Page 65 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“I trust my wife–”

“You trusted me all your life! She has plotted with Kalani–”

“Don’t waste your breath.”

Malakai stumbled to his feet and stepped back, retrieving a dagger from his boot. Again, the hilt looked similar to Peter and Keanu’s weapons. “You took the throne so easily from your parents,” he spit. “You should’ve died with them.”

And then, before my eyes, Keanu fought his cousin. Their swords clashed against one another, both of the men skilled and lethal. I’d never seen such a personal and terrible battle like this. Fear consumed me, especially that Malakai might win. Peter came rushing to the hallway, sword in hand, but stopped at Keanu’s command. The captain wasn’t going to intervene unless needed. Within a few minutes, Malakai was disarmed and on the ground.

Keanu did not kill his cousin, but he put his sword away and approached me. “Are you alright?” he asked, gently touching my cheeks.

Peter ran towards Malakai to detain him, but Keanu’s cousin acted quickly. A scream escaped my mouth but it was too late. Everything seemed to move slowly as Keanu let out a breath.

Malakai had thrown his dagger, and it landed in Keanu’s back. Color immediately drained from his face.

“Keanu!” I caught my husband, but could hardly hear anything above the thunderous pounding of my heart.

He smiled at me, his face peaceful. His fingers stroked my cheek, his eyes riveted on me. For a moment, I could see the pain in them.

Then, “I love you, Oli.”

His hand fell and the golden gleam in his eyes disappeared, leaving a vacancy that felt like a beach at low tide, barren. Exposed.

And just like that, my husband was gone.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The whole world went silent as I stared at his lifeless face. My view blurred as tears streamed down my cheeks.

He was gone. Gone. Gone.

Losing my mother was one thing, but losing Keanu hit me like nothing else. I was stunned, frozen in place. My whole body went cold. This wasn’t real, was it?

A drum sounded in the distance, and I looked up to see Peter and Malakai. Both looked as shocked and pale as me. When I met Malakai’s eyes, I was sure he saw the pain in mine, and I saw the horror in his.

He killed Keanu. But just as soon as the horror was there, it was brushed away. Malakai had always been good at putting on a face. He quickly recovered and shoved Peter to the side and grabbed my arm.

“We have to get out of here. The night marchers are coming to take him, just like they did the last two times.”

The last two times. How could Malakai do this to his cousin? Not once, not twice, but three times? He had to have blood as cold as the water at the bottom of the sea.

Instead of moving, my whole body was heavy lava rock.

“How could you?” I was trembling all over, unable to take my eyes off my husband’s cold body.

“Hurry up.” Malakai’s grip was cutting off the circulation in my wrist. I yanked my arm away from him, knowing I needed to act. Now was not the time to wallow in my emotions, though there was a large gaping hole in my heart. I had to get away from Malakai.

“Help!” I screamed. Malakai smacked me across the cheek but the burning sensation wasn’t enough to stop me from getting help. “Alohi, help!”

The drumbeats were getting louder, but Peter came to my aid. Within seconds, Malakai’s sword was on the ground and Peter pointed his blade at the murderer’s throat. He glanced at the darkness outside, hearing the conch shell and drumbeats.

It was then that Alohi appeared. He saw my dead husband on the ground, and Peter holding Malakai at the tip of a sword.

“Ioane and Sefa!” Alohi called out, and two other guards came to his call. They arrested Malakai, but instead of taking Keanu’s body, they rushed me away.

“What about Keanu?” I couldn’t think, though I knew I needed to.

“He will be taken home to Kāne, my queen,” said Alohi and Malakai cursed.