I swalowed hard and leaned forward. I closed my eyes, since it felt less embarrassing if I didn’t have to see him. His lips were cold, and the kiss was chaste. It only lasted a moment, and my stomach swirled with nerves, but not the pleasurable kind.

“Wel?” Tove asked, sitting up straighter.

“It was alright,” I nodded, more to convince myself than him.

“Yeah, it was good.” He licked his lips and looked away from me. “We can do this. Right?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Of course we can. If anybody can, it’s us.

We’re like the most powerful Tryle ever. And we’re neat people.

We can handle spending the rest of our lives with each other.”

“Yeah,” Tove said, sounding more encouraged by the prospect.

“In fact, I’m looking forward to it. I like you. You like me. We have fun together. We agree on almost everything. We’re going to be the best husband and wife ever.”

“Yeah, totaly,” I chimed in. “We’re perfect for each other.”

“We are,” Tove said, and then more quietly, “We realy are.” We both lapsed into silence after that, staring off at the snow, lost in our own thoughts. I wasn’t sure exactly what Tove was thinking. I wasn’t even sure what I was thinking. On paper, Tove and I made more sense than anyone else, but in my heart, it didn’t feel that way.

“Should we go in?” Tove asked abruptly. “I’m getting cold.”

“Yeah, me too.”

He got up and then took my hand, puling me to my feet. He didn’t need to, but it was a nice gesture. We went into the palace together, neither of us saying anything, and I twisted at my engagement ring. The metal was icy from the snow, and it suddenly felt too large and heavy on my finger. I wanted to take it off and give it back, but I couldn’t.

5. Plans

I snuck in a copy of the Trylic workbook Tove had gotten for me so I had something to do while Aurora went over al the last-minute details. It was the day before the wedding, so I hoped everything was on track. We didn’t have time for anything else.

I sat in a chair with the book open on my lap, while Aurora and Wila went over a checklist with about twenty wedding planners.

Aurora had even put Duncan to work counting table centerpieces to make sure we had enough.

Sometimes they asked for my help, and I gave it, but I think Aurora was happier when I didn’t have input. I might disagree with her if I did.

Al my bridesmaids were here, and most of them I’d never even met. Wila was my maid of honor, and she’d chosen the rest of the wedding party because she actualy knew them. Aurora insisted that this had to be huge, so I had ten bridesmaids.