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“Well.” I stand up. “This was a good talk. I’m happy you guys were able to awaken your men and go on to plan your respective weddings together.”
“I’m not engaged,” Mirdza says.
“Only a matter of time, I’m sure. But the next time a naked horse shifter shows up when I’m in trouble?”
Mirdza’s face falls.
“Find him another damsel to save. This one can save herself.”
“Speaking of,” my twin says, “Grigoriy says he’s helping you win a race?”
I sigh. “Technically, that’s true.”
“What’s technical about it?”
“Fine. It’s just true,” I say. “I guess I added the word ‘technically’ to feel a little better. I wouldn’t need him, except the horse stupid Nojus bought is lame.”
“And so you’re racing Alexei?” Kristiana arches one eyebrow and meets Mirdza’s eye.
“I know. You raced Aleksandr, and Mirdza competed on Grigoriy, and now you’re positive that if we just prepare for this race together, we’ll realize that we’re meant to be. But guys, I’m telling you, he just told me he deserves to marry a princess, okay? I’m many things, but a princess I am not.”
“You’re better than a princess,” Mirdza says. “You’re fiery and independent.”
I can’t help laughing. “Yes, that’s what I hear all guys want. A girl who’s fiery and independent.”
“These guys aren’t like most guys,” Kristiana says. “They do like that.”
“How lovely,” I say. “I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open for other fiery women who might want to date a displaced Russian czar who can turn into a horse and move lakes around.” I start walking to my room.
“But Adriana,” Kris says.
I turn around, beginning to get a little annoyed. “What now?”
“I love you like a sister. That’s why we lied. We just think you’d be happier if you let people in.”
“People?” I snort. “How many guys were you thinking I’d need? Two? Or are we talking more like five or six?”
Before they can tell me to shut up, the door opens and way too much masculine energy walks through our front door. Aleksandr alone is more than enough, with his brooding looks and his commanding presence, but when Grigoriy shoulders his way through the door as well, I worry about our furniture. He has an even stockier build than Aleks, and he looks ready to pummel something.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
And then Alexei walks through and closes the door.
“Alexei says you’re racing him in three weeks,” Alexander says, looking at me.
“News travels fast around here.”
“I think we should make our plan around that,” Aleks says, “instead of the wedding.”
“Is this about the invites?” Kristiana says. “I told you, it’s going to be better to have five hundred people. Keeping it under seventy-five was too hard anyway.”
“The last two times Leonid has shown up, it’s been at a race,” Aleks says, “when at least one of us was in our horse form. It’s a more solid option than a wedding, and we don’t run the risk of ruining your wedding.”
“My wedding?” Kris’s tone is a little shrill. “Last I checked, it was yours too.”
“You’re the one who has all those things you wanted us to have and do,” Aleks says. “Of course I’m excited. I’m just saying that the planning for the wedding hasn’t been helped by trying to lure Leonid and Boris and Mikhail.”
Mirdza’s nodding at me furiously, until Kris looks her way. Then she stops and smiles.
