A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope watched Zelda, her face blank as a sheet of paper-impossible to read, impossible to guess what was going on inside.

But Zelda's attitude toward her was nothing like the way she treated Lisette.

Valerian and Horatio saw it too. That had to sting. Who doesn't want their own mother to love them? But for Calliope, it was like her mom had never really cared at all.

For the first time, the boys felt a twinge of sympathy for Calliope.

They'd never really thought about it before. Zelda doting on Lisette had always seemed natural-Lisette was just so bright, so talented, so sweet. But thinking about it now, Calliope hadn't really done anything wrong. Especially now that they knew she might just be even more remarkable than Lisette.

"You told Lisette to apologize to you, right?" Valerian slid onto the couch beside Calliope. "Why'd you back off?"

"Do you really think she'd have apologized if I'd insisted?" Calliope replied, her voice flat. "And if I did make her, wouldn't you guys just feel sorry for her?"

She let out a long, dramatic sigh, dropping her eyes. "My own brother says he's my brother, but his heart's always with someone else. Not much I can do about it."

Her voice was half-mocking, half-resigned. "Guess it's my own fault for not being the favorite. I'm just not as good as her, so obviously nobody likes me!"

jumped to defend Lisette without a second thought.

to go check on her?" Calliope continued, gesturing vaguely in Lisette's direction. "She'll

my room, too. You hate to see her suffer, right? Doesn't matter what

"Honestly, I shouldn't have come. Maybe I'm just ruining your happy family reunion.

said

"Nobody's asking

actually glad

last time we all

Sunday dinner together with

everyone at the table?"

run wild,"

our little sister. Of course we care

around the

his mug of coffee, overheard enough to catch the drift. He'd been about to ask after Lisette, but thought better of it. Calliope looked genuinely

come over and fuss over her, like they always had. She was used

invisible.