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The consul had already started with the formalities when Josiah slid the paper to Bekah. He didn’t know her middle name or if she’d changed her name legally after her marriage.

She carefully printedRebekah Betlinde Vogelthen signed the same. She hesitated before checking the widowed box.

Bekah was partially named for Princess Betlinde of Øyanord? Interesting. Her parents, especially her father, had been friends with the princess growing up - close enough to be trusted to raise Princess Betlinde’s daughter - so it made sense in a way.

“Do you, Prince Josiah Quatremaine of Eyjania take...” The consul looked at the paper. “Rebekah Vogel to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward...”

Josiah tuned out more than he should have but managed to mutter his “I do” at the right time.

A minute later, Bekah said the same. Two minutes after that, they were done.

“You are now legally married,” the consul told him as he signed the document with a flourish.

“Good. Let’s get out of here. Can we hop a boat or something? I know we don’t have a plane standing by.”

“Actually, your brother already arranged for a private jet to be waiting at the airport. A car is ready outside.”

“What about our luggage?” Bekah asked as she finally stood up.

“It will be sent to you in Akushla.” The consul ushered them out the door. “Don’t wait. Get out of here.”

Josiah wondered if the man knew more than he was saying. Benjamin clearly didn’t want him to stay, but why?

What could be going on that Josiah and Bekah didn’t already know about?

He wouldn’t get any answers at the moment.

And in less than thirty minutes, they were airborne, leaving Athmetis behind.

Fifteen minutes after they took off, Josiah turned to Bekah, seated in one of the other captain’s chairs.

“I think it’s probably time we talk about this.”

She nodded slowly. “Yes. We probably should. And how soon we can get a divorce.”

* * *

Rebekah Betlinde Vogelhad never changed her last name.

Not when she first got married, though she’d planned on it. She just hadn’t gotten around to it when Ian was killed in a car accident. Then there didn’t seem like much point.

Until the pregnancy test came back positive.

She still hadn’t made it to the... Bureau of Names or wherever it was you were supposed to go to change your name when the time came to fly to Athmetis for a conference and long-overdue vacation.

And now she was remarried.

Temporarily.

Because this couldn’t be real.

But without even looking around her life had changed. The butter-soft leather seats on a plane smaller than her not-very-big bedroom - give or take - was enough to tell her she wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

Or even southwest Missouri.

“Divorced?” Joe’s voice sounded confused, but Bekah didn’t look up to see if his expression matched.

“Annulled? Whatever we need to do to get this fixed as soon as possible.”