Cairistiona patted her on the arm. “As Kiara said, think only of the male you love and the fact that from this day forward, you two will always belong to each other. Forget everyone else in the room. This is between the two of you and it is sacred.”

Sumi saw the sadness in her eyes as she spoke. Poor Cairistiona that she’d never been allowed to marry the one man she loved. While her heart would always belong to Nykyrian’s father, her life and service would be forever tied to the Andarion nation.

Reaching out, she hugged the queen. “Thank you. For everything.”

Cairistiona smiled. “It is my pleasure. I owe your male much for protecting both my sons. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him or you. And know that we’ll guard and spoil Kalea blind until the morning, when you two emerge.”

Laughing, she released her. “I know you will.” Kalea was already looking forward to spending the night in a real palace as a real princess. She’d been telling everyone about it for days.

A light knock sounded on the door.

At the queen’s nod, a guard opened it to admit Dancer’s mother. Her stern features softened as she saw Sumi. While she still wasn’t warm, she’d become much nicer to them both after she’d learned the truth about Dariana and her marriage with Keris.

And once she’d faced the fact that Dancer hadn’t cut the rope that killed his brother. Not that it would have mattered. The drugs Pera had given Keris to take on Dancer’s Endurance had been laced with a slow-acting poison that would have killed him before he returned with Dancer, anyway.

It was why Dariana had cremated the body and told them that Dancer had left Keris in the desert.

Guilt-ridden over how she’d treated Dancer, his mother had even testified against Dariana, during her trial and sentencing.

Clearing her throat, Endine stopped by Sumi’s side and handed her a small box. “This is for you to give to Dancer tonight.”

Sumi frowned as she took it from her hands and opened it to find a signet ring that bore the War Hauk crest.

“It is the ring that belonged to the first Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. And it is the wedding band that has been worn by the father of the direct line ever since. Ferral’s time has passed and now the lineage and title will be carried by our youngest son and you… and by your children until they each marry. Then it is to go to the one who carries our title forward.”

Sumi was confused. “I thought this wasn’t conferred until the birth of our first child.”