Page 52 of I Dated a Retired Hero

She grinned. “I agree.”

The kettle whistled, and they went inside to wait for Sergei and his mother.

When the transport was felt, Litha smiled. “They are here.”

“You can introduce me as Cipher or Kiska.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

“Yeah, I thought so. It’s a lot less clinical.” She followed and hid behind Litha.

They walked outside, and Litha smiled and waved, and then she felt Cipher step out beside her.

Sergei stared. “Holy shit.”

The older woman next to Sergei beamed. “Which one is your love, Sergei?”

He flushed, and he held out his hand. Litha stepped forward and went to stand in front of the woman who still had the long black hair and lovely bronze complexion that she had given to her son. Her eyes were still sparkling green, but she didn’t look a year over fifty.

“Hello, ma’am. I am Litha.”

The woman stepped toward her and cupped her cheeks. Litha blinked and fought the urge to make fish lips. “You are stunning, little star.”

“Um, thank you. My mom was beautiful, and I seemed to have given my daughter those delightfully active genes. Ma’am, this is my daughter, Kiska.”

Kiska waved. “Hello.”

The woman gasped. “Daughter?”

Kiska laughed. “I was lab-grown, and my existence began in Uradda twenty-six years ago.”

“Oh. I have been hearing about that. Dmitri’s new wife was one of those.”

“She was the originator of the eggs.” Kiska smiled. “I have two moms.”

Litha chuckled. “Feral is coming tomorrow for the party.”

Kiska grinned.

Litha got her face free.

Sergei smiled. “My mother’s name is Calina.”

The older woman beamed. “Call me Calina, please, Litha and Kiska. This is very exciting. A daughter and granddaughter in one day.”

Litha stared at Sergei, and he wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning in for a kiss.

The kiss went on and on, and she was leaning up until Sergei flinched and pulled away, “Yes, Ma.”

“We have pierogi to make. Get your ass inside and start dusting the table. Oh, and bring in the samovar.”

Litha blinked and covered her mouth. “What’s a samovar?”

Calina said, “We drink a lot of tea. It keeps the water hot.”

He picked up the ornate object and carried it inside.

Kiska chuckled. “Litha never has a problem with hot water.”

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