barely holding it together, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

“You don’t have to do this,” Reef says, his voice low but firm. I can see in his eyes he doesn’t believe his own words though, there’s resignation there. He knows.

I glance between them, my throat tight. “I do.”

Cove shakes his head, stepping forward until he’s close enough to grip my hand. “Then promise us something,” he says, his voice quieter than I’ve ever heard it. “Promise you’ll come back. No matter what it takes. Promise you’ll fight to come back to us.”

I stare at him, his words twisting something deep inside me. I want to promise. I want to believe it’s that simple. But the truth is, I don’t know if I can keep that promise. I don’t want my last words to them to be a lie.

“I’ll do everything I can,” I say finally, my voice breaking.

He nods, his jaw tight, but there’s an ache in his eyes that’s impossible to miss. Reef steps forward next, his hand brushing against mine for the briefest moment. “You’re stronger than they’ll ever be,” he says quietly. “Don’t forget that.”

I manage a small nod, my throat too tight to speak.

“Let her go,” Vance says, his voice steady but strained. “This is her decision.”

The words hang heavily between us, and I feel their weight as I turn away from them, stepping through the doorway and into the cold night air.

The air outside bites at my skin, sharp and unforgiving, as if the night itself knows the weight of what’s about to happen. The smoke still hangs thick in the air, twisting with the faint metallic tang of blood, and I feel it settle in my lungs, heavy and suffocating.

The courtyard is eerily quiet compared to the chaos within the palace walls. The sounds of battle are further ahead now, distant yet still close enough to make the ground tremble beneath my feet. Each step feels harder than the last, as though the earth is resisting me, trying to pull me back to safety.

But there’s no safety. Not anymore.

The devastation is everywhere.

To my left, the remnants of a toppled tower jut out like broken bones, the stone blackened and crumbling from the relentless assault of the Shadow Legion’s magic. The once-pristine gardens, the pride of the palace grounds, are now little more than a graveyard of shattered trees and scorched earth. The fountains have run dry, their carved edges cracked and crumbling.

The destruction cuts through me, a deep, sharp ache in my chest. This was supposed to be a sanctuary – a place of hope, of unity. Now it’s a battlefield.

I pass a fallen soldier, his armour stained with blood, his lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. I stop, just for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. He can’t be much older than me, his features frozen in an expression of determination that lingers even in death.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, my voice breaking. It feels pathetic, meaningless, but it’s all I have to offer. I kneel beside him, closing his eyes with trembling fingers.

This isn’t the first life lost tonight, and it won’t be the last.

I straighten, my legs shaky as I force myself to keep moving. The guilt weighs heavier with every step, my mind racing with images of the people I’ve failed – of the lives lost because I wasn’t strong enough, fast enough, brave enough.

The words on the scroll flash in my mind again, stark and unyielding: Malia must come to us. Alone. This is all because of me.

If I’d been smarter, if I’d realised sooner what the Shadow Legion was planning, maybe I could have stopped it. Maybe none of this would’ve happened.

A child’s abandoned toy lies in the dirt a few steps ahead of me – a small stuffed animal, its once-bright fur now dulled by soot and ash. I swallow hard, the image striking deeper than I expect. Somewhere out there, a child is missing this. Missing their home. Missing their parents.

I promised to protect them. I have to protect them.

I reach the edge of the courtyard, where the gates stand battered and broken. Beyond them, the battlefield stretches out in a grim tableau of chaos. Fires burn against the smoke-filled sky like dying stars. Shadows move within the haze – soldiers locked in combat, the clang of weapons and desperate shouts carrying on the wind.

I pause just outside the gates, gripping the cold, twisted metal for support. The world beyond is unrecognisable, a far cry from the vibrant land I’ve seen in paintings and history books. It’s not just Aerwyna that’s been ravaged – it’s the spirit of its people, the heart of what this place used to stand for.

My eyes drift to the ground, where broken shields and discarded weapons lie scattered among the bodies. Some are soldiers – brave, determined, fighting for a future they might never see. Others are civilians, caught in the crossfire, their faces frozen in terror.

This is my fault.

If I hadn’t come here, if I hadn’t been tied to whatever divine power the Shadow Legion is after, none of this would’ve happened. The thought claws at me, a suffocating weight that presses down on my chest.

But then I think of the people huddled inside the palace walls – the mothers clutching their children, the wounded soldiers who refused to give up, the glimmers of hope I saw even in their fear. They’re still fighting. For Aerwyna. For each other.

And for me.

I force myself to straighten, my shoulders squaring as I push the guilt aside. I can’t let it consume me, not now. Not when so much is riding on what happens next.

The battlefield feels like it stretches forever, every step pulling me closer to the heart of the Shadow Legion’s power. The sounds grow louder – shouts of command, the thunderous crack of magic splitting the air, the guttural roars of their monstrous creations.

