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want my hair wound up into a loose bun with ringlets around my face to complete the effect.
     
    I’m excited to show it to Isla.  I just hope she’s gotten over the whole Garren discussion by now.  Probably not.
     
    After finding Kallen, who is still with Dagda going over and over possible scenarios, I teleport us both home.  There’s nothing more to do at the palace for the hand-fasting and I’m starving.  Isla has made sandwiches and left them out on the counter for us.  I’m not sure where she is but I don’t think it’s wise to go looking for her at the moment.  I simply leave the sketch pad next to the now empty sandwich plate.  She’ll find it.
     
    Kallen and I take a nice long walk along the beach.  We don’t really talk about anything.  We just hold hands and watch the tide coming in.  Moments like this have been rare for us to find.  It’s near dark by the time we make it back to the house.
     
    Isla’s in the kitchen looking at the drawing of my dress.  “Beautiful,” she says.  Even though her face is a portrait of grief and anger, I believe she means it.
     
    “Thank you,” I say.  I’m not sure if she wants us to stay or not.  I can’t tell if she wants company or to be left alone.
     
    After a moment of silence, she looks up at us.  “Alita will be here shortly.  She will be sharing your room tonight, Xandra.  It is not customary for the bride and groom to see each other the night before the hand-fasting.”  Hmm, just like back home.  “I would appreciate it if you abide by this tradition.”
     
    There’s only one way to respond to that.  “Okay.”  I don’t want to spend the night away from Kallen, but I’m also a tad bit superstitious.  Just like I won’t let him see my dress, I agree that spending the night apart will bring us more luck.  Kallen doesn’t look thrilled about it but he nods his head in agreement.
     
    “Hello?” Alita calls from the direction of the terrace.
     
    “In the kitchen,” Kallen tells her.  When she comes into the room, he says, “Your prisoner awaits.”  Then he points to me.
     
    Alita laughs.  “It is tradition.”  He gives her a look that explains what he thinks of the tradition.
     
    “I know it is early,” Isla says, “but tomorrow will be a very long day.  Perhaps we should all turn in early.”  In other words, she wants to be alone. 
     
    She is right, though.  Tomorrow will be insane.  After a nice long kiss that makes Alita uncomfortable, Kallen and I part ways for the night.  I’m almost ready to flout this tradition like all the others but Alita hooks her arm in mine and drags me to my bedroom.  Kallen goes in the opposite direction to the room that he has had since childhood.  
     
    It takes a long time to fall asleep.  The thought that I will never have to sleep apart from Kallen again eventually calms my brain and I have a smile on my face when I finally do fall into slumber.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    The sun streaming in through my balcony wakes me.  Even though we stayed up late talking, Alita is already up and she’s holding up my wedding dress.  “It’s beautiful,” she says when she sees that I’m awake.
     
    She’s right. It is absolutely gorgeous.  Isla made it perfect.  I climb out of bed and take it from Alita, holding it up in front of me as I look in the mirror.  I sway back and forth a little bit to hear the soft folds swish.
     
    “Oh, Xandra,” Mom says, floating through the door.  “It’s beautiful.”  She has ghost tears in her eyes, I swear.
     
    A light knock on the door gives me a chance to swipe at the tear in my own eye as I turn towards it.  “Come in.”
     
    Isla comes in and she looks calmer than she did last night.  “I wanted to make sure that you were up and about.  We should leave for the palace in half an hour.”
     
    Whoa, I just got up.  “So