Page 65 of I Dated a Retired Hero

The prefect smiled. “They like date night. They are not going straight home. Torene has some plans.”

Amber looked in the same direction the prefect was looking, and there was a lovely woman with long brown hair, a pretty dress, and astonishing upper equipage. The other woman next to her was moving protectively as they talked to someone else over puff pastries.

The prefect nodded and smiled at Litha. “Please excuse us. I want to introduce your sister to Khytten.”

Litha smiled. “That is a sensible idea as long as she doesn’t have an aversion to people milk.”

The prefect kept a hand behind Amber’s back and steered her through the crowd. Those that were bumped just smiled and got out of the way. The power of pierogis. The mood was very mellow.

Amber met the woman who was only slightly taller than she was but far more... adult.

“Hello.”

“Salmet, did you make a new friend? Adopting?”

Amber sighed. “I am twenty-two, physically.”

Khytten smiled. “Adult adoption. That is how Nelith became the grandma on my side to our little ones. Technically, my adopted mother.”

The prefect paused. “That is a thought. I have a full house; Khytten has two adopted already.”

Amber said softly, “Please stop. I don’t need to know why it’s a bad idea.”

Khytten paused. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of your situation. Heck. I was in your situation. Are all members of your family petite?”

She grimaced. “I am Litha’s older sister and Kiska’s aunt.”

Khytten’s eyes widened. “Oh. Wow.”

“Yeah, their storage method had some side effects.” She sighed. “Your mother-in-law brought me by to meet you. Do you know why?”

Khytten stared at her. “Oh, yeah. I have managed to help other actives regain their missing height.”

“And she made my son and the good doctor taller as well.”

Khytten smiled. “Come by tomorrow, and we will work out a course of treatment.”

Amber nodded, but her soul froze. “Yes, of course.”

The prefect smiled. “All solved.”

Amber nodded and looked around. Litha was talking with Sergei, and there was a sweet expression on her face. He looked toward her and beckoned to her, so she walked over.

Litha started with, “Feel free to say no.”

“Noted.”

Sergei smiled. “We want to dance for our guests, and your music is so beautifully haunting, we wondered if you would play while we performed.”

Amber smiled. “Of course.”

They named the piece, and she followed them to the barn with the polished floor where the doors were opened wide, and she had one assignment. She was to show their dance, flaws and all.

They kicked Ekron off his little spot by the barn door, and Amber manifested her violin while they got their pointe shoes on. Seeing Sergei having fun with it made Amber’s heart warm. Like Litha, he preferred dance to breaking heads. It was a good characteristic.

The moon was up, and as Amber began to play, the moonlight wrapped around the couple and shot off in bright ribbons. They began to move, twist, and leap, and Amber wrapped starlight and moonlight ribbons around them and sent them out to the crowd.

Sergei was shirtless and wearing wide-legged, flowing trousers. He handled Litha easily, and she trusted his hands on her.

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