He inclined his head.
“How do I stop it?”
“As always, that’s slightly more complex than simply identifying what you’re dealing with. With doppelgängers, in particular, if you attack them, it can be felt or shared with the original person.”
“I could hurt Sailor.”
“Possibly.”
I leaned back and let out a long sigh.
Aidan looked up from the page. “You okay?”
“It’s just... I have a wedding to plan. Also, I haven’t found my dress yet—in fact, I was supposed to preview an estate sale this afternoon, but instead I’m getting chased by doppelgängers and lugging my high-as-a-kite familiar around. Also, my fiancé is in lockup. I guess I’m feeling the pressure.”
“Not to mention the prophecy and the threat to San Francisco posed by Renee.”
I sneezed. “Yeah, that, too. Also, I think I’m getting a cold. I’ve never gotten one in my life.”
He gave me an odd look. “Are you feeling any other ill effects? Besides the sneezing?”
“Just tired. And I’m sort of stuffed up.”
“So your sense of smell has been affected?”
“A little.”
“That could be significant. You often sense things through scent, don’t you?”
I nodded. “So, back to the doppelgänger. If he’s an omen of”—I cleared my throat—“of Sailor’s death, then does it make sense that if I find a way to kill him without hurting Sailor, then Sailor will be okay?”
“Possibly. But if heisn’ta doppelgänger, thenyou’llbe the one sitting in jail facing murder charges.”
“Something in what you read rings a bell... ,” I said, reaching out and taking the book from Aidan. I skimmed over what he had read aloud. “Yes! Right here, it says the Egyptians call their versionkaka. Tristan Dupree saidkakato me just last night.”
“You sure he wasn’t swearing at you?”
“At the time, I thought he was trying to say ‘cake.’ He ended up talking about cupcakes.”
“There’s a lot of that going around. Speaking of which, how did Oscar get ahold of Renee’s cupcakes?”
“She sent a box over.”
“Interesting.”
“Interesting how?”
“It sounds to me like an invitation. Which reminds me, I’m going to guess I’ve fallen off the guest list. I haven’t received a formal invitation to your nuptials. Unless...” His blue eyes flickered down to my bare hands. “Dare I hope you’ve come to your senses?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I was never out of my senses. I lent my ring to Patience to help her distinguish between the real and fake Sailors. But to get back to your question, would you come to our handfasting?”
“Of course I would come.”
“Despite the fact that you dislike the idea so intensely.”
He looked at me for a very long moment. “I’ve made no bones about the fact that I think your involvement with Sailor is a bad idea. A terrible idea, in fact. I think you will be diminished by the relationship. And I had hoped for something different for you. For us.”
“Us?”
