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(Her agent was not calling.)

“Gosh, I just can’t keep up with it all!”

Tallulah Jayne was actually telling the truth about the frenetic pace of the last few days. Everything had moved quickly, after Yuan and Vandal died.

Sullivan had convinced the rest of Mayport Beach that a sinkhole opened up under the roller rink, severing gas lines and causing the fire. Steve’s Uncle Fred wasn’t asking too many questions, given the eight-figure check the Elementals had given him for the loss. Ben’s estate also received a hefty payout, because he was officially listed as a victim of the fire. Randa had encouraged a story of him heroically saving children from the blaze. So now he was getting a plaque at town hall, honoring his courage and sacrifice.

Job had his hands full recruiting someone non-psychotic to oversee the Reflection House. There weren’t that many people vying for the thankless task. Missy was still missing, and no one was any closer to discovering who the Dark King was. With Vandal gone, there had been some speculation that Daphne would show up, but so far she hadn’t been seen. Tharsis said she’d stopped texting him. He seemed concerned about what that meant for the future.

Randa was focusing on the present.

Dr. Ashley had recommended some therapists for Kahn. He’d picked one who’d reminded him of his sister Tonia. She offered televisits, which let him talk to her over a computer screen. The buffer of technology seemed to make it easier for him to open up to the woman. Randa could relate. She was very proud of him for working on himself. (And for not murdering the Fire Phases, who continued to insist that he now “technically” belonged to their House.) Kahn was a devoted, loving, trustworthy Match. He fit into her life, like he’d always been there.

Also, she was pretty certain he’d beaten the hell out of Raj, of the Color House for her.

Throwing that egg in the supermarket had been the last time he’d physically confronted her, but he’d continued to make his insults very loud and very public. So, when Raj’s unconscious body was dumped in the Agora, covered in blood and eggs, it sure seemed like a message that the Light Phases were done with the disrespect. The rest of the Elementals had been much nicer to Randa ever since.

The Light Phases themselves weren’t in a hurry to go back to their kingdom. They liked the human realm. They spent their time hanging around Randa’s bungalow, Tallulah Jayne’s mansion, or the Wastin’ Away Bar and Grille. Mostly the bar.

Rye doted on Tallulah Jayne, delighting in her cruelty and bossiness. He was convinced his parents would be thrilled he’d found such a brutal queen to rule beside him. Julius was building “mermaid traps” along the scenic shoreline. He said it was to prevent aquatic invasion, but Randa was half-convinced he was hunting one for more romantic possibilities. He kept talking about “sex tails” and “tail play.” Randa planned to add a slide on “not stalking fictional creatures” to the dating PowerPoint. Meanwhile, Daven and Mannus had been arrested three times in four days for fighting humans, a possum, and each other.

Sullivan wasn’t thrilled with the town’s new residents.

Randa refused to quit her job to babysit the Light Phases, although she was considering taking some time off to travel with Kahn. They had so many places to see. But they had plenty of time. For the moment, she was happy working at the police station, texting her Match flirty messages, and sometimes cooking for people when Kahn wasn’t looking. (He hated sharing her food.) Having her new family all around her made Randa feel incredibly fortunate.

Even her pseudo sister-in-law. Sometimes.

“Gotta run, Sky. Love you! Byeeeee.” Tallulah Jayne hung up and calmly went back to perfecting her lip liner in the lighted mirror over the vanity. The professional makeup artist had been kicked out twenty minutes before, because Tallulah Jayne said the woman didn’t understand contours.

Randa stood behind the happy bridezilla, watching the preparations. Tallulah Jayne had appointed her Maid of Honor, but Randa didn’t really know what the role entailed. So far, it seemed like she was just supposed to follow Tallulah Jayne around with expensive bottles of water and tell her she looked perfect every two minutes.

“How’s my makeup look?” Tallulah Jayne demanded right on cue.

“Perfect.”

Tallulah Jayne preened.

“But I’m sure Rye will agree to postpone the ceremony.” Randa ventured. The whole elopement was Tallulah Jayne’s idea, anyway. Elementals didn’t care about human weddings. Once they Phazed, they were bonded forever, so Rye already had what he wanted.

“Why would I postpone? I look perfect today.” She smoothed down a spiral of shiny red hair, pursing her glossy lips in the mirror. “Did I tell you this dress cost forty grand?”

The photographer took a picture. Checked it. Adjusted his lighting. Took more.

Randa gamely did her job as Maid of Honor. “The dress is perfect.”

“I know.” Tallulah Jayne planted a hand on her hip, her fingers disappearing into seventy-million layers of tulle, and found the best angle for a selfie.

More pictures were snapped of her taking the picture.

“I just meant about your friend being here.” Randa gestured to Tallulah Jayne’s phone. “If you want her to be a bridesmaid, we’ll wait for her to arrive.”

“That fake bitch?” Tallulah Jayne snorted. “She’s never meeting Rye. Skylar would be trying to suck his dick the second my back was turned. Grasping skank. No, she can watch us from the sidelines, along with my other besties, feasting on black market semaglutide pills and jealousy.”

Life had not provided Randa with the necessary tools to formulate a reply. She simply wasn’t crazy enough. “Oh.”

“That’s why it’s good you’re here to support me.” Tallulah Jayne continued chattily. “I know you’re not going to make a play for my man. First of all, you’re such a mousy little thing, he’d never look twice at you…”

“You’re the one who picked out this maid of honor dress.” The modest cut appealed to Randa, but she suspected that Tallulah Jayne selected it for its plainness. The bride saw fashion as a competition. She saw everything as a competition.