Gregori and Savannah carried their babies into the center of the room. The crowd erupted with joy, the walls expanding as though they couldn't contain so much happiness. Razvan wrapped his arm around Ivory's waist and held her close.
"Everyone will pledge to love and support those children," Ivory said, remembering the ceremony from her childhood. "All of us are expected to educate, love and become family to them so that should anything happen to their parents, they will not feel alone in the world." She brushed a kiss along the side of his face. "More children for you."
He flicked her a promise of retaliation at the laughter in her voice. "We will have to have at least ten more."
Ivory sucked in her breath and scowled at him. She didn't know the first thing about babies-give her a sword every time.
Razvan made a little snorting sound and even the wolves stirred as if they were laughing.
Gregori handed his daughter to the prince. The baby seemed impossibly tiny to Ivory, but she had all her fingers and toes and a head of thick, dark hair-and she was alive. Her head turned and her eyes met Ivory's. There was awareness there. Ivory's throat tightened more.
"Who names this child?" Mikhail asked.
"Her father," Gregori answered.
"Her mother," Savannah proclaimed.
"Her people," the entire crowd chanted back.
"I name you Anastasia Daratrazanoff," Mikhail said. "Born in battle, crowned with love. Who will accept the offer of the Carpathian people to love and raise our daughter?"
"Her parents, with gratitude," Savannah and Gregori answered formally.
The second infant was handed to Mikhail with great care. She was visibly smaller and a little more fragile, with the same head of dark hair. She, too, looked at Ivory as Mikhail held her high in the air for the Carpathian people to see. Elation swept through the room at the sight of the small baby, an almost electric excitement that had tears swimming in Ivory's eyes. She smiled at the baby and was shocked when the infant smiled back.
"Who names this child?" Mikhail asked.
"Her father," Gregori answered. His voice sounded choked, as if he could barely get the words past the lump in his throat.
"His mother," Savannah replied, cuddling little Anastasia protectively against her body.
"Her people," every man, woman and child in the room proclaimed in unison.
"I name you Anya Daratrazanoff," Mikhail announced. "Born in battle, crowned with love. Who will accept the offer of the Carpathian people to love and raise our daughter?"
"Her parents, with gratitude." Gregori and Savannah accepted the tremendous honor and duty together.
The crowd erupted into singing and chanting, joy filling the ceremonial chamber. Laughter broke out. Ivory caught sight of Travis hugging Falcon. He looked happy and carefree. She found herself smiling right along with the rest of them.
"I suppose we should swear allegiance to the prince," she whispered.
"I suppose," Razvan agreed, "but not now. Now, I want to take you home and start on those ten children we are going to have."
Ivory laughed and placed her hand in his. She doubted the ten children thing was ever going to happen, but she certainly had no objections to the trying.