In the distance, I see them – Summer’s parents, standing tall and unyielding amidst the chaos. Their presence is unmistakable, their power radiating like a dark, suffocating fog.

The memories come unbidden, sharp and vivid. Summer’s mother, laughing warmly as she handed me a cup of tea on their porch, her kindness as deceptive as it was convincing. Her father’s firm hand on my shoulder, his words of encouragement hiding the sharp blade of manipulation.

They took me in. Treated me like family. And now they’re the ones tearing this world apart.

A sharp pang of anger courses through me, hot and all-consuming. They didn’t just betray Aerwyna – they betrayed me. They used me, lied to me, twisted everything I thought I knew.

And now they’re standing there, waiting for me to walk into their trap.

I clench my fists, my nails biting into my palms. They don’t know what’s coming.

I let myself reach for the magic inside me. It hums faintly, a gentle vibration at the edge of my senses, waiting to be called. It’s not enough yet, but I know it will be when the time comes.

This isn’t just a battle for Aerwyna. It’s a battle for everything I’ve lost – and everything I’m fighting to protect.

I step forward, my every breath heavy with the weight of the scroll still burning in my pocket. The air feels thin here, but my steps are steady. Each one carrying me toward the ones who tore my world apart, who tore Summer apart. The sound of distant battle fades into the background, swallowed by the tension between us.

Ahead, Summer’s parents stand like twin statues, impervious to the devastation around them. They don’t even flinch as the world burns.

I stop a few paces away from them, every inch of me vibrating with a mixture of fury and disbelief. The wind tugs at my clothes, the remnants of a once-pristine battlefield now littered with wreckage. The sight of Summer’s parents standing there – calm, collected, as if they hadn’t just led us to the brink of destruction – fills me with rage.

“You’ve led me into a trap,” I begin, my voice cool, though the anger bubbling beneath it threatens to break through. “But that’s nothing compared to what you did to your own daughter.”

Their eyes flicker, a split second of something that might be surprise, but it vanishes quickly, replaced by cold detachment.

“You don’t get to act like you’re innocent in this,” I continue, stepping closer, the words now coming faster, sharper. “You used Summer. You manipulated her, hurt her. All to get me here.” I let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing in the empty space between us. “How does it feel, knowing you’ve destroyed your own child to get what you want?”

Summer’s mother doesn’t flinch. Her smile is all teeth, but there’s no warmth in it, no apology. “Summer was weak. She couldn’t see the bigger picture. But you, Malia…you’re different. You understand the weight of what must be done. It’s why we showed you so much special care and attention growing up. It was only a matter of time before your magic emerged.”

I shake my head, disgust crawling up my spine. My parents didn’t raise me. They managed me. Kept me locked away when I was inconvenient. Showed me off when it suited them. Love wasn’t something I learned at home. I learned survival. I learned silence. That’s why it was so easy for Summer’s family to find me. Because I had no one else.

“You don’t understand anything. You’ve twisted Summer into something she wasn’t meant to be. You’ve broken her to get to me, and now you think I’ll just walk into your hands without a fight?”

Summer’s father steps forward, his voice low, cold. “We did what was necessary. Summer couldn’t be trusted. You, on the other hand...” He pauses, his eyes narrowing with something darker now. “You will see reason. And when you do, you’ll understand.”

I step even closer, not giving an inch. “Reason? You’re talking about manipulation, about breaking people for your own gain. Your daughter is nothing but a tool to you, isn’t she? You used her to get to me. And now you expect me to just roll over and let you destroy everything I’ve fought for.”

Her mother’s expression hardens, no hint of remorse, just a cold calculation in her eyes. “Don’t mistake our actions for weakness. We’ve done what’s needed for the survival of this world. And you—” She gestures toward me, her eyes cold as ice. “You will submit. For your own good.”

I can feel the anger bubbling up, thick and hot, but I choke it down for just a moment longer, holding their gaze. “I’m not your pawn. And you’re going to regret what you did to Summer. She’s stronger than you think. And she’s not the only one who’s been manipulated here.”

I take a deep breath, standing taller, the power inside me rising with the words I can no longer hold back. “I’m walking into your trap, yes. But not because I’m afraid. Not because I’m weak. But because if I don’t, there’s nothing left to save.”

The air around me is thick with the crackle of dark magic, pulsing and twisting in every direction. Summer’s parents stand before me like the embodiment of every shadow, their power radiating from them in waves – cold, malevolent, suffocating. I can feel it in my very bones, their magic trying to tear me apart.

“You think you can stop us?” Summer’s mother sneers, her voice like nails scraping against stone. “You are nothing but a flicker in the dark. You have no idea what you’re up against.”

I stand my ground, feeling the wind begin to stir, the first whispers of my magic responding. I’m not afraid. Not anymore. I’ve faced worse, and I will defeat them.

