The echoes of Queen Elena's departure had barely faded when the boisterous laughter of Kaelix's cousins and Eirik's brothers filled the halls. The atmosphere shifted in an instant, transforming from quiet anticipation to lively excitement. Kaelix barely had time to collect his thoughts before he found himself surrounded by them, their mischievous grins making his heart race for entirely different reasons.
"Kaelix, are you ready?" Darren asked, his voice dripping with mock seriousness as he clapped a firm hand on Kaelix's shoulder. "Tonight's the big night! Don't mess it up."
Before Kaelix could even form a response, he felt the ground disappear beneath him. A yelp escaped his lips as his feet left the floor, hoisted into the air like a victorious champion. "Hey! Put me down!" he protested, but his words held no weight against their collective laughter. His cousins and brothers-in-law only grinned wider, clearly enjoying their game.
