Page 49 of Fractured Empire

“I hope so.” I swallow, silently reminding myself that I also lost my mother while young, and that one tragedy won’t hurt him for his entire life. My boys are strong, even if they shouldn’t have to be yet. “I can take you up to your room, if you want? It’s right next to Linus and Adela’s suite. I put all of you on the same floor, to keep you the most comfortable.”

“Should you really be taking the bride to bed before saying your vows?”

Katya jumps, spinning around with a huff as soon as the question is drawled.

“Stop. Doing. That!” she hisses, lifting her purse to smack the man’s arm with it.

“Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride the night before the wedding?” Ares Gabris asks, lifting his eyebrows while addressing his stepsister. He didn’t flinch when she hit him. In fact, I think it made him smile.

“I think it’s bad luck to give the bride a heart attack the night before her wedding as well,” she retorts hotly. “And don’t imply that Leon meant anything other than to show me where I’m meant to be. He’s been a perfect gentleman, and I won’t have you putting words in his mouth simply to entertain yourself.”

“Someone is feisty today.” Ares chuckles, lifting his hands in mock defense. Looking toward me, he asks, “I’m assuming Nico, Matteo, and Remo are at the lounge bar? Shall I see myself there?”

“Matteo is with his fiancée in their room, but I’m sure if you text him, he’ll come down to say hello.”

“So, Nico and Remo?”

“You know where you’ll find them,” I confirm his suspicions.

Nico almost always needs a drink when he’s surrounded by people, even if those people are family. And Remo feels the need to babysit him so that he doesn’t worry about his twin getting into trouble all night.

“We have dinner in an hour,” Katya tells him quickly as he starts to scurry off.

“I’m sure Father will send someone to find me if I forget.”

“Oh jeez,” she mutters under her breath, watching him swagger toward the elevators. “Sorry about him.”

“Don’t be.” I shrug. “Let’s get you up to your suite so you have time to settle in.”

“Yeah,” she agrees with a breath. “Thank you.”

I should be the one thanking her.

Chapter Twenty-One

Katya

My suite is way too large for my needs, but undeniably beautiful. The luxury set of rooms is clearly meant for more than one guest, with a common living room area, a small kitchenette, and two king bedrooms and spa-sized bathrooms. The closet space is more than enough to fit my things when the staff brings them up, and my chosen wedding gown has its very own section to hang.

My mother and stepfather’s suite is right across from mine, and I imagine it’s the same setup, which would give Gaia her own space within it. Having them so close is a detail that Leon certainly got right. I do feel safer having my family nearby, and even Ares will be down the hall. When he eventually decides to leave the bar lounge, that is.

Getting ready for dinner is more nerve-racking than I expect it to be. My quick conversation with Leon provided several minutes of comfort and reassurances, but the feeling didn’t linger once I found myself alone. I want to make a good impression, even though I’ve already met everyone attending the meal. This isn’t a big Moretti family dinner where formal introductions are going to be made and all eyes are going to be on me. It’s an intimate meeting of the direct families who are going to be joined tomorrow. Leon and his boys, and my little family only.

I want it to go well, but I can’t control the unexpected. So I take control of the only thing I can—my appearance. I make sure that the flight and the car ride here hasn’t completely destroyed the soft styled waves in my hair, and touch up my makeup to an obsessive degree. There’s not a hair out of place, or a lipgloss smudge in sight by the time Gaia comes banging on my door to demand I escort her down to dinner.

She changed into one of the many dresses she packed for the trip, a pale blue Bouffant-style dress that ends before her ankles. Her favorite kind of dress, since it allows her shoes to also be seen. Her matching ballet flats are brand new, and of course, a gift from her father. The silky blue ties are wrapped into bows around her little ankles, and of course she’s wearing blue-accented jewelry to complement her outfit.

Sometimes I think my little sister dresses better than I do.

I changed into a dress of my own, of course, but Gaia actually picked it out at the store. The white lace that clings to my frame looks a bit like a wedding reception dress. It hugs my hips but hangs naturally around my thighs and just barely reaches the floor, covering my feet. It’s sophisticated, classy, and fitted, but not uncomfortably tight, meaning I should be able to eat without any issues.

“Wow,” a little voice sounds. It’s the first thing we’re met with when we walk into the room that Leon gave us directions to. “You look like a princess,” Leo declares, coming over to meet us at the door with an astonished gaze.

Gaia lets go of my hand and turns her head to look up at me with smug satisfaction. “I told you.”

I sigh at her in response before smiling down at the small boy. “Thank you very much, Leo. You look like a little prince yourself.”

“We matching Daddy,” he declares with a delighted grin.