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"Nice to meet you again." Frankie sat in the chair Toven had pulled out for her.
She wanted to shake her head but stifled the impulse, plastering an amiable smile on her face instead.
A god had pulled out a chair for her. His daughter looked like his sister or cousin, and her daughter looked older than her mother.
It would take time to get used to the idea of immortals and gods. She had to remind herself of what Mia and Toven had told her. They were just people; the same things made them happy or sad.
Well, they weren't really gods, right? They were just aliens who lived forever and did what?
Mia hadn't had enough time to tell her. Still, she and Toven had promised to continue their introduction to the alternative world after the welcome dinner.
"Cassandra is sitting over there with my other daughter, Darlene," Geraldine continued with the introductions. "Darlene is mated to Eric, who is Gilbert and Gabi's brother, and they are sitting at the next table over. It's difficult to plan seating arrangements when everyone is related in one way or another." She continued prattling until a hush fell over the rest of the crowd, and everyone turned toward the entrance.
A procession entered, with a tiny glowing figure in the center and four couples escorting her.
The goddess was just as magnificent as Toven and Mia had described, with her luminescence and ethereal beauty clearly otherworldly. The Clan Mother was supposedly ancient, but she looked so deceptively young that it was freaky.
Frankie's eyes were still glued to the goddess when six butlers entered behind the procession. They were dressed in full butler regalia, and two of them were pushing strollers with babies inside of them.
The curious thing was that the butlers looked like sextuplets, nearly identical, but upon closer inspection, she could see the slight differences between them.
The goddess continued to a small podium erected toward the far end of the room, but in the center so everyone could see her, and no one had to stare at her back.
For a moment, Frankie wondered whether the goddess was hiding wings, but unless they were the magical type that disappeared when not in use, neither Tom nor the Clan Mother could fly.
Toven, she reminded herself. He used Tom when dealing with humans.
"Good evening." The goddess lifted her luminous bare arms. "I am overjoyed to have you all here with me. The last time we were all gathered was for Kian and Syssi's wedding, but not everyone was present. We also had a big show of people for Nathalie and Andrew's wedding in the castle, but this time, we will celebrate ten weddings in ten days with nearly all of the clan. The first wedding will be Alena and Orion's, followed by Amanda and Dalhu's." She turned to look at the table where the couples who had escorted her to the dining hall were seated. "We have all been waiting for these two to get married, and they are finally ready."
As everyone clapped and cheered, the goddess smiled fondly at her people. "You've all been given the itinerary of the ten weddings and other events we've organized for this first-ever clan cruise. The itinerary can also be found on the clan's bulletin board, which you can find on your cabin's television or your phones and other devices."
Frankie glanced at the fancy folded page beside her plate, which she'd assumed was the menu. She would look at it later. Right now, she didn't dare to look away from the goddess.
"While we are all gathered here tonight," the Clan Mother continued, "I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you our distinguished guests." She turned toward one of the tables. "Please come forward and introduce yourselves."
As three guests rose to their feet and approached the podium, they bowed low to the goddess.
"It is my pleasure to introduce three gods from our home planet to you." She motioned for them to turn around and face the crowd.
Frankie's heart flipped in her chest. Was that Doug?
He looked so different in a tux, and he didn't glow like the Clan Mother or Toven, but the goddess had introduced him as a god.
"He said he was a god," she murmured. "I thought he was teasing." As the same dizzy feeling from before washed over her again, she tried to fight it, but it was no use, and as darkness consumed her, she felt herself falling.
Dagor
Something was wrong with Frankie. Dagor saw her sliding from her chair, and Toven catching her before she could hit the floor.
Turning around, Dagor hastily bowed to the goddess. "My apologies, Your Highness, but I need to check on that human."
"Go." She dismissed him with a nod toward Frankie.
He sprinted to the god holding Frankie in his arms.
"What happened to her?"
"You," Toven's mate accused. "You call yourself Doug, am I right?"
