Chapter 207

Julian

The staff had done an amazing job of decorating the main hall. I had seen all of their efforts before I had come up to get Cassie and now I couldn't wait for her to see as well. It was breathtaking down there but nowhere near as breathtaking as she was.

I had never, ever in my life seen anyone so stunning as my wife looked tonight.

"I should check on the boys." She mumbled as we walked towards the stairs. Her hand was sweaty in mine. I tightened my grip on her. She wanted to run away and hide. Pretend she wasn't the queen she was but I wasn't going to let that happen.

She deserved this moment. It would finally mean she felt like the queen she was.

"The boys are fine. Fast asleep and their nanny is watching over them." I flexed my fingers around her hand. "Deep breath Cassie, you can do this." I didn't take my eyes from her face.

And as mesmerising as she was, I could see how nervous she was.

"I can hear-" she swallowed hard, her throat bobbing. "How many people are down there?" With her other hand she gripped the balustrade. Her knuckles turned white.

"A few hundred. Just the closest of the court, a few dignitaries from other packs and paranormal communities and-"

I watched it happen in slow motion. The way she shook herself , drew her courage around her and straightened her spine.

Lifting her chin and blinking once she nodded. "Best get this over and done with then, hey."

Her voice was shaky but determined. Grinning, I drew her hand up to my lips and kissed it. "What just happened?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I had to have a swift talk to myself. Just don't let go of me ok? I don't want to stumble and fall."

Drawing her hand into the crook of my arm I started down the stairs. "I will never let you go." I whispered as we turned the corner of the stairs and hundreds of expectant faces lifted to watch us descend.

Cassie hesitated, her cheeks flaming pinks.

"You're doing great. Just follow my lead." Slowly I made my way down , stopping three steps from the bottom I waited until the hubbub of voices died down before I spoke.

"Friends, esteemed guests." My voice rose. "Thank you for coming here tonight. As many of you know I'm not one for big elaborate speeches. So I'll keep this short because she doesn't need any elaborate speeches. I would like to introduce to you my wife, the mother of my children and my ma-" I paused as I caught sight of someone in the crowd and completely lost my train of thought. Recovering quickly I turned to Cassie. I bowed low and kissed the back of her hand , which trembled in mine. "My queen, our queen." I turned her into the crowd. "Cassie."

A smattering of polite applause went up and the entire time Cassie stood stiff at my side.

"Go and enjoy yourselves now." I shooed the crowd away , watching them move through the wide hallways towards where the party would actually be held.

"Doing ok?" I whispered out of the corner of my mouth. A smile pulling up my lips.

"Was that it?" Cassie's voice shook

"For now, but we will have to do the rounds. It'll be over before you know it and then we can dance the night away. Just- oh." I stiffened and leading her down the last few steps, moved to intercede the man who was striding towards me. I had only ever seen him in photos but I knew everything about him.

"Welcome." Hand over my heart I bowed my head to him. "To my home, lord of the -"

By my side Cassie let out a gasp. Loosening her grip she rushed towards the young woman at the panther lords side. A pretty woman with chocolate brown curls and soft eyes in a hard face.

"Yanna." Sweeping the woman up, my wife sobbed. "I can't believe it's you."

Awkwardly the guest stared at me.

"Cassie, this is-" trying to detangle my wife I paused. She had greeted the woman by name. Not her given name but the name I had been told her closest friends used.

"Do you two know each other?" I asked evenly.

"No." Yanna said quickly, stepping back behind her father who was scowling at me. "But it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance your highness." She dropped into a small curtsy. "And to receive such a warm welcome from your beautiful queen as well."

"Oh." Cassie sounded confused. Pain rippled through her eyes. There and gone again in a blink of an eyes. "Forgive me, I thought for a second you were someone I knew. A friend from my other life."

Yannas eyes widened and then a flashy wide smile split her face.  "I would very much like to be a friend, queen Cassie. I think we would be very good friends indeed."

Cassie didn't even hesitate. Looping her arm through the young woman's she laughed. "I think we will be the best of friends." She threw a glance over her shoulder at me and I nodded. She was a natural at this. And her taking the daughter away to talk gave me a chance to speak to the father and try to figure out a trade deal before we had to go to the party properly.

One thing niggled at me though, the way they were so easy around each other. Like they were indeed old friends and maybe they were but why would they hide it? If they knew each other why wouldn't they say? It didn't make any sense but my wife had been excited to see her. Yanna had been startled by the hug.

Two totally different reactions.

And what had Cassie said?

That Yanna looked like someone she knew from her old life.

But what old life? The one she'd had before we were married?

Or the one she'd lived in her own head when she was in the coma?