Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Her Forgiveness

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."

Derek let Kira’s hand slip from his without protest, though his eyes followed her for a moment longer than strictly necessary.

Nana steered Kira off through the crowd. They had not gone far when Flora came hurrying up, her face bright.

"Your Highness!" She laughed. "Congratulations. Truly. You looked like something out of a dream up there."

Kira’s whole face softened. Flora opened her arms, and Kira stepped straight into them, and the two women hugged warmly.

"I’m so glad you’re both here," Kira said, pulling back.

"So is Maya." Flora’s eyes dropped fondly to the girl still attached to Kira’s hand.

"I have to tell you, she’s been so much brighter since we came. She smiles more. I haven’t seen her like this in the longest time. Whatever it is you do, Your Highness, it’s good for her."

Kira squeezed Maya’s hand gently, and the girl looked at her with those quiet, knowing eyes.

Nana reached over and patted Maya’s shoulder.

"She’s a lovely girl, this one. A real treasure." She gave the child an encouraging little nudge.

"Now then, sweetheart, why don’t you go along with your grandma for a bit? Your queen has some very dull grown-up greetings to get through, and I promise you it is nowhere near as fun as it looks."

Maya hesitated, glancing up at Kira.

"Go on," Kira said softly, smiling down at her. "I’ll be right here. I’m not going anywhere."

Maya gave a small nod and finally, reluctantly, released her hand and went to Flora, who took the girl’s fingers and led her away into the crowd.

Nana led Kira onward, toward a cluster of the elite women of Dravengard gathered near the side of the hall. As they approached, the women turned and bowed as one.

"Your Highness."

Kira inclined her head with a warm smile, greeting them one by one. And then her gaze caught a familiar face near the back of the group.

Cherry. The beta’s wife from Snow Crest.

The woman who had once looked down her nose at the wolfless girl. She would not meet Kira’s gaze now, her eyes fixed firmly on the floor, her cheeks coloured with something that looked a great deal like shame.

Kira smiled to herself.

"Cherry," she said pleasantly, as though nothing at all had ever passed between them. "It’s lovely to see you again."

Cherry’s head came up in surprise. "Your... Your Highness." She dipped into another quick bow.

Luna Cassie came forward then and pulled Kira into a warm hug.

"Look at you," Luna Cassie beamed, holding Kira at arm’s length to admire her. "A crown suits you far better than it has any right to. How are you holding up? Is your head spinning yet?"

"Completely," Kira admitted with a laugh, and the two of them fell easily into conversation.

She was just beginning to relax when three men approached.

Three Alphas, broad-shouldered and well-dressed, wearing the kind of careful smiles that men wear when they want something. Kira recognised them at once.

These three. The very ones who had kicked up such an almighty fuss at the fundraiser, the night Derek had failed to show and left her standing alone to face their outrage.

"Your Highness." The first one bowed deeply. "Congratulations. The kingdom is fortunate to have you."

Kira accepted the praise graciously, exchanged a few polite words, and was just about to excuse herself when one of them stepped smoothly into her path, politely.

"Forgive us, Your Highness. We were hoping for just a moment of your time."

Kira raised an eyebrow.

"A moment?" she said lightly. "Whatever for? Surely you don’t want another public apology out of me. I rather thought we settled all that."

The three of them shook their heads quickly, and then, to her bewilderment, they began to shower her with praise.

Her mercy, they said. Her kindness. Word of it had spread through the whole of the West, they told her.

You’re not my type of woman, he had said, only last night, in that cold voice that had cut deeper than she let on.

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