Page 93 of Crowned

“Maybe,” I reply. “But you’re all their heroes. Every one of you.”

The words hang in the air for a moment, the weight of them sinking in. These men – they’ve been my strength, my family, my partners in rebuilding not just Aerwyna, but a life worth living. They’ve given me everything, and I can only hope I’ve done the same for them.

I step away from the railing and turn to face them, the love I feel for each of them nearly overwhelming. “I need you to know,” I say, my voice steady but thick with emotion, “how much you mean to me. To us. None of this – none of it – would have been possible without you.”

Vance is the first to respond, his hand reaching for mine. “You’ve given us just as much, Malia. You’ve made us better. Stronger. You’ve given us a family, a purpose. And I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting what we’ve built together.”

Bhodi steps forward next, his grin softening into something more vulnerable. “You’re stuck with us, Queenie. Forever. We’ve been through hell, but look where we are now. Look what we’ve got. I’m not going anywhere.”

Reef nods, his quiet intensity cutting through the moment. “You’re our heart, Malia. This family doesn’t work without you. And no matter what comes next, we’ll face it together. Always.”

Cove, holding Artemis in one arm and Rhea tugging at his free hand, smiles at me, his warmth as steady as ever. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to us,” he says simply. “And these girls…they’re proof of everything we’ve fought for. They’re our future, Malia. And so are you.”

Tears prick my eyes as I look at each of them, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. “I love you,” I say, my voice breaking slightly. “All of you. And I’ll never stop fighting for us. For this family. And for Aerwyna.”

The moment stretches between us, filled with unspoken promises and the kind of love that can’t be put into words.

From inside Rhea calls out, waving her wooden sword triumphantly. “Mama! Come play!”

I laugh, wiping my tears as I head toward the stairs. “Duty calls,” I say over my shoulder, earning a chorus of chuckles from the men.

As I step into the garden, Lyra places a flower crown on my head, her small hands careful but confident. “You’re the prettiest queen,” she declares, her voice solemn.

“Thank you, my love,” I say, kneeling to kiss her forehead.

Artemis grabs my hand, tugging me toward the garden wall. “Mama, come see! There’s a butterfly!”

I follow her, my heart swelling with every moment I spend with them. These girls – Rhea, Lyra, Artemis – they are my greatest joy, my greatest accomplishment. And as I watch them play, their laughter echoing through the garden, I know that everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve fought for, has been worth it.

As the sun rises over Aerwyna, casting the sky in pastel hues of gold and pinks, I stand with my family – my daughters, my loves – and I know one thing for certain: we’ve built a future worth living for. And together, we will make it brighter than the stars themselves.

The garden is alive with the sound of laughter.

I’m flat on my back in the grass, watching as Rhea charges toward me, her wooden sword raised high. I can barely hold in my grin as she lets out a battle cry that’s more fierce than most of the warriors I’ve met. “Prepare to meet your doom, Baba Bhodi!”

“Oh, no! Not my doom!” I shout dramatically, flinging my arms up as though I’m already defeated. I roll to the side, narrowly avoiding a playful strike.

Rhea stumbles but doesn’t lose her momentum. “For Aerwyna!” she declares again, swiping at my legs as I scramble to get up.

“I surrender!” I say, holding up my hands in mock defeat. “You win, Commander Rhea.”

She stands over me triumphantly, puffing her chest out. “I knew it,” she says, her voice filled with pride. “I’ll be a queen who leads armies one day.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I say, chuckling as I sit up, brushing the grass off my shirt. “You’ve got the heart of a warrior.”

Meanwhile, Lyra is off to the side, quietly arranging flowers she’s picked from the garden, her little hands moving with such care. She looks up every now and then, offering me a soft smile. “I’m making a bouquet for Mama,” she says, her voice soft and thoughtful. “I think she’ll like it.”

“Lyra,” I say gently, “you’re going to make her day with that bouquet. She’ll love it.”

Lyra nods seriously, turning back to her task. The calm and thoughtful way she moves always reminds me of Malia – strong and graceful, even in the quiet moments.

Artemis, of course, is another story entirely.

I spot her on the other side of the garden, chasing after a butterfly with wild abandon. She jumps and twirls, arms outstretched, her laughter ringing out like music. “I’m going to catch it, Baba Bhodi!” she shouts, her voice filled with pure joy.

“You’ve got this, Artemis!” I cheer, watching her with a smile. I can’t help but laugh as she trips over her own feet but springs right back up, never slowing down. She’s a force of nature, and I can see that no one will ever be able to stop her from chasing what she wants.

I roll to my feet and stroll over to her, gently scooping her up in my arms as she continues to reach for the butterfly, completely oblivious to the fact that she’s now suspended in midair.

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