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“Welcome, Zia,” Mikhail said to her. He had a smile on his face that did not quite meet his eyes. It looked like he was scrutinizing her, trying to decipher if he could trust her.
“I’m so glad you could join us.”
“Thank you,” Zia managed, still a bit overwhelmed by her surroundings but smiling back. “Your home is… incredible.”
Mikhail laughed lightly. “I’m glad you think so. I have my wife to thank for that.” He gestured toward the dining area, “Please, make yourselves at home. Mira will be down in a moment, and dinner will be ready shortly.”
As they followed Dimitri into the heart of the mansion, Zia continued to marvel at the details. The dining room was equally stunning, with a long, polished table set with fine China and crystal. Tall windows lined one wall, offering a breathtaking view of the gardens outside, where lanterns illuminated perfectly manicured hedges and a sparkling fountain.
Lev squeezed her hand gently, sensing her awe. She smiled at him, feeling a rush of gratitude for his presence, for the comfort he gave her with his touch. He pulled a chair for her and waited for her to sit before he settled on the seat next to her.
Two deep voices and one soft voice echoed somewhere around the house, followed by footsteps.
A beautiful woman with red hair and deep green eyes entered inside the dining room. Two men entered behind her, both looking just like Lev and Mikhail.
Zia knew at once that those were the youngest Nikolai brothers. They had the same dark hair and eyes, the same sharpjaw, tall frames, and a domineering presence. The Nikolai genes made really handsome men, she thought.
The woman’s eyes met Zia’s and she smiled broadly. “You must be Zia Kincaid,” she said, her voice soft and laced with excitement. “I mean, you’re a Nikolai now.”
Zia smiled back and nodded. “I am. You must be Mira Nikolai. It’s nice to meet you.”
Mira waved her off. “Enough with the formality, we’re family.” She walked to the table, pulled Zia up, and hugged her. “I’ve been dying to meet you.”
Zia bit her lips. She would be lying if she said she’d been dying to meet the rest of the family because she’d been dreading it. But Mira seemed so nice that she was so glad she finally met her.
Mira pulled back. “Oh my God. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”
Zia’s smile grew wider. “If I’m beautiful, then you’re the goddess of beauty. You look so stunning.”
“Tell me about it.” Mira heaved a sigh as if she’d been holding her breath for a long time. “There’s finally another woman in this family. Trust me, it was exhausting keeping this family together by myself.”
“I grew up with just my mother. I don’t know what it takes to hold a family together.”
“Well, you have one now, and you’ll have to learn or they’ll intimidate you.” She chuckled and turned to the two men behind her. “That is Adrian,” she said, pointing to one of them. It was hard to tell which was older. “And that is Ivan, the youngest brother.”
Zia waved at the men. “Hello, nice to meet you.”
Ivan held out a hand to shake her. She shook him, but he took her hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re beautiful. At least my older brother made a good choice.”
Adrian slapped the back of his brother’s head, forcing him to let go of her hand. “Don’t take anything this one does or says to mind. He’s an idiot.”
Zia chuckled. She’d grown up hearing people talk about how much they bickered with their siblings and all. She never knew what that felt like, but seeing the two brothers do that despite their age made her feel like she finally had the one thing she’d been craving all her life.
“I’m sure you’ve met my husband,” Mira said, cutting into her thoughts. “He might not look it, but he has the kindest heart. I promise.”
“I agree with you. He was very welcoming.”
Zia had expected him to be super grumpy and all, but he hadn’t. He was nice to her and asked her to feel at home. That was more than she’d hoped for and she was grateful.
“Surprising.” Mira beamed with a smile as she looked at her husband and gave him a thumbs up. She returned her focus to Zia. “I would introduce you to my twin daughters, but they’re asleep. I promise to do that next time we meet.”
“I would be excited to meet them next time.”
“They’ll be excited to meet their aunty. I must warn you, though, they can be a load of trouble when they like you.”
Zia grinned despite the burning at the back of her throat. She was an aunty. She had family members to meet and a sister-in-law. For the first time in her life, she was no longer completely alone. She was part of a family now.
Her eyes watered as she struggled to hold her happy tears back.
