Chapter 72

• Seventy two
• I stepped down from the vehicle, my hand gripping Alpha Rafe's firm arm for balance. As my feet touched the cobblestones, a roar of cheers erupted from the massive crowd filling the bubbly town square. I gasped, shocked by the sheer number of people who had turned out. Crimson kingdom banners flapped in the breeze as men, women and children craned their necks to catch a glimpse of us.
• "They're here for you, for all of you," Rafe said close to my ear. His warm breath sent a shiver down my spine despite the summer heat. "The people want to see their future Queen."