Kai finally excused himself from the group with a polite nod and spread his arms wide as Kira turned toward him.
She walked straight into them and then pulled back and poked him in the ribs with two fingers.
"Ow," Kai said, looking delighted. "Hello to you too, Your Highness."
"You took forever," she told him.
"We were coming as fast as Nana's dignity would allow."
He wrapped his arms around her properly and she went, squeezing him back with more force than he expected. "There she is," he said quietly, more gently. "You alright, Sunshine?"
"I'm better now," she said against his shoulder. Then, "You came. You actually came."
"Of course I came." His voice returned to its usual register, light and easy. "You think I'd miss watching you boss around a room full of Alphas? Not a chance."
She pulled back and looked at him. "Have you seen Derek?"
Something moved across Kai's face, quick and carefully handled. "Something came up. He had to deal with it."
