Page 64 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“Your sword’s gem matches the one on the dagger.” I held it up for all to see. Everyone turned to Malakai, and there was no hiding the gem on his sword. It was a perfect match.

“Arrest Kalani and Malakai.” Keanu’s order was clear.

Malakai looked hurt, but I knew he could fake his way into things. He did it with me. Multiple times. Pretending to be innocent and sympathize. Pretending to care about his cousin. “Keanu, I would never raise a blade against you!”

“Then who would?” Peter exclaimed. And suddenly everyone was on their feet shouting and pointing fingers.

“How could you do this? You’re closest to the king!”

“I told you it wasn’t me!” Pua said.

The room erupted in chaos like a volcanic explosion.

The guards charged Kalani and Malakai but the sound of shattering glass caused everyone’s attention to turn. We all looked to see the windows around the room broken, and Kalani’s men rushing inside.

Peter and Alohi grabbed Keanu and I, but the king had already drawn his sword.

The nobles screamed and the guards fought as Kalani’s men attacked.

He planned this. Of course Kalani wouldn’t come without a fight. And what happened to the security of the palace? Malakai had compromised it. He kept sending guards elsewhere to patrol, saying they did a sweep of the castle when they really didn’t. Saying that the palace had maximum security. But he was the culprit all along.

And now, he probably sent guards elsewhere so that Kalani’s men could break into the throne room.

Keanu grabbed my arm, and we rushed into the hallway, leaving Peter and Alohi behind to fight off the men attacking us.

We hadn’t gone far down the hallway when one of Kalani’s men attacked Keanu.

“Run, Oli!” he said. The sound of clashing swords rang through the air. I didn’t stop. I kept running, running, running. I looked back to see Keanu fighting, then turned a corner.

Someone grabbed my arm and slammed me against the wall. My vision turned a hazy green color as my head hit the gold-foiled trim.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Malakai’s dark brown eyes stared me down.

“Why did you betray your cousin?” I tried to push him off ‌me, but he pinned my arms to the wall. Fear began to take over.

Think, Oli! He wouldn’t hurt me. I’m the bait. Keanu would be here any second now, and I hated that it had to be this way.

“Keanu doesn’t act,” he said through his teeth, then the corner of his lip turned up. “I must remove a weak king before the kingdom collapses.”

“It’s not going to collapse,” I said. “He’s fully competent because he cares.”

“Mercy is a luxury a king cannot afford.” Malakai fumed. “He is a coward. I’ve seen villages burned, soldiers killed, and enemies–like Kalani–emboldened because Keanu refuses to act decisively.”

“You won’t ever become king.”

“I will, because I’m going to marry you.” He grinned, and my insides dropped. “You’re an idiotic commoner, a worthless spearfishing girl who bargained her way to the throne, and your ignorance will be revealed. I will ensure Keanu and his legacy dies in shame.”

“Why?” I couldn’t fathom any of this. “And why involve Kalani?”

“Because, in the end, he acts. Unlike Keanu. Unlike you, who has swayed him even further into softness. The warlord will be upon us in days. Kalani and the other chiefs are doing what our ancestors would want. They’re preserving our land and our people for ourselves. The warlord will destroy everything we know.”

Before I could reply, someone yanked Malakai away from me and threw him to the ground. I jumped, startled, but my wrists burned where Malakai had grabbed them.

“Get away from my wife.” Keanu was furious, the fire in his golden eyes burning brighter than I’d ever seen. Malakai scrambled away, while Keanu moved fast as a hurricane whipping through an island. His sword glistened in the light of the lanterns throughout the hallway, and I now realized that the hilt of Keanu’s sword was also similar to the dagger that the murderer had used.

They’re all similar swords and daggers. No wonder Peter had a similar weapon! They were all probably made by the same person and were only used by Keanu, Peter, Malakai and those he held in high esteem.

“She’s been tricking you,” Malakai said. “Didn’t you see her run out after Kalani left? She’s been plotting against you–”