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“Well? You were gone almost an hour and a half. It shouldn’t take that long to break off a fake engagement.” Her sister pounced as soon as Kismet entered their suite.

“We didn’t break it off. We’re getting married tomorrow morning as planned.

” She’d fully expected to return to Earth.

That’s what they’d decided—until they talked a little more, and they realized that Cosmic Mates might be the answer to his dilemma.

Why not help him out? When would she ever get a chance to see, let alone live on, an alien world again?

“What? You’re kidding!”

“Nope. How’d you like to be my maid of honor?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Okay, I thought I’d ask you first, but I’ll try to find someone else.”

“This is serious, and you’re making jokes.”

“And you’re making too much out of this.”

“Marrying Jaryk is a bad idea.”

“You’re giving me whiplash. This whole thing was your idea.”

“It wasn’t my best one,” Karma said.

Holding up her hand, Kismet inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Don’t say any more. I want to savor this moment of you admitting you were wrong about something.”

“I didn’t say I was wrong, I said joining Cosmic Mates wasn’t my best idea.”

“Now you’ve spoiled it,” she quipped, and then turned serious.

“You’ve always urged me to step out of my comfort zone.

Well, this is it! When will I have a chance to visit—let alone live on—an alien planet again?

Jaryk and I had a very nice conversation.

We have a lot in common.” Like annoying siblings.

“For an alien, he’s rather down-to-earth, excuse the pun. ”

She wouldn’t be marrying for love, but she would have friendship and respect, and a girl could hope, couldn’t she?

She liked the prince. He was engaging, well-spoken, handsome, and honest about his intentions and aspirations.

Her heart might get broken, but wasn’t that the risk in any relationship?

If she left at the end of a year, she’d at least have a fantastic story to tell her future grandchildren. Grandma once married an alien prince.

“His brother is a jerk!” Karma said.

“I’m not marrying the brother. If you want to go home, you can. Jaryk will arrange for it.”

“And leave you here alone? No way!”

“I don’t want you to stay just because of me.”

“I’m not.” Her twin sighed. “Seeing an alien world is the opportunity of a lifetime. You’re right about that.”

“What was that?”

“Visiting another planet—”

“No, about me being right.”

“Ha-ha.” Karma twisted her mouth.

Kismet grinned.

* * * *

“This is as good as it’s going to get.” She peered at herself in a three-way full-length mirror.

She wore the ivory dress she’d brought for the wedding—a tea-length skirt with a fitted bodice and long sleeves.

The boat neck left most of her shoulders bare.

For the wedding, she’d kept her hair down but pinned to one side with a silver barrette.

“You look beautiful,” Karma said. “Here, I got you something.” She held out a light-pink pendant on a silver chain. “It’s rose quartz—it opens the heart and brings love into your life.”

“You’re not flip-flopping on me again, are you? You’re making me dizzy.”

“You’re my twin—the other half of the fertilized embryo. If you’re determined to do this, then I’m going to support you all the way.”

She held her hair up, and Karma put the necklace on her. Kismet turned around and hugged her. “I love you. Thank you for being with me.”

“I love you, too. I wish Mom could have been here for your wedding.”

“Me, too. But I’m sure she’ll be at the next one.

” She had to remain realistic and not get caught up in the fantasy of marrying an alien prince.

This was no fairy tale. It was a temporary marriage of convenience, a fake relationship to help the prince avoid an unwanted match.

No hearts, no flowers, no romance. Friendship. Respect. Maybe a little adventure.

Karma blinked. “I bet most brides don’t say that.”

“You’re right,” Kismet said.

“What was that?” Her sister grinned.

“You heard me. I’m not going to repeat it.” She chuckled, regarding her twin with affection. “You look very nice. Almost sedate.”

“I didn’t want to outshine the bride.”

Karma wore a sleeveless periwinkle dress with a handkerchief hem. Instead of her usual Birkenstocks, she’d donned a pair of matching ballet slippers.

The chime rang.

“That must be our escort.” Her stomach fluttered with sudden nerves. I can do this.

The same liveried aide who’d picked them up at the spaceport was outside. “If you’re ready…” he said.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

The aide moved like a man on a mission, briskly weaving through the palace. The halls were so vacant and silent, she could hear her dress swish . Her heels clicked on the ornate floor, although she tried to step quietly.

“Where will the wedding be held?” she inquired.

“In one of the libraries,” he replied.

One? “How many libraries are there?”

“Five. The king has a personal library, and then there are four others.”

“I’m guessing the wedding isn’t in the king’s library.”

