ARIANNE POV
The grand hall was alive with music, laughter, and the hum of conversations. Chandeliers sparkled above us, their light catching on the gilded edges of the long banquet tables, laden with dishes fit for royalty. The walls echoed with the sound of joy—the kind of joy I hadn't felt in years. This was my family's way of celebrating my grand return, and it was as overwhelming as it was heartwarming.
I adjusted Raven on my lap, keeping one hand firmly around his waist while the other snatched his tiny fist mid-air. "No, you don't," I said firmly, stopping him from launching another grape across the table. His mischievous grin reminded me of Ravenna, though the boy's unruly black curls were entirely his own.
Raven whined in my arms just as Rhea reached forward and started making faces at him sending him into a fit of laughter.
