Neta put her hand on Kaley’s arm. “You’re going to be late.”
“Right.” A sense of panic ran through Kaley. “My hair! My dress!”
“You’re still perfect,” Neta said. “Let’s go back.” She turned to her two half sisters. “Meet us at the wedding and be nice to Aradella. Understand?!” She did indeed sound like the older sister.
The girls nodded, Bree looking grateful, but Shay was still sulking.
As soon as they were outside, Neta said, “If Aradella’s maids were in on this...”
“That means Olina was behind it.”
Neta picked up her pace. “If we tell the men about this, swords will be drawn.”
Kaley started running. “In my case, it’ll be a pistol and shots fired.”
“Especially since I doubt Tanek has calmed down since finding out what his son did at the Lair.”
“What did he do?”
Neta had a frantic look. “I think we need to keep our mouths shut. About everything.”
“Agreed.” Kaley hesitated. “I don’t mean to be impolite, but those girls don’t look alike.” She was referring to the fact that, when dressed, the young women looked the same, but undressed, they were very different. Shay’s body looked as soft as a feather pillow, while Bree was lean, even muscular.
“Bree and I take after our father. Shay is like her royal mother.”
Kaley couldn’t help a quick up-and-down look at Neta. “Good to know.”
When they reached the palace, Neta flung open a heavy door. “Let’s go get you remarried.”
They ran through the hallways until they reached the Sanction Room. Jobi was standing outside the closed doors. Kaley hadn’t seen him since he’d put her, unconscious, on a ship headed to another planet. She wasn’t sure whether she should be glad to see him or smash him in the face.
“What have you done to yourself?” He sounded horrified. “You look as bad as when you met King Aramus.”
“That was because I’d been running with—”
Neta stepped between them. “She is beautiful.” She smoothed a long strand of Kaley’s hair behind her ears.
Jobi grimaced. “Of course a mother would think that. Graceen! How could you let her run around the streets in her wedding dress?”
Kaley’s eyes widened.
“I’m sorry,” Graceen whispered to Kaley. “I should have told you. I wouldn’t have left you behind on Earth if... if...”
After all that Kaley had experienced, nothing could surprise her. “Let me guess. You were drugged to the point of death then carried back to a spaceship. Been there, had that done to me.” She held up her hand for a fist bump.
Since Graceen had spent time on Earth, she knew how to respond. She bumped back.
Jobi groaned. “We should put some swan feathers in your hair, then Tanek won’t notice the mess you’re in.”
“I’m marrying a blue swan,” Kaley said, “so I need pink feathers. Are there pink swans?”
“Ssssh!” Jobi hissed, then opened the door.
Kaley’s father was standing just inside, ready to walk her down the aisle. Jobi left them to go to the front where he stood under the arch.
A musical instrument started playing an odd version of “Here Comes the Bride.” Graceen lowered her daughter’s veil, andKaley took her father’s arm. But then she stopped and looked at Graceen. “Is Sojee really your father?” Kaley was wearing the Truth Necklace, and it was cool so she knew she wasn’t being lied to, but she wanted to hear it.
“Yes, he is.”
