The cheers wash over me like a warm tide, wave after wave of joy and celebration that I never dared to dream would be mine.

'They love you,' Selene purrs, her presence a contented warmth in my chest. 'They truly love you.'

I can barely believe it myself.

The ballroom swirls with color and light as Astrein and I move through the crowd, accepting congratulations, embracing well-wishers, raising our glasses in toast after toast. Brian pulls me into a bear hug that lifts my ...