“That is correct.”

Jaryk had shared that the king and queen would not be informed of the marriage until it was a done deal. “I wish for you to be fully apprised of the situation,” he’d said. “I will be marrying against my father’s wishes. If he learns of the wedding beforehand, he will try to stop it.”

That had caused her no small bit of trepidation.

The king would be predisposed to dislike her before he even met her!

However, thwarting the monarch’s wishes was the whole point of the marriage—from Jaryk’s perspective, anyway.

He had assured her she would be unlikely to cross paths with either of his parents very often.

Given the enormity of the sprawling palace, she could see how that would be true.

Would she ever learn her way around? It would be easy to get lost. Like their escort seemed to be.

She wasn’t sure, but it felt like they were moving in circles, often reversing direction like their escort didn’t know his way around. She hoped she wouldn’t be late for her own wedding!

The halls were surprisingly vacant; they hadn’t encountered any of the ubiquitous servants.

The aide turned down yet another corridor. Hadn’t they gone down this one before? The artwork looked vaguely familiar. At the far end, two uniformed Kaldorans emerged from a room. The aide abruptly turned around, almost bumping into her. “My apologies. We can’t go this way.”

“Are you trying to avoid people?”

“My instructions were to get you to the library without being seen,” he admitted.

“It’s like you and the prince are eloping—you’re sneaking off to get married,” Kismet whispered.

That was exactly what it felt like.

Finally, they entered a wide majestic passage, and the aide headed for two towering, bejeweled doors. Her stomach clenched. This is it. The big moment. Would her groom be waiting? Or would she be the first to arrive?

The doors swung open. Jaryk stood there, handsome and regal in an embroidered bronze tunic complementing his blue hair. Lighter-blue cosmetic stripes accented his cheeks. Relief flashed in his eyes. “I began to worry you’d changed your mind.”

“No,” she said.

“My apologies, Your Highness. It took longer to get here than I anticipated,” the escort explained.

He retreated from the room, and the doors closed. The “library” housed no bound volumes. Instead, a bank of futuristic chairs sat in front of computer screens, and another set of chairs faced a hologram theater.

“Both principals are here; let us begin,” said a six-armed alien with a mass of writhing antennae atop its head.

To Jaryk’s left stood a stony-faced Falkor. What’s wrong with him? His expression hardened further when he flicked a glance at Karma.

Her sister compressed her lips like she tasted something sour.

Oh, for goodness’ sake! What is it with these two? They were acting like squabbling kids.

She rolled her eyes and met Jaryk’s amused expression. Her mouth quirked with answering humor, and her nervousness receded a tad. They were compatible and would be good for each other.

“Who stands in support of this couple?” asked the officiant. Kismet couldn’t begin to guess the gender but decided on female since the officiant bore a distinct resemblance to the female Medusa.

“Uh, me,” said Karma.

“I do,” answered Falkor.

“Marriage, even a civil, provisional one, is not a state to enter into lightly or thoughtlessly. You are cutting ties to the past and embarking on a new future, bound by your commitment to support and care for one another, to act as a unit, to merge your fates and fortunes, and to forsake all others.”

Jaryk gave a slight start. Her gaze shot to his face. His blank expression gave nothing away.

“Marriage can be the most rewarding time of your life or the most difficult—or both.” The officiant smiled, and she caught a glimpse of a forked tongue.

“Do you, Kismet Aurora Kennedy agree to enter into a legal union with Prince Jaryk as your husband for the term of one year to be extended indefinitely should you both concur?”

What was that little jerk about? Is he having second thoughts?

He was marrying to gain his freedom. Had he decided it wasn’t worth it?

Did he object to the marriage in general, or did he have specific objections to her?

What had the officiant said? She couldn’t remember.

Something about fates and fortunes. She had no interest in his money or his title.

No doubt the crown prince was extremely wealthy, but she would leave his planet only with what she came with—nothing.

Or had she imagined the little jerk?

Her sister nudged her. “Kismet?”

All eyes were on her. Her gaze met Jaryk’s, and she spotted a reassuring trace of alarm at her hesitation. He’s still in.

“I do,” she said strongly.

“Whew. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” Karma said.

“Me, too,” Jaryk said.

Everyone chuckled.

“Sorry.”

“Do you, Crown Prince Jaryk Rullok-Myka of Kaldor agree to enter into a legal union with Kismet as your wife for the term of one year to be extended indefinitely should you both concur?”

The double doors were flung open, and a regal-appearing Kaldoran who could only be the king stormed in. “Stop this wedding!” he thundered.