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Rising from bed, Steph padded to the door and opened it to find herwith a couple other wo room, all eyes turned to her

“And this , with sparkles in her eyes

Both woh their own daughter were getting married to a rich and handsorasped her hand affectionately Her hair was very curly, and it stood out from her head at least half a foot

“We’re your wedding planners from the El Farah side of the fahter, Shivika We’re here tomoment!”

Shivika stepped forward and grasped Steph’s other hand Steph blinked at the what to say After a pause, they both burst into laughter

“Isn’t it funny how scared they always look, Elora? My dear girl, I assure you, your mother has chosen well I have personally met the man you are about to marry, and he is perfectly lovely”

Steph perked up at that piece of infor to tell her about her fiancé, then these new cousins of hers would

“Do tell ?”

Anouk wagged her finger at Steph, releasing her grip and rejoining Elora on the sofa Shivika followed suit, gesturing for Steph to sit across from them

“Ah-ah, ill not be the ones to give anything away We would be breaking with centuries of custom if we did that, oing to fix your hair for the ceremony, yes?”

Steph listened with limited attention as her cousins went on and on about hairstyles that would go perfectly with the tiara her azed out at the desert and the sea, wishing she were sitting on the shore rather than listening to new fa her hair one way or another

“Steph, are you paying attention? This is important”

Her ht her attention back to the room

“Yes, of course I’m sorry I’m just…excited”