Derek stood in front of the columbarium with Kira beside him. The stone wall held the ashes of his parents, quiet and still under the afternoon light. He rested one hand on the cool surface and remained silent for a moment.
"Right," he said at last. "Mother. Father."
He cleared his throat, and looked sideways at Kira and she dazzled him with a bright smile.
"This is Kira," he said. "My wife. You'd have liked her, which is unfortunate, because she'd have taken your side in everything and I'd never have won an argument in this house again."
Kira laughed under her breath.
"She's carrying my pups. Yes, two of them." He reached over and took her hand. "So you're both grandparents, and you might as well know now that they'll be trouble. Their mother walked into the Shadow King's fortress on purpose."
"Derek."
"They should know what they're dealing with."
Then his voice changed, and the joke went out of it.
