Page 74 of Crowned

Reef is the first to enter, his brows furrowed with concern. His eyes scan the room before landing on me, and he doesn’t even have to ask. He can see it in my face. “What did she say?”

The words hang on the edge of my tongue, but they come out too softly, too uncertain. “I’m…I’m having triplets.”

The air goes thick with the weight of that revelation, and for a long moment, nobody speaks. Then Reef, ever the realist, lets out a low whistle. “Well, that’s…unexpected.”

His voice breaks the silence, but the shock doesn’t dissipate. I stare at them, my hands trembling in my lap, the reality of it all sinking in, with a force that feels almost unbearable.

Cove is next to speak, his grin spreading across his face like wildfire. “Three? That’s amazing!” His eyes are alight with something close to pure joy, his excitement palpable.

Bhodi, ever the one to hide his emotions, is quiet for a beat too long. He stands near the window, his gaze distant, pale beneath the dim light. Then, he lets out a soft chuckle, his voice barely a whisper. “Guess we’ll need to expand the nursery.”

I laugh, though it’s shaky and tight in my chest. My mind spins as their reactions echo around me, their ease only making me feel more...uncertain. The tension coils tighter in my stomach, twisting. How can they be so calm? So…okaywith this?

I press a hand to my forehead, trying to steady myself. “You’re all so excited. How are you not terrified?” I ask, my voice shaking with a mixture of disbelief and frustration.

Reef’s face softens, his eyes steady and grounded. He leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. “We are, Malia,” he admits. “But we’ve faced worse. And this? This is a good kind of terrifying.”

Bhodi crosses his arms, his stance solid, unwavering. “I’d take this over a Shadow Legion ambush any day,” he adds with a dry smile, but there’s something in his eyes – something that’s both relieved and unsure, the weight of the situation not lost on him either.

Then the door creaks open again, and my heart skips, just slightly. It’s Vance. His presence, solid and reassuring as always, fills the space in a way that calms my nerves just by being near. He takes a moment to survey the room, his dark eyes quickly locking onto me, reading my face like an open book.

The guys fall silent, their faces softening at his entrance. He doesn’t need to ask; he knows something’s changed.

I manage a shaky smile, but it fades as the full weight of the news presses down on me. “Vance…” I start, my voice breaking slightly, “I’m having triplets.”

His reaction is immediate, the kind of stillness that seems to steal the air. His eyes widen, his lips parting in a way that makes my heart skip. For a moment, I think he’s about to say something – anything – but instead, his gaze flicks to the others, searching their faces for some sign that this isn’t real.

“Triplets,” he says slowly, as if he’s trying to digest it himself. And then, unexpectedly, a smile breaks through – small at first, tentative, like he’s unsure whether he’s allowed to feel joy in the chaos. But it grows, and his next words come out raw, full of something deep, something real. “That’s...incredible, Malia. I—I didn’t know how badly I wanted this.”

My breath catches in my throat, and his words land with a punch, leaving me gasping for air. I didn’t realise how much I needed to hear him say it –wanted this– until he did. And in that moment, something inside me unfurls, like a flower reaching for the sun after too much darkness.

“You’re so loved, Malia,” Vance continues, stepping toward me, his hand finding mine. “You have never been alone, and you never will be. Triplets or not, we’ll face it all together.”

The weight of his words, combined with the strength in his eyes, overwhelms me. It’s not just the promise of support, of love – it’s the unspoken truth that no matter what happens, this is ours. Our journey. Our family. Our future.

I close my eyes, feeling the warmth of his hand in mine, the presence of the others surrounding us. And when I open them again, I know that everything will change. But for the first time in a long while, I feel like maybe, just maybe, we’re ready.

“I love you,” I say quietly, but the words are enough to fill the room. They’re more than just an admission. They’re a promise.

Vance’s gaze softens, his thumb gently brushing over my knuckles. “I love you too. Always.”

Before I can fully process it, Reef leans forward, his lips brushing against my cheek, his kiss lingering just a moment too long for comfort. The sudden tenderness makes my chest tighten, and my face flushes with heat. I turn to look at Cove, his hand already reaching for me, pulling me into a kiss that’s slower, deeper, a quiet promise in his touch.

And then Bhodi, standing closest to me, his eyes unreadable for a moment, presses a kiss to my forehead. It’s soft, tender, and feels like everything in one small gesture.

The room is silent, but the air between us crackles with something electric. I squirm in my seat, suddenly feeling too exposed, too vulnerable. This isn’t something we usually do, all of us, in front of each other. Their affection, so open, so raw, is overwhelming.

“I—I’m not sure how to feel,” I stammer, the tension thick on my tongue. It’s not discomfort, exactly, but the weight of their affection has me feeling flustered in a way I can’t quite explain.

“You don’t have to know yet,” Vance says, his smile warm and understanding. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Together.”

And in that moment, I feel it – this bond between us, stronger than anything I’ve ever known.

The Council chamber feels colder than I remember, though the air is thick with unspoken words, the weight of expectation pressing in on me. The ancient stone walls, once comforting in their timeless solidity, now seem oppressive – watching me, judging me. I can feel their silent scrutiny, the way each carved pillar and tapestry seems to whisper of the rulers who came before me, of the burden I am about to bear.

Vance stands beside me, unwavering, a shield against the doubt threatening to creep into my bones. Today, he fights for my place. He’s come to argue my birthright – my destiny.

The long, polished table gleams beneath the candlelight, and I sit at its head, the seat that should belong to my mother. A seat I am about to claim. The eyes of the Council are heavy on me, their gazes filled with something between scepticism and expectation. Some of them have already decided my fate. Others wait, poised to be swayed.

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