Page 58 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“If you dance with me, I will consider that your public pledge.”

“Oh, you meandance. Okay. I think I have an outfit that will get the idea across.”

“Accepted.”

She hugged him back and went to her closet, pulling out the white dress studded with clear gems. It was spectacular and would be easy to dance in.

He looked at it and nodded. “I can get something to compliment it. It will be an excellent celebration.”

“Are you going to hop back to Erradia and swipe something?”

He wagged his eyebrows. “Yes.”

She snorted. “I may have to remake this ring into something less melty.”

“Acceptable.”

“Fine. Go and commit petty crime.” She swatted his butt lightly, and he barked a laugh, disappearing in stars and darkness.

She walked down to the main floor, and Calina and her sibling were working with the command of battlefield generals. There were folks in white uniforms moving around her kitchen and hauling things outside. “Morning, Calina.”

Sergei’s mother came over, kissed her cheek, and shrieked in happiness over the ring. Calina’s sister came over and grinned, introducing herself as Nadia and then called out, “Irina, come here. They are engaged.”

Irina grinned and wiped her hands. She looked to be in her early forties. “Thank goodness. This day would be strange if they weren’t.”

Litha suddenly put it together. “We are getting married.”

Irina chuckled. “He didn’t tell you.”

“He did not. Wait. You are Dmitri’s mother. Sergei’s aunt.”

“Yes, now back to the wedding.”

They bustled her out to her gazebo, where a small table with lemonade and small sandwiches had been set up.

The rank of five industrial grills made her eyes widen. Klauz was there in his whites, ordering his team around.

When she looked at him and waved, he smiled and walked over. “So, you have figured out that you are having a wedding?”

“I have. Um, thank you for coming.”

“This is fun. You had all the materials here, so my team just had to make the salads and sides. This is a lovely place, by the way. You must find it very calming.”

“I did.” She laughed. “I will again. Oh, there is the troublemaker that stirred this up.”

Sergei came toward them, and Klauz muttered, “Damn. You two side by side will be blinding.” His eye flickered, and he chuckled. “Kritz is urgently trying to finish his paperwork. He wants to speak to both of you.”

Feral walked in behind Sergei, and her new bodysuit with the flippy skirt looked like semi-formalwear. Sergei came up to the gazebo and took a seat. “I put the costume in my room.”

“Good. We are having a wedding.”

“Yes. I decided that since all of your people were here, it was a good idea to do it, and then, we can sort out everything else.”

She smiled. “You are correct.” She got up and walked to Feral. “Hello, little girl. How are you doing?”

“Good. My heat is over, and the charges have been dropped once the list from the Uraddan refugee centre was brought forward. All of my targets were on it.”

Litha hugged her, and Feral chuckled. “Glad that you and Sergei are getting along.”

---