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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, totally,” I chimed in. “We’re perfect for each
other.”
    “We are,” Tove said, and then more quietly, “We really 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, pulling 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 Tryllic workbook Tove had gotten
for me so I had something to do while Aurora went over all 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 Willa 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.
    All my bridesmaids were here, and most of them I’d never
even met. Willa was my maid of honor, and she’d chosen the rest of the wedding
party because she actually knew them. Aurora insisted that this had to be huge,
so I had ten bridesmaids.
    “It’s the wedding of the century, and you’re studying,”
Willa sighed as the day drew to a close. Aurora had checked everything twice,
and the only people left in the room were me, Willa, Aurora, and Duncan.
    “I need to know this.” I gestured to the book. “This is
essential to being able to decipher old treaties. I don’t need to know about
lavish party planning. You and Aurora have that covered.”
    “That we do,” Willa smiled. “I think everything’s all set.
You’re going to have a fantastic day tomorrow.”
    “Thank you,” I said and closed the book. “I really do
appreciate everything you’ve done.”
    “Oh come on, I loved it,” she laughed. “If I can’t have a
fairy tale wedding, at least I can plan one, right?”
    “Just because you’re not a Princess doesn’t mean you can’t
have a fairy tale wedding,” I said and stood up.
    She gave me a pained smile, and I realized what I’d said.
Willa was a Marksinna dating my brother Matt, a human, and if anybody found
out, she’d be banished. She wasn’t even supposed to date him, let alone marry
him.
    “Sorry,” I said.
    “Don’t be.” She waved it off. “You’re doing the best you
can, and we all know it.”
    She was referring to my efforts for more equality among the
Trylle, trackers, and mänks. We were losing most of our population because they
fell in love with humans, and then they were exiled. Nobody was staying around.
    From any standpoint, it made more sense to let people love
who they loved. They were going to anyway, but if we stopped making it illegal,
they would stick around more often and contribute to society.
    I hadn’t done much to convince people of this yet, but I was
too busy struggling with a Vittra solution. Once we got this fixed ( if we ever got it fixed), I would make
equal rights for everyone in Förening my top priority.
    “Are we all done here then?” I asked.
    “Yep,” Willa said. “You’ve got nothing left to do except get
some rest, and get pretty tomorrow before the wedding. Then you just have to
say ‘I do.’”
    “I think I can