Page 28 of Fractured Empire

“That’s good to hear,” I reply, not knowing what else to say.

“I hear you speak Bulgarian, too,” Rayna says in the language, changing the topic with a grin. She doesn’t seem to be testing me the way her husband was, but simply excited to have someone to speak to in what must be her native tongue.

I light up a little, hearing her speak so smoothly in a Slavic language. Aside from speaking with my mother, I don’t often hear languages from our part of the world much anymore. Though Bulgarian and Slovak are quite different in several ways, there are shared words and tones. I learned Bulgarian at a young age, and always enjoyed the process. Languages have always come easy to me, and I think it helps that I feel deeply connected to people through conversation.

“I do,” I agree happily.

It doesn’t take long before Rayna and I are chatting about our childhoods. Hers in Bulgaria, and mine in Slovakia. When she asks what I do for fun, I tell her about my piano, and singing. In return, she tells me that she’s a baker, and adores making pastries. Her husband, from what I understand, doesn’t speak the language, and yet he watches her with a smile as if he hears every word. He’s mesmerized by his wife, and I can’t help but envy her for it.

It seems like she has everything she could ever want. A good family, a loving husband, a child of her own, and the freedom to do what she loves while surrounded by support. I can see why little Leo is so fond of her, and I could see us becoming friends in the future, if she wanted to, of course.

“Daddy,” Leo says suddenly, his little voice sounding delighted.

I look away from Rayna, barely withholding a gasp as I see that we’ve been joined by the man himself. He greets both of his sons with soft Italian words and gentle smiles directed at each boy before turning his gaze my way.

“Katya, can I speak with you for a moment?”

My lips part but no reply comes.

“Come on, boys,” Rayna says in a cheerful tone. “I think it’s time for us to find a treat, hmm? Let’s give your daddy a few minutes to speak to our new friend, yes?”

Leo only pouts for a moment before agreeing to follow his aunt. But not before he tosses his tiny arms around my legs and gives me a rushed hug goodbye. My chest is flooded with warmth in an instant, feeling honored to receive such a sweet gesture so soon after meeting the little guy.

Bastian waves as he takes his aunt’s hand, and I wave as well, standing up to put myself closer to his father’s height now that we’re being left alone. I still have to look up to meet the man’s eyes, but it’s not such a dramatic difference.

“Hello, Katya Lukáčová.”

The timber of his greeting makes me shiver.

Chapter Thirteen

Katya

“Hello, Katya Lukáčová.”

“Hello,” I respond, unsure whether I should give him my hand to shake.

Just twitching my hand up causes him to reach for it, but rather than shaking it in greeting, he lifts it higher. My brain short circuits as the man brushes his lips over the top of my knuckles like a lord meeting a maiden in a period romance.

Mouth suddenly dry, I slowly take back my hand as he releases his hold over it smoothly. “I’d introduce myself but you already know my name.”

“I do,” he confirms with a nod. “But I won’t pretend to have known it for long. My father informed me only a few minutes ago. He’s handled most of this process so that I can keep my focus on my sons, whom you’ve just met.”

Nervous tension in my shoulders seems to soften at the mention of them. “They’re lovely boys,” I tell him softly. “You’ve done a great job with them.”

“I can’t take all the credit,” Leon says, though he seems pleased by the compliment. “They have plenty of good role models around them, helping me.”

I nod in agreement, trying not to fidget. “I can tell.”

“They need more than good role models, though,” he begins, his tone becoming more serious. He steps closer, the proximity meant to keep our conversation private but intimidating me all the same. “They need a mother.”

“O-oh?”

He dips his head, watching me carefully.

My lips are suddenly dry, but I don’t dare lick them.

“I know you’ve likely heard mixed things about my relationship with my departed wife, but Cleo was a good mother to our children. She refused to let them be deprived of growing up without a mother’s love, and made me promise to find someone worthy of them and to marry that someone.”