“You remember Sylvan’s friend—the one who was supposed to show up for the joining ceremony and perform the luck kiss and didn’t?” Sophia picked up her cupcake again and took another nibble. “Well apparently he’s finally on his way.”
“He is? Now?” Liv shook her head. “Kind of rude to miss the wedding and still expect you to put him up, isn’t it?”
Sophie sighed. “I think so too, but he has a good excuse.”
“What kind of Kindred is he?” Kat asked. “He can’t be a Twin or he’d be bringing his brother with him.”
“That’s the weird thing about him,” Sophia said. “Apparently he’s some kind of hybrid.”
“A hybrid?” Olivia raised her eyebrows. “I’ve never heard of anything like that. How is it even possible?”
“Well Sylvan says his mother was one of those really rare female Kindred—her mother was a Tranq Prime native and her father was a Blood Kindred.”
“I thought the female Kindred almost always became priestesses of the Goddess,” Kat said.
“Well this one didn’t.” Sophia picked a blueberry out of her cupcake and popped it in her mouth. “She grew up on Tranq Prime and then left and met a Beast Kindred from Rageron. They got mated and had Merrik.”
“Merrik being Sylvan’s long lost friend?” Liv asked.
Sophie nodded. “Yup. Anyway, apparently there’s a reason there aren’t many Kindred Hybrids—they have a really hard time reconciling the two different parts of their personality. Merrik was away on some spiritual retreat trying to do just that when he got captured.”
“Captured?” Kat and Liv said together.
“I told you he had a good excuse.” Sophia shrugged. “I’m not sure exactly who captured him—I got the idea from Sylvan that he was too upset to speak about it. Anyway, he got loose and he’s on his way now to convey his belated congratulations.” She sighed. “He was one of Sylvan’s best friends growing up on Tranq Prime so it’s not like we can say no.”
“Of course.” Kat nodded. “Well, I guess you’re going to be busy for a while. Maybe I’ll get Lauren to help plan my wedding.”
“What?” Sophie and Liv shrieked at the same time.
“You mean you three are finally tying the knot?” Liv demanded.
“Yeah, well…” Kat laughed. “Deep and Lock have been bugging me to do it for some time. It had to happen eventually.”
Olivia grinned. “It’s about time you three stopped ‘living in sin.’ Have you told your grandma yet?”
“That I’m going to get married to not one but two hot alien studs?” Kat said dryly. “Not yet. She’s got a pacemaker, you know. I’m not sure her heart can take it.”
“I’m sure she’ll be happy for you once she knows you’re happy.” Sophia patted her arm. “But you better tell her before the big day. It really might give her a heart attack to watch you walk down the aisle with a guy on either arm.”
“And hear you guys say ‘I do, I do, I do,” Liv added, cracking up again.
“Very funny.” But Kat was smiling too. “Well, let’s wait until Lauren moves up and then we can all plan it together. What do you say?’
“Sounds perfect to me. I’ve always wanted to make a wedding cake.”
They all looked up to see Lauren standing in the doorway with a smile on her face.
“Lauren!” The three of them jumped up to give her a group hug which she returned, laughing.
“I hope you don’t mind that I let myself in. Xairn is up here supervising moving my equipment from the shop on Earth to my new Sweet Spot here on the ship and I thought I’d come say hello.”
“We’re so glad you’re coming up to stay.” Sophie gave her cousin another squeeze. “I’m sure you heard but Kat is finally going to plan her big day.”
“I heard.” Lauren gave her friend a smile. “And I’ll be happy to help.”
“So you’re really make me a cake?” Kat asked anxiously. “One without dill pickle frosting?”
Lauren laughed. “No dill pickle frosting, I promise. And yes, I’d be honored to make your cake. Without your help I’d still be stuck back on Earth feeling miserable without my man.”
“It was nothing,” Kat said modestly. “All I did was give you a little bonding fruit.” She snapped her fingers. “Come to think of it, that would be the perfect flavor for the cake. Vanilla cake with a bonding fruit jam filling in between the layers.”