Osman pressed his hands to his ears dramatically, pacing back and forth near the cottage window. “Seriously? How long do they plan on cheering wildly? It’s been forever!” he complained, sounding both irritated and secretly impressed.

Candice leaned beside him to peek out. Sunlight spilled over the clearing where members of the Ivanov Clan were gathered, laughing, crying, hugging each other. Their cheers rose every few minutes in uneven waves — messy, emotional, but full of ...