“I know that you two are friends or something, but I don’t understand. He’s a Vittra, and he kidnapped you once.”

“I’m not worried,” I cut him off and forced a smile. “I’m excited for the party.”

Duncan directed me to the upstairs living room. It had been Rhys’s playroom when he was little, but they’d converted it into a place to hang out when he became a teenager. But the ceilings had murals of clouds and childish things, and the wals were lined with short white shelves that stil held a few of his old toys.

When I opened the door, I was bombarded by streamers and baloons. A banner with the words “Happy Birthday” in giant glitter letters hung on the back wal.

“Happy birthday!” Wila shouted before I could step inside.

“Happy birthday!” Rhys and Rhiannon said in unison.

“Thanks, guys,” I said, pushing a helium-filed baloon out of my face so I could go in. “You guys know my birthday isn’t actualy until tomorrow?”

“Of course I know,” Matt said, his voice a little high from inhaling helium. He had a deflated baloon in his hands, the source of the helium, and he tossed it aside to walk over to me. “I was there when you were born, remember?”

He’d been smiling, but it faltered when he realized what he’d said. Rhys and I had been switched at birth. Matt had actualy been there for Rhys’s birth, not mine.

“Wel, I was there when you came home from the hospital anyway,” Matt said and hugged me. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you,” I said, hugging him back.

“And I definitely know your birthday,” Rhys said, walking over to us. “Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday to you too,” I smiled. “How does it feel to be eighteen?”

“Pretty much exactly the same as it does being seventeen,” Rhys laughed. “Do you feel any older?”

“No, not realy,” I admitted.

“Oh, come on,” Matt said. “You’ve matured so much in the past six months. I hardly even recognize you anymore.”

“I’m stil me, Matt,” I said, shifting uneasily from his compliment.

I knew that I’d grown up some. Even physicaly, I’d changed. I wore my hair down more now because I finaly managed to tame my curls after a lifetime of struggling with them. Since I was running a kingdom now, I had to play the part and wear dark-colored gowns al the time. I had to look like a Princess.

“It’s a good thing, Wendy,” Matt smiled at me.

“Stop.” I waved my hand. “No more seriousness. This is supposed to be a party.”

“Party!” Rhys shouted and blew on one of those cardboard horns they used on New Year’s.