“Every day and twice on Sunday,” Gabriel said with exaggerated patience.
“Well, now I’m going to make it four times on Sunday!” And with that not particularly terrifying threat, Evangeline flounced off.
Kelly glanced over at Calder again, and he caught her eye and held up his glass in a mock toast. Then he strolled over to them, much to Gabriel’s obvious annoyance. All the teenage girls standing under the tree giggled behind their hands and called out, “Hey, Calder!” He ignored them.
“Hello,” he said to Kelly. “Since no one else is likely to introduce us, I’m Calder. Apparently you’re going to marry my brother. I’m not sure if I should offer my congratulations or condolences.” Then he gave Gabriel a calculating glance. “No, I’m pretty sure which one it is.”
“Why wouldn’t anyone introduce us?” she asked, puzzled. “You’re Gabriel’s twin brother, aren’t you?”
Calder glanced at Gabriel with cold amusement. “I’m considered the black sheep of the family. You’ll have to get the details from Gabriel.”
Black sheep of the family? She looked at him speculatively. Gabriel’s father was still on probation, his mother had done a brief stint in prison for boosting a diamond necklace, most of Gabriel’s immediately family had either done time or were suspects in active cases…
What could Calder possibly have done that was even worse?
“Did you kill kittens and make them into earmuffs? Rob a widows and orphans fund?”
“Even worse, if you’re a Kingsley.” He reached out and plucked a long blonde wig hair from her shoulder. Then he smiled at her. “I heard how you impersonated Pandora. Well done.”
“Are you flirting with my bride-to-be?” Gabriel scowled at his brother.
“Why not?” Calder scoffed. “She could certainly do worse. Oh wait, she already has.”
Smoke billowed from Gabriel’s nostrils and scales covered his skin. His eyes turned red and his pupils narrowed to black, reptilian vertical slits.
Calder went red and scaly too. “Any time, brother,” he snapped, and black claws curved from his fingertips.
“How about now?” Gabriel growled. “It’s been a long time coming.”
“Gabriel, stop that at once! Not at the celebration party!” His mother laid a commanding hand on his arm. She glanced over at Kelly. “I need to introduce you two to someone. Come with me,now.” And she hustled them away without a backward glance at Calder.
“You two should eat,” she said, gesturing towards a banquet table. “I’ll just leave you two lovebirds alone.” And she wandered off again.
“She’s running interference,” Gabriel said. “She called me over before to warn me that Pandora and her family are here, and they are pissed.” He grinned at that. “She’s trying to keep them on the other side of the field.”
“Or you could just let Pandora come over here and, I don’t know, marry her. No? Fine. What did Calder do that is actually worse than thieving?” Kelly asked.
He grimaced. “I’m afraid it’s something we don’t talk about in this family,” he said.
She shrugged impatiently. She wasn’t investigating Calder for anything, so it wasn’t any of her business.
“Fine, here’s something that I do need to talk about. My sister Teresa got arrested at the fair a little while ago. I need to bail her out.”
Gabriel waved at Winthrop, who hurried over.
“Yes, sir, what do you need? An alibi, a getaway car?”
“Isn’t he hilarious?” Gabriel said to Kelly. “I don’t know what we’d do without him. I’d love to find out, though. Winthrop, Kelly’s sister Teresa needs bail posted.”
Winthrop nodded, his expression resigned. “Of course. Sounds like she’ll fit right in here.” He spoke with a faintly British accent, which was common for both dragons and their servants. Most of them had originated in Great Britain, and they tended to retain their accents and their traditions down through the generations.
As they talked, Gabriel led Kelly towards the table his mother had pointed out to them.
“Actually, unlike you guys, Teresa is not a criminal,” Kelly said. A nagging, whining, goody-two-shoes, sure, but definitely not a criminal. Teresa had been voted “Class Snitch” back in ninth grade – and had thought her classmates meant it as a compliment.
“She was unfairly arrested,” Kelly continued, sinking down into the chair. “She didn’t do anything wrong.” Teresa never did anything wrong – the constipated little twit.
“Exactlylike us,” Gabriel said, gesturing at her to take a seat when they reached the table. “Unfairly maligned. Arrested for crimes she didn’t commit. She could practically be a Kingsley. Isn’t that right, Winthrop?”