I call upon the power within me – the divine energy that courses through my veins, the ancient magic that binds me to Aerwyna, to Yemaya. The earth beneath my feet hums with life as I reach for it, for the energy that connects everything. But then – Summer’s father raises his hand, and the ground shatters with a deafening crack. Dark magic shoots toward me like a blackened spear.

I barely manage to throw up my hands in defense, but the blast slams into me, knocking me back, my body crumpling to the ground. Pain floods through my chest, searing, the darkness wrapping around me like chains.

“You’re weak,” Summer’s mother spits, stepping forward, her presence overwhelming. “You can’t even begin to fathom the power we command.”

I struggle to rise, my limbs heavy, my vision blurring. They are strong – too strong. But I’m not going to give up. Not now.

In the haze of the pain, I feel it – something deeper than just the earth beneath me. A whisper, soft and powerful, like a song sung on the wind.

Malia...

The voice – Yemaya’s voice – calls to me from the depths of my soul. I close my eyes, feeling the pull of her presence, warm and unwavering.

“You are not alone, my daughter. You carry more than yourself. You carry the future of this world. The strength is within you, Malia. Always has been.”

The world around me begins to blur, the darkness pressing in on all sides. But in the distance, I see her – Yemaya. She stands like a beacon of light amidst the storm, her presence so overwhelming it nearly knocks the breath from my lungs.

“You are more than this, Malia. You are the daughter of the sea, the heir to the throne of Aerwyna. Your strength lies not just in the magic you command, but in your heart, in the love you hold for those you protect. You are not weak. You are a goddess.”

The words settle deep within me, grounding me. And as I open my eyes, I feel the power surge through me, no longer just a trickle, but a flood . My connection to Yemaya deepens, like the vast oceans crashing through me. I stand, my body glowing with light, my soul alight with purpose.

And then I see them – Summer’s parents. They’re not just shadows anymore; they are an obstacle I have to overcome, a threat to everything I hold dear.

“I will stop you,” I say, my voice stronger now, unwavering. “And you will pay for what you’ve done to your daughter.”

In that moment, my power rises, surging outward. The earth trembles, the wind howls in response. It’s not just magic – it’s divinity, it’s Yemaya, it’s me .

I raise my hands, and the ground beneath us cracks open, massive tendrils of energy bursting forth, twisting toward Summer’s parents. The wind roars around me, a storm unleashed. Dark magic meets light, and the two collide in a violent explosion of power.

Summer’s father tries to retaliate, his magic flaring violently. But it’s nothing compared to mine. I channel the power within me, my hands weaving the energy into threads of light. The battle rages between us, dark against light, and I feel it – the push and pull, the fierce struggle – but I won’t back down. I can’t.

The winds whip into a frenzy, the sky darkening with the sheer intensity of our fight. Summer’s mother sneers, her eyes flashing with fury. “You think this is over?” she spits. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

But even as she speaks, I can feel it – the shift. The darkness is weakening. Their magic is faltering. My magic is too powerful now, too connected to the very essence of Aerwyna itself. My body is vibrating with it, my soul alive with the strength Yemaya has bestowed upon me. This is my moment. I am not just fighting for Aerwyna. I am fighting for everyone I love. I’m fighting for my future – and theirs.

The weight of the battle feels lighter now, and for the first time, I feel the tides turning in my favor. My energy swells with a force so pure, so overwhelming, it pushes the dark magic back with each pulse. Their spells flicker and fail, their movements becoming sluggish as my light pierces through the shadows.

I can do this , I think, my resolve strengthening with each breath. I’m not alone.

But as I stand there, feeling the tide shift, a sudden, sharp flash cuts through the air.

And then?—

Cove.

The dark magic hits him with terrifying speed, the force of it too much for him to evade. His body is thrown backward, like a ragdoll tossed in a storm, and I watch in horror as he crashes to the ground with a sickening thud. A guttural scream escapes from my throat before I can stop it.

“Cove!” My heart skips a beat, panic rushing through me. I can’t breathe.

I turn to him, seeing him crumpled, his body limp on the cold earth. Blood spills from his chest, pooling beneath him like a dark stain, and for a moment, the world stops. Everything in me freezes.

They’re here.

A surge of magic sweeps over me like a wave, fierce and familiar. It’s Vance. It’s Bhodi, Reef, Cove... No , not Cove – he’s unconscious, injured, but the others are here. Their power ripples through the air, overwhelming the dark magic for a split second.

I turn just in time to see them – Vance, Bhodi, and Reef, bursting through the smoke. They’ve been here. They’ve stayed hidden, waiting for the right moment to act. Their magic cracks through the air like thunder, a shield around me, giving me the strength I need to stand tall.

“ Now! ” Vance shouts, his voice like a rallying cry, pulling me from my daze.

