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"That's enough," Mia hissed, and Frankie could have sworn that her friend's eyes started glowing.
"Sorry." Margo let go of Tom and smiled sheepishly. "It's just that no one has ever gone to so much trouble for me."
Frankie lifted her margarita and examined the remaining liquid for residual sediment.
Who could have drugged her while she was with her friends, and why?
She shook her head after briefly scanning the room and not seeing anyone shady. "I need to find out what kind of tequila they use in these margaritas. It must have been exceptionally potent."
Kian
After ending the call with Toven, Kian returned to the living room and sat next to Syssi on the couch.
Across from them, Amanda looked like she'd run her fingers through her hair too many times. The short strands stood up like little antennae, making her look like an anime character.
Still, despite her disheveled appearance, Kian knew that she was having the time of her life planning the ten cruise ceremonies. If their mother's favorite thing was presiding over weddings, Amanda's was planning them.
The truth was that Kian had gotten caught up in the excitement as well. It was a pleasant distraction from worrying about the Eternal King, the future of everyone Kian loved, and the fate of Earth and its entire population.
He still wasn't sure whether he wanted to warn Navuh as Annani had suggested. He very much doubted that their archenemy would decide to join them just because they had a mutual enemy much more powerful than either faction could defend against, and they needed to combine forces.
Perhaps once Aru got concrete instructions on how to proceed, there would be something to tell the clan's archenemy.
"Can we make the cruise a day longer?" Amanda asked.
"Why?"
"I'm trying to convince Sari and David to have their wedding ceremony on this cruise, too. It would be perfect if all three of us got married in the same week, but we don't have any dates left, and none of us want a shared ceremony. Unless I can convince one of the other couples to give up their date, I can't even nag Sari about it."
Kian cast her an apologetic look. "I hired the crew for those specific dates, and I know for a fact that they can't stay for another day. I was lucky to secure the dates on such short notice."
"I'm pretty sure that Kri and Michael will not mind waiting," Syssi said. "They are still so young, and the only reason Kri jumped on the idea was because all the other head Guardians are getting married on the cruise, and she didn't want to be the only one left out."
Amanda grimaced. "She's shopping for a wedding dress, so I know she's committed. She will give up her spot for Sari, but it wouldn't be fair. "
"Carol and Lokan would probably have liked to get married too." Syssi leaned her head on his shoulder. “They have so few opportunities to celebrate with the family."
Kian rubbed his hand over her exposed arm. "Perhaps some of the couples wouldn't mind a double wedding."
"Mey and Jin are close." Amanda tapped a finger on her lower lip. "Maybe they wouldn't mind a shared ceremony."
Syssi chuckled. "I think you will have more luck with Wonder and Callie."
"You might be right." Amanda sighed. "I'll make the calls tomorrow. The thing is, Sari is not at all eager to join Alena and me in seafaring nuptials. She wants to have her wedding in the castle with all her people. I told her it's silly since most of them are coming and will be there anyway, but I think it's a matter of pride with her. She is the all-important European regent, and it's beneath her to get married at the same time as her sisters."
Kian shook his head. "It's not about pride. I think her people would not like her to have her wedding on my turf so to speak. If she doesn't want to get married on the cruise, don't pressure her to do it. We have enough drama going on as it is."
He still hadn't told them about Mia's friends.
Amanda frowned. "You mean the three gods?"
He nodded. "I'm apprehensive about them meeting Mother."
Syssi turned to him. "Why? You had Edna probe them and Andrew verify their answers. Luckily, they weren't immune to our best methods of interrogation."
"True, and it gave me some peace of mind, but Aru refused to let Edna probe him, which worries me. He said that the secrets he keeps have nothing to do with us, but still. He might have told only a partial truth. Andrew's lie detection ability is not infallible."
Syssi seemed offended on her brother's behalf. "Andrew is never wrong. When he's not sure whether someone is telling the truth, he admits it."
