Olivia POV
Two days after the alliance ceremony disguised as a family rite, Claudia and I had Emma, the alpha daughter of Alpha Hermes of Ravencrest, over to the Palace for coffee and cake. Iris and Jordan joined us, and we laughed over the Lunaris Gazette’s description of the event as we sat in the east parlor overlooking the garden.
“Good friend of Luna Olivia, Beta Trudy, had much to say and proclaimed it one of the most moving Grand Rites she had ever attended,” I read aloud while my hot coffee steamed at my elbow.
“Beta Trudy is your good friend?” Jordan asked with her eyes wide. “You should have invited her to tea.”
I laughed. “I imagine she and I have met as many times as she’s attended Grand Rites.”
“It can be quite wondrous the number of good friends one acquires without hav
