The room was buzzing with chatter as Galter escorted her in and stayed near the door, the other five guards who’d come along with them standing out in the hallway. Kit gave him a questioning look, but the temporary commander did not falter, so she proceeded as if she weren’t being watched like a hawk.
Cassius noticed her first, which wasn’t surprising. As usual, he was in the middle of a story. He abruptly stopped speaking and bowed his head, causing his audience to turn and do the same.
“Oh, please!” Kit said, waving them off with one hand. “Don’t be so silly! It’s only me—not the queen.”
“Still, we should show you the same respect,” Cassius insisted, leading the way to her side. He took her hand and kissed it. “How do you fare? Did you get enough rest?”
