Page 98 of Crowned

I set the mug on the tray and let him guide me down onto the sofa, his arm slipping around my shoulders as Bhodi swings my legs onto his lap.

“Long day?” Bhodi asks, already tugging off my slippers.

I let out a low hum of approval as his thumbs dig into the arch of my foot. “You have no idea.”

“Oh, I think we do,” Reef says from his spot by the fire, his tone teasing. “I’m still recovering from Artemis declaring war on me at dinner.”

“That’s because she knows you’re a soft target,” Bhodi quips, his grin widening as Reef throws a carved wood shaving in his direction.

“Focus,” Vance chides lightly, his fingers kneading the tight muscles in my shoulders. I sigh, melting into his touch, and he presses a kiss to the top of my head.

Cove sits on the floor beside me, setting the tray within easy reach and offering me one of the chocolate tarts. “You barely ate at dinner,” he says, his brows furrowing slightly.

“I was too busy refereeing,” I say with a chuckle, taking the tart from him. “Thank you.”

He watches me until I take a bite, satisfaction flickering in his eyes when I let out a quiet moan of approval.

The room settles into a peaceful rhythm, the soft crackle of the fire and the murmur of quiet conversation weaving through the air. Bhodi keeps massaging my feet, his touch firm but soothing, while Vance works the tension from my shoulders. Reef hums softly as he continues carving, and Cove leans against the edge of the sofa, his hand resting lightly on my knee.

I glance around at each of them, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. These men – my men – have given me a life I never dared to dream of. A family. A home. Somewhere I belong.

“It’s moments like this,” I say softly, my voice carrying over the quiet, “that remind me how lucky I am.”

Vance’s hand pauses on my shoulder, and he leans down, his lips brushing against my ear. “We’re the lucky ones, Malia,” he murmurs.

Bhodi grins, his hands pausing briefly on my feet as he winks at me. “Speak for yourself, Daddy V. I’m the luckiest of all.”

Reef snorts softly, shaking his head but saying nothing as he focuses on his carving.

Cove squeezes my knee gently, his smile warm. “You’re everything to us,” he says simply.

I lean back, letting their words wrap around me like the fire’s warmth. For the first time in what feels like forever, life feels balanced – imperfect, yes, but beautiful in its imperfection.

The kingdom will always need me, and there will always be battles to fight, decisions to make, and challenges to face. But right now, in this quiet moment, with the triplets safe and sound and my family around me, I feel like I’ve already won.

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