I growled under my breath. “What else?”
General Bowman had been the source of tension and competition between the sisters their entire lives. Even though I hadn’t known Sasha as long as Volten had known Ariana, I understood this fundamental rot of their family.
Tivek looked between me and Volten, “Did Ariana say specifically what about their father caused the argument?”
Volten’s face pinched. “She won’t say. It’s too upsetting for her to talk about. But she’s heartbroken that Sasha took his side over hers and accused her of being jealous.”
I frowned, genuinely confused. This didn’t sound like the Sasha who’d been overjoyed to reconnect with her sister and who’d spoken with such regret about their years of competition and distance. What had changed? What had happened while I’d been sleeping?
The need to find Sasha and get answers became even more urgent.
Before I could leave to track down my fake fiancée, Serge bustled up to our group with a clipboard, trailed by a camera crew that seemed to be ever present.
“I need to talk to Sasha before we start the rehearsal,” I said told him
“Out of the question!” Serge snapped, then flashed a bright smile at the cameras. “She’s in the back with her father, waiting to rehearse walking down the aisle. It’s terrible luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony rehearsal begins.”
He produced a small wireless microphone and began pinning it to my lapel. “We’re about to broadcast live to Earth, so say nothing you don’t want heard around the galaxy.”
I gulped and clamped my mouth shut, suddenly aware that every word, every expression, every gesture was being transmitted to billions of viewers. I’d have to wait until after the rehearsal to talk to Sasha, to find out what had driven a wedge between her and Ariana, and to discover what scheme she was undoubtedly planning.
It wasn’t lost on me that I was about to rehearse a wedding ceremony while having no idea what my supposed bride was up to. If this were what genuine marriages were like, I wasn’t sure how anyone survived them.
Chapter
Forty-Seven
Sasha
Istood in the stark white corridor outside the holographic ceremony suite, my palms sweating despite the perfectly controlled climate. The ivory cocktail dress felt uncomfortably tight, and my heart hammered against my ribs as I tried to convince myself I was doing the right thing.
Ariana stood nearby, but she might as well have been on another planet. She kept her gaze fixed on the double doors leading into the holographic ceremony room and her back to me.
“Ariana,” I started, but she cut me off with a sharp shake of her head.
“We should talk later, when you’re not about to rehearse your wedding,” she said, her voice carefully controlled. “This isn’t the time or place.”
The formality in her tone was worse than if she’d screamed at me. This was my sister reverting to the polite stranger she’d beenfor years before our reunion, and I knew I’d done this to us with my cruel accusation the night before.
“Do you still want me to be your maid of honor?” she asked quietly, and the fact that she had to ask made me feel sick.
“Of course I do,” I said immediately.
She nodded coldly. “I guess it’s too late to get someone else to fit the dress. Besides, it wouldn’t look great on TV if you had no attendant, would it?”
The words hit like barbs lodging in my skin. She was only staying in the wedding out of obligation and because it was too late to make changes. I suppose I couldn’t blame her. Not after the things I’d said.
“I’ll see you inside,” she said, and disappeared through the doorway into the ceremony space.
I could have kicked myself for not making things right with her earlier, but I’d been so preoccupied with planning how to confront my father and with trying to avoid Deklyn so I wouldn’t lose focus. Was Ariana yet another thing I was sacrificing to get my revenge?
“Sasha!” Reina’s voice pulled me from my self-recrimination. She rushed up, her blue hair swaying with each hurried step, and pressed the bouquet into my hands.
“The mic is hidden in the flowers,” she whispered, her eyes bright and unblinking.
I stared down at the perfect arrangement of white orchids and tropical blooms, suddenly understanding why it felt so heavy. “Are we broadcasting the rehearsal?”
Reina bobbed her head. “I planted the idea in Serge’s head that the production company should make it a two-night special. Tonight they’re airing all the footage of the wedding planning and the live rehearsal. Tomorrow will be the live ceremony and reception.”
