Not simply a country, a title, or a powerful family name, but these ordinary moments: his daughter's laughter, his son's shy smile, and the woman he loved sitting between them, making both children feel safe enough to be happy.
Kade rested his head against the couch and allowed himself to enjoy the sound.
For once, he did not need to give an order, answer a report, or make a decision.
He only needed to sit there and listen to the laughter of the people he loved most.
************
ETHAN — AWAKENING
Ethan woke to the steady beeping of a monitor and the faint smell of antiseptic lingering in the air. For several seconds, he remained still, his eyelids heavy and his thoughts sluggish, unable to understand why his body felt so weak.
His mouth was dry, his limbs ached, and a dull pressure throbbed behind his temples. When he finally managed to open his eyes, the pale ceiling above him came into focus, followed by the unfamiliar sensation of an intravenous line taped to his hand.
