Oh, crap. Here we go.
“You’re putting me in a closet? I’m hersister! Not a servant. But even if I was, that’s a horrible way to treat the hired help. Who do you think you are?”
His posture stiffened, affability vanishing, replaced by prim formality. “I am His Highness Prince Falkor Rullok-Myka of Kaldor.”
Kismet’s stomach tightened with dread. “So, Jaryk is—”
“Crown PrinceJaryk Rullok-Myka of Kaldor, heir to the royal throne.”
Chapter Four
“You did what?”
“You don’t need to yell,” Falkor said.
“I do need to yell because you didn’t hear me when I said no. I told you I did not wish to join Cosmic Mates.” Jaryk stomped around his sitting room, itching to punch something—like his brother. How could he have done this?
“What’s done is done.”
“Undo it. Send Kermit back to Earth.”
“Kismet.”
“What?”
“Her name is Kismet.”
“I don’t care what her name is. She shouldn’t be here. How could you have done such a thing without consulting me?”
“I did consult you. You said no. It’s for your own good. The royal ball is coming up. If you don’t act quickly, Father will announce your engagement to Alia. You are out of time.”
“Let me decide what’s for my own good.”
“You’re not making the right decisions!”
“Oh, that’s rich. Youfraudulentlymisrepresented yourself by pretending to be me on a matchmaking site, extended an offer of marriage to ahumanwoman, then brought her here under false pretenses.” Kermit-Kismet expected to get married tomorrow. “How will she feel when she finds out there’s no wedding?” Not only had Falkor attempted to manipulate him, he’d given no concern to the other person involved.
“That won’t be an issue if you marry her.”
“No. Send her home with your deepest, most abject apologies.” Of all the impulsive, ill-thought-out stunts hisbrother had pulled, this had to be the worst. Because he’d involved him!
“The Cosmic Mates officiant will arrive in the morning.”
“Get rid of both of them.”
“I won’t. If you hate the idea so much, then you explain what happened, and you send them back to Earth.”
“You’re the one who caused this!”
“You’d rather marry Alia? Give up your chance for true love with Charday?”
“It is for the good of Kaldor. I don’t expectyouto understand duty.” Expectations were different for him. Unlikely to be king, second-born Falkor enjoyed far more leeway to do what he wished than Jaryk did and took full advantage of his freedom. Frequentlyabusedhis freedom.
“You’re less concerned with duty than you are with avoiding Father’s wrath.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” His brother rarely concerned himself with either—he shirked his duty and almost seemed to enjoy provoking their father into apoplectic rages.
“Even Mother thinks so.”
