The ceremony had melted into celebration, and the great hall was alive with it.
Derek and Kira moved through the crowd together, greeting guest after guest, accepting bows and congratulations.
Waiters drifted between the clusters of finery with golden trays of drinks held high. People chatted and laughed, raising their glasses to toast the new King and Queen.
Maya had not let go of Kira's hand once.
The girl stayed glued to her side through every introduction, tagging along wherever Kira went, her small fingers wrapped tight around the new queen's.
Kira did not mind in the slightest. If anything, the warmth of that hand in hers was the only thing keeping her own nerves from rattling clean out of her skin.
"Right, that is quite enough of that." Nana appeared at her elbow, and promptly began prising Kira away from Derek's side.
"You've had her to yourself long enough, Drek. The women want to meet their queen now."
