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Rhyn realized they’d arrived at the entrance to the Zhaal’s quarters.

“So is that a yes?” he asked hopefully as he backed away.

“It’s a maybe. Now go before I have you arrested.”

He snapped a salute.

“Yes, General Solarun.”

She had to bite the inside of her mouth to keep from smiling.

When she entered the royal bedroom, the first thing she saw was Kara throwing a shoe across the room.

“There’s no way I’m wearing these. They’re a meter high.”

Daa’sten threw his hands up in exasperation.

“But my dear, think how good they will look. You won’t be so tiny compared to your groom.”

“I don’t care. I need to walk, don’t I? I’ll break my neck in these things.”

“Talk some sense to her, General Solarun. The heels are perfectly manageable and they set off the dress beautifully.”

He held out the offending footwear and Ela saw the sole and heel had been built up considerably to raise Kara off the ground. She shrugged dismissively.

“The Zhaal has never been concerned about Kara’s lack of height,” she said. “There is nothing to be gained by pretending she is taller than she is. Find other shoes.”

Daa’sten gave up.

“Fine. I have more here somewhere.”

He marched off to search in the next room and Kara smiled gratefully.

“Thank you. If I’d worn those I would have gotten a nose-bleed. Now, what do you think of the dress?”

Ela took a moment to answer. The dress was, of course, astonishing.

Daa’sten had heard Kara’s descriptions of Earth wedding dresses and completely ignored them. Instead he’d put her in a glittering silver gown which fell from a strapless bodice into a rippling train that spread across the ground like a lustrous pond.

When Ela looked closely, she saw the bodice was made up of hundreds of thousands of iridescent crystals that must have been hand-sewn. Even the slightest movement made her shimmer. Yes, Daa’sten had outdone himself. It was quite possibly the most beautiful dress he’d ever created.

But it was Kara that made it shine.

Ela wasn’t a fan of human physiology. She thought them too smooth, too small, too fragile. No scales, no claws – how they survived was a mystery. But looking at Kara now, she almost understood why Vahn loved her.

She glowed.

Her face was joyful, her eyes sparkled, and her mouth was curved into an infectious smile. It was hard not to smile back. Ela just about managed.

“You look fine. Vahn will approve.”

“Oh,Vahnwill approve, will he? What about you?” Kara nudged her. “What doyouthink?”

“My thoughts are not important.”

“Actually, they are. You’re his oldest friend. He cares what you think. That meansIcare what you think.”

His friend.Ela’s heart twisted. That was all she’d ever be now.