The transition from the holy silence of the cathedral to the high octane pulse of Paradeplatz was a blur of flashing lights and armored motorcades. The reception venue was a monolith of Swiss banking architecture, a limestone fortress transformed into a palace of crystalline opulence for the night. As Kai and Elea stepped out of the limousine, the damp chill of the Zurich evening was replaced by the sudden, overwhelming warmth of a thousand heaters and the scent of expensive champagne.
"Welcome to the lions' den, Darling," Kai whispered, his hand resting firmly on the small of her back.
Elea tightened her grip on her bouquet, the white silk of her dress rustling against the red carpet. "It is beautiful, Kai. But I wonder how many of these guests are here for the champagne and how many
