Page 45 of Fractured Empire

Patronization is not something a six-year-old should be able to master, and yet…

I scoff and she giggles.

“You’ll have to remember to mind your manners,” Mom points out softly, still smiling despite herself. “We’ll be meeting Katya’s new family and they may not understand your humor yet, little love.”

“You should be especially nice to Leo and Bastian,” I add in quickly, tone serious. “You don’t need to be their friend if you don’t wish to be, but they only recently lost their mother so playing tricks on them would not be appropriate, okay?”

Face morphing into an expression of seriousness, Gaia nods. “I won’t joke or tease them. We should find gifts for them though, shouldn’t we, Daddy? Since we’re going to be family now?”

My shoulders relax, and I hadn’t even noticed them going tense. Gaia is a sweet girl, but she can be sarcastic and rude without meaning to. She gets her sense of humor from Ares, I think. And we all understand that she means no harm, but if she hurt Leo or Bastian’s feelings, that wouldn’t be good at all.

Linus nods at his daughter. “That’s a lovely idea, my girl.”

“Yes,” I agree with a relieved smile. “We can pick them out something together.”

My sister nods. “When we get our dresses, we can look.”

“And Mom?” I ask, turning my attention back to her. “Would you want to be my maid of honor and stand by my side?”

She sucks in a small breath, her hands shooting up to hold her heart. “O-of course I would, Katya. If you want me by your side, I would be honored to stand with you.”

I swallow down the sting of knowing that in another life, Chloe may have been my first choice for a maid of honor. We’d always jokingly discussed it when we were younger, but now, it’s not an option. Still, having my mother with me isn’t a consolation prize or anything. I think I always would have asked her to be a bridesmaid or to fill another equally as important role.

Gaia gasps with happiness. “Mama, our dresses should match color!”

“Perhaps you can pick out matching ties in that color for Ares and your father,” I suggest lightly. “So everyone knows that we’re a family.”

“Oh. My. Gosh. YES.” Gaia immediately starts planning, chattering to our mother about possible options when I find Linus’ gaze.

“I’d like you to walk me down the aisle,” I tell him before I can lose my nerve. “You may not be my father by blood, but you’re the leader of our family, and I wouldn’t be here without you.”

The shock that comes over him can’t be hidden or quickly shaken off. His eyes widen and his lips part, surprise hitting him too fast to be concealed and smothered by cool, unfazed emotion.

“You want me to give you away?”

The soft disbelief in his voice makes my heart clench.

“If you want to,” I confirm, swallowing nervously. “I would have you escort me down the aisle, and Ares sitting in the front row waiting for Gaia to finish tossing flower petals. We would be united as a family, and it would make me happy to see that.”

My stepfather nods seriously. “I’d be happy to give you away, Katya. You’re a very important member of my family and I wouldn’t have anyone think otherwise.”

“Okay,” I reply, clearing a thick emotion from my throat with a small cough. “It’s settled then.”

“Can we go dress shopping now?” Gaia asks, the question coming out more like an enthusiastic demand. She leaves no room for being denied when she knows what she wants, and I can’t fault her for it.

I lift an eyebrow at her, trying to look stern rather than amused. “Maybe you can let me finish my breakfast and go get dressed to leave the house before you pull me into a full day of searching for gowns?”

She sighs, loud and drawn out. “I suppose if you must be difficult about it. I’m going to get ready, though. I’m going to wear my new shoes.”

The fact that she still gets excited about new shoes despite being spoiled with a new pair at least monthly by her father is almost endearing.

“Remember not to rush, love,” Mom tells her, smiling. “We want to savor this week for as long as we can.”

“Sure,” Gaia says with a shrug. “But I’m excited to meet Katya’s new extra family. Ares says there are three hundred of them!”

Her dad snorts and my eyes widen. “There are not three hundred of them,” I tell her with a huff. “They are a big family, but not that big.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Lifting her chin, my little sister dismisses herself from the table and skips out of the room without another word.