“Where do I fit into all this?” I asked. We had reached the center of the city, a big stage and a huge throng of people waiting for Roki to speak. He must have had us masked, because we walked straight through them unimpeded.
“By my side,” he said with a wink. “Only if you’re happy. These people revered Lordin, and they can never know her truth, or they would be broken by it. As for you …” He licked his lips, giving me an “uh-oh” look. “Well, many will hate you because of the pandemic—the decisions made through your council’s process. They won’t know the truth. But you’re a Min now, and you’re in a new body. No one knows who you are.”
“Neuge did,” I said, remembering how he had ignored me. Now that I thought about it, he had seemed perturbed to see Roki with me on the rooftop.
“Neuge is clever,” Roki said as we climbed onto the stage. “You’re new, and Kaelyn of Gaard is dead. I’m sure he put the pieces together. But Neuge is loyal and won’t say anything. Even if the other Min find out, they can’t defy me as the leader, nor can they reveal your identity to the people. Trust me, Kaelyn, you’re safe with me, and I’ll protect your loved ones.”
I did trust Roki. I trusted him more than seemed appropriate. I couldn’t help it. He had been my dream man from day one, and now I was standing by his side as he was about to address thousands of Gurnots in a secret underground city. I wasn’t queen of Geniverd anymore, yet I felt more like a queen beside Roki than I ever had sitting in my council chamber. As a Min, I had energy and power beyond mortal grasp. I had forfeited my original body and found confidence in the skin of my host. I felt complete, smart, aware of who I was. More than anything, I felt valued. I felt ready to face the next trial.
“My people,” Roki said, his voice echoing over the attentive crowd, “thank you for joining the battle in Nurlie. Thank you for fighting for our freedom and sacrificing your lives for the good of the world. It was not the first fight, and it won’t be the last. We have hardships ahead of us, foes the world over, and seemingly impossible odds. Yet we will prevail!”
The crowd cheered. I crossed my arms humbly and looked them over.
“We have battled the system for many years,” Roki continued, “and I say to you now, friends, we are almost home. The moment of reckoning is upon us, upon the world. For too long has the upper class pushed our faces in the muck, humiliated us, and stood righteously atop their precious Decens-Lenitas. Well, I say, no more! Our numbers have grown in pace with our strength. The time is right to strike the heads of the hydra. Nurlie was only a taste. Prepare yourselves, my friends, for the ultimate battle lies just over the horizon.”
Roki raised his fist. “The titans shall fall!”
And the crowd roared, “The titans shall fall! The titans shall fall! The titans shall fall!”
I didn’t know what I was doing. I had raised my fist and was echoing with the others, “The titans shall fall! The titans shall fall!”
The audience whooped with delight, and the wave of praise continued for the longest time. When the applause died down, someone shouted Lordin’s name. And just like that, a new wave of cheers began, interspersed with a chant of “Lordin! Lordin! Lordin!”
And I thought that of course they loved her. I was once like them. I’d only just died, yet they still grieved for Lordin. I wanted to forgive them, because they didn’t know her as I did now. And as I watched, filled with sadness, the livestream briefly caught someone who stood out because he wasn’t clapping. Roki must have seen it too, on his display, because he interrupted the shouting and asked for the man to be given a microphone. Then the camera zoomed in on the person. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Tell us your name and what’s on your mind,” Roki said most gently. “Why do you not cheer for Lordin?”
“My name is Nnati. I will never cheer for Lordin.”
There were loud gasps, but Roki was unmoved.
Nnati continued boldly. “Can’t you all see?” he said. “She bought into the system. She supported Decens-Lenitas. By the time she met her untimely death, she wasn’t one of us. We don’t know whether she would have treated us differently if she were queen. Yes, her murder was horrific, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But she did not die for our cause, yet many among us look on her as a beloved martyr. I tell you now, she died for nothing!”
There was disquiet and murmurs among the crowd.
I was still in such a shock that I didn’t notice the tears streaming down my flushing hot face. I had always known Nnati was defiant. Now I knew just how defiant. The sight of him made me smile. Perhaps I could still salvage something of my old life. Perhaps I could be Nnati’s friend.
“Thank you, Nnati, for speaking your truth,” said Roki. “No one should deny him that. He is not our adversary. The upper class, on the other hand, have become too powerful, too rich, too mighty. But observe around you what we’ve built right under their noses, for the powerful have grown weak and complacent in the long years without conflict. Trust me when I say we are strong and have a firm resolve. Our fight has only just begun, and our enemy is within our reach. They are crippled and slow with their pockets stuffed with money and their bellies bloated on our food. They’ve pushed us so deep into the dirt that they do not fear retaliation. But I promise you, brothers and sisters, they will fear us!”
By the time Roki finished his speech, I felt drawn to his cause, to the magic of his words. Roki’s passion invigorated me. He was mine and I was his, and we were in the fight together. For the first time in my life, I had a purpose. I felt on top of the world. It no longer mattered what tomorrow may bring.
Roki and I walked off the stage, and I threw myself into his open arms, thinking it was crazy that I had to die to truly live. I was free and unassailable in that strange place and in Roki’s arms. No one was going to take that away from me, nor would they punish me for being there, far from my home.
Because I was home.
Coming soon
Stay tuned! Godly Sins, the second book in the Crown of Crowns series, is coming soon!
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Acknowledgements
I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to many people who’ve supported my writing or played a role in shaping this story—particularly to Nick, Julie T, Leonora B, Lauren, Christine, Phebe, Phyllis, Jacquee, Helen L, Judith, Steve, Kate, Carol, Peggy, Branden, Keysha, Sean, Naveed, Lisa, Eva, Bernard, Kelly, Zion, James, Sally, Norah, Aaron, Arwen, Gareth, Stefan, Monica, Szilvia, Ruth, Caroline, Rowena, Beth, Ruby, Boe, Lewis, Sophie, Ruth, Anna, Hetty and Liz.
A special thanks to Charlie and Chris who have put up with me at home, and a big thank you to my parents for giving me the best life possible.
I’m also sincerely grateful to my readers for joining me on this journey.
About the Author
Clara Loveman graduated from Liverpool John Moores University and has an MPH from the University of Sheffield. She lives in Maidenhead, UK, a riverside town not far from Windsor.
She loves connecting with readers and can be found on Instagram (@lovemanauthor) and on
Twitter (@claraloveman).
On her website ClaraLoveman.com, you’ll find more information on her releases and current giveaways.
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