Page 45 of Ruling in Flames (Reborn 5)
14
LEDGER
Piece of shit.
I think a part of me knew damn well that he would find a way to show up. Despite having a restraining order of sorts set up to deter him while in the Dreki realm, he’d never fully followed it. It’s why we had left for the Earth realm, in part. I also knew that while Maya’s parents wouldn’t have purposefully invited him, they may not even be aware of the situation—after all, they were the monarchs of an entire realm. I didn’t expect them to be aware of him being an abusive piece of shit.
As we stepped into the main archway leading out into the back yard, our father’s gaze immediately fell on us, a sneer taking over his face. A sound must have escaped my throat because Maya tensed and inhaled sharply, clearly cluing in to what was going on. Anani was absolutely silent, but I could feel the pain through our bond that seeing my father caused him.
I kept my expression completely neutral, holding my father’s gaze while I tightened my hand on Maya’s, the warm texture of my mother’s sigil ring on her giving me a type of bravery I’d never had before. Not only because it was clear she was watching out for us, but because I wanted to be strong for Maya.
For the woman who had absolutely changed the game for my brother and me.
We may have found a family within our flight, but we’d never truly felt completely at home—I think there was always a part of us that was expecting the other shoe to drop. For us to realize that we weren’t actually wanted. It was stupid because I knew the others cared about us, but that wasn’t how abuse worked—it made you view life through a distorted lens that was colored by pain. I knew it was something Maya understood, and I think it was why she was so protective over all of us. Even now I could feel her practically boiling with anger at the sight of my father.
He shouldn’t have fucking come. This was a moment for Maya, not for him.
“We don’t have to do this,” Maya said softly. She didn’t care that the music had started, her attention completely on us. “We can do this a different time or with a smaller crowd.”
“No,” Anani said, looking away from our father and down at her. “We aren’t letting this bastard ruin this.”
“Okay.” Maya nodded, and I did my best to give her an encouraging smile.
Her parents were waiting expectantly up front, her mom watching her with a look of affection and adoration that I don’t think Maya saw—I didn’t think she realized just how much her parents loved her. We could all see it, though, and the fact that Maya still chose to stay with us was absolutely fucking mind-blowing.
Because her brothers weren’t wrong—we were dangerous, and we didn’t deserve her. We were going to keep her, though. We were going to love and cherish her forever.
After taking a moment to collect herself, Maya stepped forward down the aisle, the music picking up in intensity. Az, who had stayed near the back, stepped out of the way for us, the traditional procession of us following after her in pairs of two, beginning with my brother and me. I nodded for Az to go ahead, though, as Anani motioned for Croy to do the same.
Maya may not have fully realized it yet, but my brother had explained what he suspected was going on between Az and her. I didn’t know how to feel about it, exactly, but I also wasn’t going to fight something that Maya wanted. If that included an immortal angel from forever-fucking-ago, then so be it. His expression was surprised for a moment before he managed to school it, stepping in front of me, next to Croy.
Dreki realm music filled the air as we followed after Croy and Az, Sai and Atlas stepping behind us in line, followed by Marco and Henry. I may have been far too young to have experienced a coronation ceremony, but I knew that this was a smaller version than normal. Yet, despite that and the alternative nature of it, I could feel an excited and hopeful energy to the space as the groups that lined each side of the aisle stared at Maya.
There were important figures from the Dreki realm, including Marco’s and Henry’s fathers as well as Sai’s parents. The members of the mountain village were all standing together to one side, and the rest of the space was filled by those who had been from the compound. We had a long way to go to form the type of kingdom that Maya was meant to lead, but I could tell her family was invested in making it happen. I also knew that Maya wouldn’t have followed the advice of the stranger from her rebirth if he hadn’t made a compelling case of why it was necessary for her to do this.
When Maya finally reached the front of the aisle, she moved to stand across from her mother, who stood behind a crown placed on a cushion that was held by one of her husbands. I couldn’t help but smile because while her crown was the same size and as luxurious as her mother’s, it was made of gold and stones of rose and amethyst. It was so completely Maya that I had to wonder when they had decided to have it made—if I had to guess, they’d made it after we visited last, in hopes that she would one day need it.
The music lulled and Queen Crya began speaking, her smile authentic for Maya. “Dragons and phoenixes alike! We are gathered here today to crown the Dreki realm’s true heir. Not to lead our home realm, but to be a pioneer in furthering the expansion of our species. To bring together those that have left the realm and those that still wish to live within it.
“Maya, our lost Sol, has undergone things that no individual should have to, but I think it’s clear that the strength, compassion, and honor that radiates off her is something that we all look for in a leader. It is for those reasons and so many more that I’m honored today to crown Maya as a queen of her new land, of the bright future all of you will be part of.”
I couldn’t help but smile as strong emotion passed over Maya’s face. Everything Queen Cyra said was true though. In fact, it was one of the best summaries I had ever heard of why Maya would excel at being a leader. Not because she would lead with a sword, but because she would lead with her heart. Sometimes that was what a leader needed to do. Sometimes the right approach was the softer one.
And if she needed a harder approach? We were here to defend her new land.
“Maya, if you will?”
Without any hesitation, Maya placed her hand in her mother’s, Queen Cyra squeezing it in a comforting move. “Maya, will you solemnly vow to lead our kind in this new kingdom, according to the laws and statutes not of the Dreki realm but of your own making?”
I knew that Queen Cyra would’ve normally had her vow to follow the laws of the Dreki realm, so I think it said a lot about her trust in Maya that she wasn’t holding her to that. No, instead she was giving Maya complete reign on how she believed her land needed to be led.
“I do.”
“Will you, to the best of your ability and within the law, execute justice and mercy in all your judgements?”
“I will.”
“Will you honor and maintain the desires of the Maker that blessed the realms within this universe?”
