Page 103 of Viper’s Reign

“What?” Dimitri nudges my shoulder with his. “What’s got you smiling like that?”

“Nothing. I’m glad to be here.”

His eyes twinkle as his lips curve into a smile. “Me too.”

As dinner continues, the conversation shifts to Melani’s mom, who couldn’t join us tonight because the pastry shop she recently opened had a last-minute event she couldn’t miss. Apparently, she sometimes rents it out for private functions.

Affection lights Melani’s face as she talks about her mother, and for a moment, I find myself wondering what having one would feel like. Sonya seems wonderful, and Melani’s mom sounds great too. My heart pangs. At least Millie knows why her mother abandoned her. I have nothing.

When the second course arrives, Mira starts talking about the exhibition she held a week ago, which captures my interest. She’s a ceramicist, and when she speaks about her work, her entire face lights up. It’s obvious how much she loves what she does.

“The clients loved the pieces. They sold out in minutes. Minutes!” she says with a grin so infectious I can’t help grinning back.

“Do you have pictures of your pieces?” I ask, genuinely curious to see them.

“Of course.”

She passes me her phone, and I gasp at the first picture in the slide. It’s not the rustic clay pieces I expected, but three round candle jars in softly blended shades of gold, green, blush pink, and muted lavender, their surfaces resembling marbled watercolor.

“This is stunning,” I breathe, and Dimitri leans over my shoulder for a look.

Before long, everyone else wants to see too, and Mira’s phone begins making its way around the table. They all murmur their admiration, and I glance at Mira, whose face is flushed.

“I don’t know why they’re acting like they didn’t already see it at the exhibition,” she mutters, picking at the tablecloth, though the pleased smile tugging at her lips gives her away.

“They’re just proud of you.” I grin at her. “You said they all sold out? I’d love to have a piece.” Millie would go nuts for it as well. She lives for whimsical items like that.

“Actually…” She pauses to take her phone from Ivan. “I didn’t take everything to the gallery. I saved a few for Vanya and Melani. A belated wedding gift.”

“Mira, you already gave us a wedding gift,” Melani protests, though her eyes are bright with excitement.

Mira shrugs. “You deserve extra gifts as a reward for living with this psychopath.” She hikes her thumb at Ivan, who reaches over and gives the back of her head a light swat.

“Shut up.”

A chuckle slips out of me. It’s refreshing seeing them bicker like normal siblings.

“We should go pick them up after dinner.”

After dinner, Mira announces that it’s time to fetch the art pieces. “You might even get one.” She winks at me, and I grin as I get to my feet.

“Can I go with you?” I ask, remembering Dimitri pointing out the house across the street as hers.

“Sure. Wanna come, Mel?”

Melani nods and gets to her feet as well. Ivan follows suit, but his wife levels a look that stops him mid-motion. “For God’s sake, we’re only going across the street. We’ll be fine.”

His lips thin as he retakes his seat. “Boris and Igor are going with you. Don’t argue, or you’re not going.” He cuts off her protest before it forms, and she rolls her eyes.

Dimitri squeezes my hand as I turn to leave, and on impulse, I blow him a kiss. His mouth falls open, his expression going slack with surprise, and I grin the entire way out of the dining room.

Three men are waiting for us outside—one I recognize from Dimitri’s house, two others presumably from Ivan’s. Melani grumbles under her breath, but she doesn’t try to stop them from following us. Mira simply gives them a cheerful little wave, clearly long accustomed to the arrangement.

We cross the street and climb the front steps of a house that looks identical to the one we just left. Mira types in the security code and leads us inside.

The layout might be similar, but the interior decor couldn’t be more different. While Sonya’s home is warm and a little kitschy with its color palette, Mira’s is all soft pastels with contemporary paintings and carefully placed art pieces.

“I’ll be right back,” she says, heading toward the glass staircase.