Page 116 of Crowned

An ornate and decorative band with an emerald-cut diamond for Konstantin, very traditional and beautiful.

A circular-cut diamond for Elyah with small diamonds placed around it in the setting that looks like a radiating sun, because he’s always called me his sunshine.

A square diamond for Kirill, sharp and to the point like he is, with a geometric pattern on the band.

The place settings overlap and complement each other, like my men do.

“All very pure, white diamonds, and the settings will be white gold. What do you all think?”

Elyah takes the sketchbook from me and studies it closely. “Solnyshko,” he murmurs with a smile, understanding my design right away. My heart lightens as he passes the book to Konstantin. “I love it.”

Konstantin examines the design and nods approvingly. “It’s beautiful,malyshka.”

Finally, Kirill peers hard at the page, his brows drawn together, and my heart is in my throat. What if he hates it?

He looks up at me. “Can you make each of us wedding bands that match this ring? What you have designed for my part of the ring, I want that for myself.”

I blink in surprise. I hadn’t thought of that, but a man’s wedding ring with the same design on the band would suit him. It would suit the other two men to have bands with their designs, too. After all, each part of the ring is inspired by who they are.

“I can design it and we can have someone make all four rings. What do you all think?” I look carefully at each of them. “I know it’s not marriage. Not legally. But this way, I don’t have to choose just one of you. I’m choosing all of you.”

They all exchange glances and nod.

“It probably wouldn’t do our competitive natures much good if you chose one of us,” Konstantin observes wryly. “Even if it’s only legally.”

Elyah is watching me carefully. “You seem different. Your color has changed. Your energy has changed.”

“I must be excited about the rings being made,” I say with a smile, closing my sketchbook. It will have to be a very experienced jewelry maker that we use, someone who can interpret my designs and bring them to life.

Elyah doesn’t seem convinced and turns to Kirill. “What is the date?”

Kirill checks his phone. “Lilia. If you have not started your period, you are four days late.”

I’m still deep in thought about the rings, and I finally look up. “Hm?”

Konstantin has Viktoria in his arms and he’s smiling at me. “Are you pregnant,malyshka?”

I sit up in surprise. The possibility hadn’t even occurred to me. Excitement starts to fizz through me, and I realize how much I do want another baby. “I could be,” I say slowly.

“But whose is it?” Elyah wonders aloud.

“What if it’s Kostya’s again?” says Kirill, with a dark look at hisPakhan.

Konstantin shakes his head. “It’s not mine. I haven’t, as Kirill puts it, nut in our beloved since her last cycle.”

I stare at him, thinking back through all my encounters with Konstantin this past month. He’s right, he hasn’t. And I think that’s been on purpose.

“I could just be late, but I do have pregnancy tests,” I whisper, unable to stop myself from smiling. “Shall I take one?”

“Do you even have to ask,detka?” Kirill says, already turning toward the door.

Upstairs, they all come into the bathroom, and I realize that three overeager men are going to watch me pee on a stick.

“We really have no boundaries, huh?” I say, opening up the pregnancy test.

Konstantin sits down on the edge of the tub. “None.”

I hold the test between my legs and pee on it, looking from one man to the next. “It’s just so different to the last time I had to take one of these.”

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