Page 58 of Fractured Empire

“Dat’s good,” he declares happily. “But if you have nightmares, you can borrow my teddy. Daddy got him, so him’s a sec-cure-it-tea teddy.”

Oh my God, how am I going to speak with this boy every day without passing away from cuteness overload?

“You have a piano in your other room,” Bastian suddenly says, providing the piece of information too casually for such a surprising statement.

“I do?” I ask, almost choking in genuine shock.

“Uh-huh!” Leo claps his hands together. “Daddy buyed it.”

“I—” Leon bought me a piano?

I’m about to ask them to show me into the next room, when a familiar face steps into our current one, looking positively blissful.

“Rain-uh, look!” Leo bounces over to her side in an instant, pointing at me. “Kat!”

“I see that,” Rayna tells him enthusiastically. The typically beautiful woman is somehow glowing today, like she’s just come from a spa, or maybe from bed with a very generous husband. “Have you been being a good boy, helping Katya get settled in?”

“Best boy,” he corrects, puffing his little chest out proudly.

“Oh, yes of course. You and Bastian are my best boys, aren’t you?”

“Yep,” Leo agrees. “And baby Vaughn.”

“Can’t forget baby Vaughn, can we?”

“Never,” the little blonde boy confirms.

“How was your trip?” Rayna asks, ruffling Leo’s hair playfully as she turns her attention my way. “You got here a little early so I imagine the flight was smooth?”

“Thankfully,” I agree with a relieved smile. “There was a storm last night so I was a little worried that it would delay me today, but the skies were clear and the flight was swift. The drive here was fast too. It must be handy having a private airstrip so close by for when you need it.”

“Mmm,” she hums in agreement. “But not too close by that it ruins the atmosphere of the area. We have an airport close back home too, another private area for the family planes. It’s nice that the house still feels secluded enough to be surrounded by nature. It makes it feel cozier than a city, you know?”

“Definitely,” I confirm. “I’m looking forward to the comfort of it. There aren’t very many people who would describe any part of Florida as cozy.”

Rayna laughs, nodding. “I think the humidity might do me in, if we lived there.”

“I’d like to say that you get used to it, but you don’t.”

“I figured as much.” Turning her gaze back down to her nephews, she offers them both a loving look. “Have you two been showing Katya her new home?”

Leo nods, triumphantly. “Yes, she says they’re perfect.”

“They’re very nice rooms,” Rayna agrees. Giving me a sly look, she adds, “And don’t worry, it’s a brand new mattress. Leon didn’t want you to worry about sleeping on the same bed after Apollo and I.”

My eyes widen at her implication and she winks.

Leo scrunches up his little nose, not understanding. “Why would Kat worry about her bed? Daddy always checks for monsters.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Rayna snaps her fingers, pretending to remember the fact Leo has provided. “We’ll have to remind your daddy to visit Katya’s bed every night and check for monsters for her, won’t we?”

I almost swallow my tongue.

“Good idea.” Leo hums, committing the suggestion to memory.

“We still have to show her her piano,” Bastian speaks up, saving me from becoming a blushing, stammering mess.

“Well, we should go show her then, shouldn’t we? It’ll give your daddy and uncle some space to bring up her bags. I believe they’re right behind me.”