Page 7 of Savage Empire

“Buonanotte,Jaja,” Leo replies in a shy voice.

“Ugh, my ovaries,” Jade gushes. “I have to go before I decide to have another one of these precious creatures. I’ll see you all in the morning!” She practically floats away from us, a dreamy look sparkling in her eyes.

Once she disappears entirely, Leon sizes the two of us up. “Apollo’s guests, huh?”

There’s amusement in his tone, but it’s not truly curious. Something tells me he’s already spoken to his brother, just like Jade has. How many people has Apollo yapped about us to already?

“Not really,” I grumble, fists clenching.

“Leon Moretti,” Yordan finally says, snapping out of his stupor and sounding mystified. “Dude, you’re a legend.”

The blonde man chuckles, shifting his son on his hip to extend a hand. “That’s a new one. Just Leon is fine, and you are?”

My brother greedily accepts his shake, reporting his name proudly. “Yordan Todorov. And this is my sister Rayna.”

Noting the way I don’t reach for his hand, he doesn’t offer it.

“Good to meet you, Yordan,” he says with a nod. “Come on, I’ll get you both settled.” His head tips to one side gesturing toward our path away from the wedding.

Yordan follows the man’s lead without hesitation. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Leon shrugs. “Todorov,tova e bulgarsko ime, nali?”

This is a Bulgarian name, isn’t it?

My spine snaps straight. He speaks our language with such a natural accent and expertise—like he’s spoken it for years upon years.

“Da,” Yordan replies, lighting up even more. Switching to Bulgarian, he adds, “You speak very well. How many languages do you know?”

“Just the three. Italian, English, and Bulgarian. It seems random, yes?”

Yordan chuckles. “Yeah, it’s not exactly the most common language to learn. Most people go for Spanish, or French.”

Leon smiles, blue eyes twinkling. “Well, once upon a time I had quite the crush on a Bulgarian nanny my father used to employ. I believe I was eight, and so smitten that I was fluent before my tenth birthday.”

Why is that adorable?

“So you’re a romantic?” I muse, the question leaves me so naturally I couldn’t stop it if I tried.

What. The. Fuck.

I never talk to strangers like this. I put on a cold and aloof face and I don’t shed it. Ever.

“Once upon a time,” he says, the previous enthusiasm in his voice dying. Seems like I shouldn’t have asked.Great.

Approaching an old but well-maintained brick building, Leon nods to the men stationed outside. This place is surrounded like Fort-fucking-Knox, and half of the family is stillenjoying the wedding reception, so they aren’t even here yet. I wonder why this building in particular was chosen. Perhaps since it seems to be the closest lodging location to the planes.

I obviously never attended Empire Academy as a student, not with my family’s sordid history and my inability to leave Yordan at a vulnerable young age. But having looked around while working, I can see why Jade chose to be married here. Its scenic qualities are undeniable, and it has a sort of dark charm weaved into every inch of the island.

“Follow me, I’ll get you both some clothes to change into. Unless you have your own luggage here? I could send someone to find it.”

I withhold a snort. Luggage? Not likely.

Working events for the Casa Nostra catering company means we arrive with the clothes on our back and a burner phone in our pockets. Nothing more, nothing less.

“No luggage,” Yordan says regretfully, looking down at himself and gesturing to his damp clothes. “Just these awful uniforms and mine is still…well, wet.”

“Not an issue, I’ll get you sorted. Having two toddlers means I consistently over-pack. Gotta have extra clothes for when they inevitably make a mess on the ones you’re wearing.”