Elena stretches her arms overhead, and the hem of her shirt rides up, exposing a sliver of tanned skin.
“Alright, I need to walk off this lunch before I explode. Or commit another felony.” She pushes back from the table and stands, eyeing the sprawling mansion around her. “This place is like Versailles and Dracula’s castle had a baby.”
Arseny stands, rolling his sleeves back with a lazy grin. “Want a tour?”
Elena arches a brow. “Oh? And what’s on the tour? Dungeons? Torture chambers? Se—”
“Elena!” Bella laughs, flicking a bread crust at her. It bounces off Elena’s forehead, and the kids dissolve into giggles. I almost laugh, too, but the sound dies in my throat.
Elena rubs her forehead dramatically, eyes twinkling as she looks at Bella.
“Ow. Assault by bread crust. That’s a new low, Bella.”
Bella shakes her head, rolling her eyes. “And you deserved it.”
Elena lifts her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I was going to sayskeletons. You know, the kind that rattle in closets.”
“I could show you a few hidden corners. Might even have a secret passage or two.” Arseny steps closer.
Elena cocks her head, pretending to ponder it. “Hmm. Hidden corners. Skeletons. Sounds like my kind of party.”
Bella throws another bread crust, and this time, Elena dodges, hands up, laughing. “Hey! That was unprovoked!”
Bella snorts. “Consider it a warning shot.”
Arseny trails after her, looking both enthralled and like he’s about to pass out.
They’re going to fuck in my guest wing. It’s as obvious as a neon sign. I can practically see Arseny mentally calculating thefastest route to the east bedroom suite. Four minutes, if they take the service staircase. Not that I’m timing them.
The kids finish eating with the urgency of wild animals at a feast. Plates clatter as they push away from the table, practically sprinting toward the pool.
“Swimming!” Lev shouts, grabbing Julian by the wrist and dragging him along.
“Cannonball contest!” Nikolai bellows, darting ahead.
“I want to wear the purple swimsuit today,” Alya announces, grabbing Lila’s hand. “The one with the sparkles.”
“Race you to the pool house,” Lila challenges with a grin. “Last one there has to wear the ugly flamingo floaties.”
“No fair! Your legs are longer!” Alya protests, but she’s already pulling Lila toward the door, both of them giggling.
Lila and Alya run after the boys, their laughter trailing behind like bells.
My fierce, independent daughter—who trusts no one—is clinging to Bella’s sister like she’s found a long-lost friend.
When did this happen? When did my orderly household transform into this… family?
The word sits uncomfortably in my mind. Family. Not duty, not legacy, not empire.
Family.
A real one.
And just as Alya reaches the doorway, she stops, turning back to us. “Mommy! Do you want to swim with us?”
My jaw locks. Did she just…?
Mommy…
