Crowned (Santa Catalina University)

Chapter 41

Aerwyna lies in ruins. What once was a kingdom full of life and vibrancy now rests in the eerie silence of destruction. The palace, once a symbol of our strength and unity, now stands as a hollow shell. The walls are cracked, the air thick with smoke and sorrow. It feels like a wound that may never fully heal, no matter how much time passes.

I don’t even know where we begin to start rebuilding, and my heart aches for the losses the people of Aerwyna have suffered. My people.

It’s only been a day but the survivors have begun to regroup already, even though the weight of loss hangs over us all. Some are silent, their grief too great to voice. Others move with an eerie determination, rebuilding the fragments of their lives, but nothing feels whole. How can it, when the cost of victory has been so steep?

I stand in the infirmary, looking out over the devastation that stretches beyond the broken windows. The view that once seemed so full of life – lush fields, bustling streets, and vibrant colors – now lies in silence, dotted with the charred remains of what used to be. I should feel relief – the Shadow Legion is gone, their grip on Aerwyna broken – but instead, all I feel is the crushing weight of responsibility. The faces of the fallen haunt me in every corner of this palace, in every corner of my mind.

Was it worth it? The question gnaws at me, relentless, as if it could be answered with one simple thought. But there is no simple answer. There’s only the aftermath.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, warm and steady. I turn to find Vance standing beside me, his expression unreadable, but his eyes heavy with something deeper – concern, sorrow, perhaps even guilt. I know he’s not just checking on me; he’s checking on all of us.

“How are you holding up?” he asks, his voice low, his gaze never leaving mine. His concern is evident, but there’s something else, something burning beneath the surface.

“I’m here,” I reply, though my voice trembles. “But I’m not sure how much of me is left.”

Vance studies me for a long moment, his lips pressed into a thin line. Then he sighs, his voice quiet but filled with urgency. “There’s something you need to know. Something I discovered while you were…dealing with the aftermath of the battle.”

I furrow my brow, the mention of it immediately making my chest tighten. “What is it?”

He lowers his voice further, as if to shield the others from hearing something they shouldn’t. “The Shadow Legion. Well, Summer’s parents. They didn’t just bind themselves to the Shikari through dark magic, Malia. They used Shikari blood to give themselves that power.” He pauses, letting the weight of the words sink in. “A blood-oath. They made a pact with the Shikari, using that blood-oath to fuel their strength. That’s why their magic was so potent, why they were so hard to break.”

I stare at him, my mind reeling. “But I…I destroyed them. My power?—”

“Yes,” he cuts in, his eyes narrowing with a mix of sorrow and understanding. “When you unleashed your magic, it wasn’t just about defeating them. It shattered that blood-oath, Malia. Their power was tied to the Shikari blood they’d stolen, and when you broke them…it broke the pact. It wiped out the remaining Shikari who were still bound to the Legion. They’re gone. The Shadow Legion is over, yes, but all Shikari are gone too. I believe Tanimola did the same, binding himself to the Shikari through blood magic, which would explain why his body vanished when the council went to retrieve it. Anyway...it’s over.”

I let the words sink in, the weight of them pressing down on my chest. The magic that had controlled so much of Aerwyna’s pain, the shadows that had loomed over us for so long – they’re gone. And it’s because of me.

But then – something stirs inside me. A flutter. Soft, faint, but unmistakable.

I place my hand on my belly, and for a moment, everything else fades. The pain, the loss, the weight of the world – all of it disappears as I focus on the faint movements beneath my hand. My breath catches, and I look up at Vance, who is already watching me with a knowing expression.

“They’re moving,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I can feel them.” The triplets. My children. Our children.

Vance’s face softens, a small, tender smile tugging at his lips. His eyes, usually so guarded, soften with something else – joy. “You’re incredible, Malia. They’re so lucky to have you.”

I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. They are lucky. But so am I. For everything we’ve survived, everything we’ve fought for, and for the family we’re building together.

The moment is broken by Bhodi’s voice, loud and unrelenting, even in the quiet aftermath. “Well, this is certainly a new chapter for all of us, isn’t it?” His attempt at lightness falls flat, but there’s a flicker of genuine affection in his eyes. “First a war, now a baby boom…I’ll be damned if I’m not a little bit jealous of the little ones growing up in a world this exciting.”

Reef, ever the quiet one, steps forward, his expression serious, but his voice cracked with emotion. “We’ve fought for this, Malia. This – this is what makes everything worth it. The future, the love, the family. It’s ours.”

My heart swells at his words, and I turn to Cove, who is still lying in the bed, his breathing shallow but steady. Despite his injuries, despite everything he’s endured, he gives me that trademark smile – the one that reassures me, even when everything else feels broken. Summer is in the bed beside him, resting and recovering too, though it’s more precautionary as she seems fine. There’s much we need to discuss, but for now it can wait. I’m just relieved to be surrounded by everyone I love.

“You’re not doing this alone,” he murmurs, his voice weak but steady. “We’re all in this together. And we’ll be here for you. Always.”

His voice is so steady, so Cove , that for a moment, the weight of everything feels a little less heavy. His kindness and warmth fill the room.

And in that moment, despite the wreckage, despite the uncertainty of the future, I know – this is the beginning of something greater than any battle. It’s the start of our family’s next chapter. The war may be over, but the true fight, the one for our future, is just beginning.