Page 127 of Tragic Empire

“What are sisters for?” She grins. “God, I’ve been waiting to call you that for ages. It feels amazing, doesn’t it? You try it.”

“You’re the best sister a girl could ask for, Jade,” I tell her seriously.

“Stop, I’m going to cry,” she croaks. Shaking off the emotion, she threads our hands together. “Room tour, first. We can cry another time.”

I quickly agree and allow her to sweep me away.

The room she brings me to is, in fact, huge. It’s mostly bare bones, aside from a large king bed, frame, vanity, and dressers, all matching in design. The floors are dark hardwood, and the walls are a warm gray.

The walk-in closet and the bathroom are both oversized too. I’m definitely thinking of all the lovely things Cassio can do to me in the deep soaker tub, and the rain shower looks immaculate as well.

Several Moretti brothers come in and out, dropping off boxes as their sister chatters on, showing me the place.

“You can paint or change anything you want,” Jade finishes, flopping down onto the unmade bed.

“I can’t believe we get to live together,” I say excitedly, dropping down by her side. “And this house… It’s a bit magical, isn’t it?”

“Definitely. I adore it here,” she agrees, biting her bottom lip. “Though, Dmitri and I are talking about building our own place. It would be on the same property, of course. Just a short walk in the back.”

Surprised, my brows lift. “Really?”

Nodding shyly, she explains, “We’re going to want more kids, and even though this place is huge, it might start to feel crowded in a year or so.”

“Wedding planning and house construction,” I comment, grinning wide. “Look at you, Ms. Domestic.”

Jade shrugs, grinning. “Guilty as charged.”

A throat clears and we look down the bed, finding way more boxes than before. Cassio and Apollo are watching us, a fond smile on my husband’s face.

“Having fun?” he asks.

“Loads,” I answer, smiling playfully.

“That’s the last one,” Apollo reports, setting it down and nodding. “I’ll see you all at dinner.”

“Thank you for the help.” I’m barely able to get the polite words out before he leaves. Turning to Jade with a huff, I ask, “Is he always so…”

“Prickly and aloof?” she guesses. “Yeah, that’s our Apollo. You’ll come to love it, and learn how to force bonding time with him. He’s not mean, just a little impersonal and distant sometimes.”

Understandable. I’m not exactly warm and fuzzy all the time either.

“I need a shower,” Cassio says suddenly, dipping his head down to kiss the side of my neck. “Join me?”

“Fat chance!” Jade exclaims, scoffing. “She’s mine now, bucko. You’ve had her for months.”

I giggle, looking up at him. “I think she just told you to piss off, Husband.”

“How utterly impolite,” he sulks.

“You’ll get over it,” Jade says matter-of-factly, crossing her arms. “Be gone, dear brother of mine. We have catching up to do.”

“Gossip to share, you mean?”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

Leaving Cassio to shower in our new ensuite, Jade and I head back downstairs and start chatting about anything and everything.

I fill her in on all that went down with Bron. She tells me Cesar and Isobella are eating some soft foods now, but they bothhatepea purée. We talk about the orphanage, and getting Leo to Leon and Cleo. She asks about Sirius and how things are with Cassio.