But before I can even process their presence, another blast of dark magic hits Cove’s lifeless form with enough force to crack the ground beneath him. It’s too fast, too brutal. My world tilts again, and for a moment, I think I’m going to lose everything.

“ No !” The word rips from my throat, and the power surging through me spikes, uncontrollable, wild.

My vision blurs with tears, my mind racing.

No, not him.

The rage surges through me. The grief. The fear.

And then I hear it.

Let go, my child .

Yemaya’s voice again. Her presence fills me, wrapping around me like a protective embrace.

“You are stronger than this. Your love, your will to protect, is more powerful than any magic. Now is your time. Unleash your power, Malia.”

I don’t think. I don’t hesitate. I release everything.

The ground shakes. The sky rips open. A torrent of magic erupts from me – blinding, powerful, uncontainable. It’s not just light – it’s a force of nature, a storm of divine fury. The air around us explodes as my power tears through the battlefield. The wind howls like a beast, the earth shatters beneath us, and the very air is saturated with the pure, raw energy that is now my birthright.

I scream, pouring everything I have into the magic, the last remnants of my strength. It’s too much. Too fierce. And the shockwave of power knocks everyone off their feet, the world crumbling in the wake of my divine rage.

When I come to, my ears are ringing, my vision blurry, the taste of smoke thick on my tongue. I push myself up, gasping for breath, only to see the wreckage around me – the stillness where Summer’s parents once stood. Their bodies lie motionless, their magic utterly shattered.

But the cost…the price of victory…

“Vance?” I croak, searching the smoke-filled air. I hear movement, and soon, Bhodi and Reef are pushing themselves to their feet, shaking, but alive.

But then my gaze shifts. Cove is still lying on the ground, blood staining the earth beneath him. My heart skips a beat, my chest tightening in fear.

“Cove...” I whisper, stumbling toward him. My hands are shaking as I try to assess the damage, but the world feels surreal. I can’t lose him. I won’t.

A soft cry, a faint sound that stops me cold.

I turn, and my heart stops in my chest. Summer is lying on the ground, her body crumpled.

How did she get here? I told her to stay inside where it was safest…

My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, the world seems to slow. I rush to her side, my heart pounding in my ears, my hands trembling as I gather her up in my arms.

“Summer!” I scream, but there’s no answer. “Summer, please, no?—”

The world fades away, leaving only her. I feel the last of my strength slipping through my fingers as I cradle her in my arms, willing her to come back, to fight through the darkness.

My heart shatters as I feel the weight of her loss. The battle is over, but this victory feels hollow, the cost too great. The Shadow Legion is defeated, but the price has been far too high. I look down at her pale face, her body cold, and my world crumbles.

“Malia…”

I hear Yemaya’s voice again, softer now, as if she’s reaching for me from the depths of the sea. “You are not done. You are stronger than this. Your strength is not just in the magic you wield, but in the love you carry for them. You have the power to heal. You have the power to save.”

I close my eyes, holding Summer tightly. The grief is unbearable, but Yemaya’s words stay with me. I pull from the last of my strength, summoning every bit of magic within me. It’s not just for victory. It’s for love. For Summer.

And in that moment, I know what I must do.

I kiss Summer’s forehead, my heart breaking as I whisper a prayer for her. I channel all the magic, all the power, into her, willing her to come back, to fight through the darkness. Her body stirs, a soft tremor running through her, and I hold my breath, my heart racing.

And then, slowly, her eyes flutter open.

“Summer...” I whisper, my voice breaking.

She smiles weakly, the light of life returning to her eyes. “I’m here, Malia…I couldn’t let you do this alone,” she says, her voice resolute.

I smile through my tears, relief flooding my chest. The battle is won.

But just as I begin to let myself rest in the relief of this moment, Summer shifts in my arms, her voice low but firm. “Malia, go. Go to your guys. They need you now. I’m not going anywhere.”

I pause, my heart tugging between the fierce need to stay with her and the urgency of her words.

“They’ll be fine, but Cove – he’s not.” Summer’s eyes meet mine, and for the first time since I saw her, she’s strong. She gives me a small, knowing smile. “Your fight isn’t over yet, Malia. Go. Save him.”

I blink, my chest tightening at the weight of her words. She’s right. The victory of this battle, this moment of life returning to her, means nothing if I don’t fight for the ones who are still standing – those who need me.

I nod, swallowing back the lump in my throat. “I’ll be back for you,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead once more.

With one final glance at Summer – her form steady now, her strength beginning to return – I turn toward my men.

Vance, Bhodi, and Reef are already moving toward me, their eyes scanning the aftermath, their faces hardened but relieved. But I don’t stop to talk to them yet. I focus on Cove. He’s still lying there, too still.

There’s no time to waste. I can feel the magic building again, and this time, it’s not just me – it’s for them . I won’t let this victory be hollow. I won’t let anyone else fall.