A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Ulysses's attitude left Valerian a little unsettled, his feelings a tangled mess.

He just couldn't wrap his head around it. Why was Ulysses acting this way?

He could've sworn Ulysses used to really like Lisette. The guy was always looking out for her, treating her with nothing but kindness.

But now? It was obvious he couldn't care less. Heck, it even seemed like he was actively annoyed with her.

Had Lisette done something to tick him off?

That didn't sound right.

Valerian glanced at Lisette, suspicion in his voice. "Did you and Uly have some kind of falling out?"

"No, not at all," Lisette replied, baffled, watching Ulysses walk away. She'd always bent over backwards to keep her brothers happy. She needed their support to hold her place in the Jewell family.

just like him, always quick to defend Lisette. And yet now, the way Ulysses had looked at him, the coldness in his

furrowing her brow. "Maybe he's just got the wrong idea about something. Or maybe Callie said something to him.

best. You know, he used to be your biggest fan." Valerian knew that out of all of them, Ulysses had always cared most about Lisette.

...

Calliope and the

gang were strolling through town, taking in the sights. It was a small place, sure, but it was lively, with folks selling homemade pres and cinnamon

parade would pass by-marching bands, kids in costumes, people tossing candy-and the

rolled by, and the group paused to watch. The air was filled with the crackle and pop of fireworks, and the crowd

were loud, and Silas gently covered her ears, shielding her from the stray sparks and the noise. His jacket ended up with a few burn holes, but he didn't

at Silas, then at Mavis. After a moment's thought,

shook her head. She'd seen worse—actual gunfire never fazed her, let

so," Uriah said,