Page 97 of Crowned

“Fine,” I concede with a chuckle. “Just like us. Now, the queen and her knights traveled to the dragon’s lair. The mountains were steep, the winds howled, and the path was filled with dangers, but they pressed on, never losing hope. When they finally reached the lair, the dragon roared so loudly that the ground shook beneath their feet.”

I pause for effect, letting out a low growl that makes Artemis squeal and bury her face in her blanket.

“But the queen wasn’t afraid,” I continue, lowering my voice to a near-whisper. “She stood tall, her knights by her side, and together, they faced the dragon. It wasn’t easy – the battle was fierce, and the dragon was strong – but the queen’s courage never faltered. And in the end, it was her kindness that saved the day.”

“Kindness?” Rhea repeats, frowning. “How does kindness stop a dragon?”

“She gave the dragon what it wanted most,” I say, my gaze settling on Lyra. “A garden of its own, filled with the most beautiful flowers the kingdom had ever seen. Flowers that only the dragon could tend to. And from that day on, the dragon stopped guarding the queen’s garden and started guarding its own.”

Lyra claps her hands together, her eyes sparkling. “That’s perfect!”

Rhea doesn’t look entirely convinced, but she lets out a yawn and snuggles deeper into the covers. “It’s okay,” she says grudgingly, her eyelids growing heavy. “But next time, more fighting.”

“Noted, Commander,” I reply, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead.

I tuck the blanket up to her chin before moving to Lyra and Artemis, placing gentle kisses on their foreheads as well. “Sleep well, little knights,” I murmur.

Lyra whispers something too quiet to hear, already half-asleep, while Artemis mumbles, “Night, Daddy V,” before letting out a tiny sigh.

As I rise from the chair, I glance toward the door, where Malia stands watching, her arms crossed and a soft smile playing on her lips.

“Nice save with the flowers,” she says quietly, stepping into the room.

“Thought you’d appreciate that,” I reply, brushing past her as I turn down the lanterns.

Together, we leave the nursery, the door clicking softly shut behind us. The house is quiet now, the weight of the day settling over everything. But in that silence, there’s peace.

Peace we’ve earned.

And as Malia slips her hand into mine, I know without a doubt that this is what I’ll protect for the rest of my life – her, our daughters, and the future we’ve fought so hard to build.

The nursery is quiet now, filled with the soft sound of steady breathing. I stand by the bed, gazing down at my daughters, their little faces glowing in the soft light of the moon streaming through the window.

Rhea is sprawled out like she’s conquered the entire bed. Lyra sleeps curled up like a cat. Artemis clings to her stuffed animal – a dragon Bhodi bought for her – her cheeks rosy and her curls wild even in sleep.

I lean down and press a kiss to each of their foreheads. Rhea stirs slightly, murmuring something about swords as I carefully slip hers out from under the blankets, while Lyra lets out a tiny sigh and snuggles deeper into her pillow. Artemis’s lips twitch into a sleepy smile as I tuck the stuffed dragon closer to her chest.

“Goodnight, my loves,” I whisper, brushing a curl from Lyra’s face. “Sweet dreams.”

I linger for a moment, my heart full as I watch them sleep. These quiet moments – these precious, fleeting moments – are worth every battle, every scar, and every sleepless night. They’re my greatest victory, my reason for everything.

I straighten slowly, careful not to wake them, and step back toward the door. With one last glance, I pull the door shut behind me, leaving it just slightly ajar so I can hear if they stir.

The hallway is dim, the lanterns casting a golden glow on the walls. The faint hum of conversation and the soft crackle of the fireplace drift toward me as I make my way to the sitting room. My steps are slow, and the weight of the day presses heavily on my shoulders, but I’m smiling.

When I enter, the sight that greets me is so ordinary and yet so perfect, that my chest tightens with warmth.

Bhodi is sprawled across one end of the sofa, one leg dangling over the armrest, his head tilted back as he stifles a yawn. Vance is seated upright in the middle, his arms stretched casually along the back of the sofa, but his sharp eyes soften the moment they land on me. Cove is at the other end, a tray balanced carefully in his hands, laden with snacks – cheese, fruit, and little chocolate tarts – and a steaming mug of tea. Reef sits cross-legged on the floor near the fire, whittling a piece of wood into something that already looks like one of Artemis’s dragons.

“Finally,” Bhodi drawls, sitting up and patting the empty cushion beside him. “I was starting to think you’d fallen asleep in there.”

“Not quite,” I say with a soft laugh, moving toward them. “But it was close.”

Cove meets me halfway, his eyes full of warmth as he hands me the mug of tea. “Thought you might need this,” he says, his voice gentle.

“You thought right,” I reply, wrapping my hands around the mug and taking a sip. It’s sweet and soothing, and I can feel the tension in my chest ease with the first sip.

Vance shifts slightly, patting the spot beside him. “Come here,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

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