“What did you wish to know?” he asked, the slow smolder in his eyes gaining brilliance.

“I know Kostya is a black dragon. I know you used to be one before your princess grandmother claimed you as a green dragon, and you were made wyvern. I know that the silver dragons were part of the black sept, but they left because of a horrible wyvern named Baltic.”

His fingers stilled, tightening around my butt, his eyes on me but his attention somewhere else.

“But what I don’t know is what Kostya has to do with Gabriel. You said yourself the black sept wasn’t around anymore—so even assuming there is bad blood between the two septs, why would Gabriel want Kostya dead?”

Drake was silent a few minutes, a pain so profound within him that even I could feel it. “Kostya’s coming was foretold by Baltic.”

“Oh? In what way?” I spoke slowly, a heavy weight of oppression upon me as if I didn’t want to hear the answer.

The fire in his eyes died. “Kostya’s existence means the end of the silver dragons.”

16

“So, that’s it? That’s all he said? Just that Kostya means the end of Gabriel and his sept?”

“That’s it. Have you seen my pregnancy vitamins?” I opened one of the drawers in the bathroom, poking through an assortment of cosmetics looking for the large bottle of prenatal vitamins.

Jim nodded toward the door leading to the bedroom. “On the nightstand. You do realize those are human vitamins, right? They probably won’t work now that you’re not mortal.”

“The silver dragon doctor said they wouldn’t hurt, although it is a bit of a pain taking both dragon and human vitamins. Still, it’s nice that I evidently get to forgo all that morning sickness crap.”

“Hey, less barf has always equaled good in my book. So, why didn’t you ask Drake to explain?”

I took my glass with me into the bedroom, shrugging as I washed down one of the large vitamins with a swig of water. “Can’t hurt. And I didn’t ask him because he was tired, I was tired, and he promised to explain everything today.”

“Uh-huh. You’ll notice he managed to leave the house before he did that.”

I finished dressing, having more than a bit of a struggle to close the waistband of my pants. “Damn. Now even my fat pants aren’t fitting. I guess I’m going to have to go shopping soon.”

“What’s that, dear?” Paula’s head poked through the open doorway as she tapped on the jamb. “Shopping, did you say? I’m so glad to hear you say that. I know you thought that bondage outfit you purchased was lovely, and I agree that the cream skirt is very pretty indeed, but truly, the whole effect of the ensemble is not the sort of memory you want to leave your guests with. Oh.” She turned around in the room, obviously looking for someone. “But who were you talking to?”

“Uh…just myself. And Jim, of course, ha ha ha.”

“You always did have such an odd sense of humor,” she said with a tolerant smile as she glanced at her wrist. “Now, we have just enough time to visit one or perhaps two shops before we meet with the new wedding planner.”

“What new wedding planner?” I asked, confused. “What happened to Imelda?”

“Oh, my dear, can you seriously ask that after what you put that poor woman through? She quit, of course! I’m not saying that it isn’t very inconvenient having to find a new wedding planner at this late date, especially since Drake insists that a wedding be organized in the next few days, but still, you must admit that you drove Imelda to the breaking point with the fiascoes of the last week. I told Drake that this morning, when he asked me to give you a hand with arranging yet another wedding, but you know how men are. They want results and don’t care how it’s done. Now, as I said, we have two hours before our appointment with the new wedding planner. I would be happy to go shopping with you although I must insist we not be late to the appointment.” Paula gave me a gimlet-eyed look. “They will be quite hard put as it is to deal with the demands of an immediate wedding and a bride who isn’t wholly committed to the ceremony.”

I was unable to keep from smiling. “I don’t think my commitment to Drake is in question, although I’m going to have to beg off the appointment this morning. I’ve simply got too many things going on, Paula. Can’t you do it for me? You know the sort of ceremony we want to have—simple and short, with a reception to follow in an appropriate venue. I’ll get my assistant to help you, if you like.”

Paula squawked a bit at the idea of attending to the wedding details on her own, but after I pointed out that she was sure to arrange something much nicer than I could possibly do with limited time, she toddled off happily. “Although don’t send me that odd man you call an assistant,” she said before leaving. “I honestly don’t know why you keep him on. He’s always telling me about how much more organized his previous employer was…”

The door closed on her words. The second it clicked home, I turned to Jim. “Drake left? Where did he go?”

The demon shrugged. “Like I look like a psychic? Dunno where he went, but things are bound to get dicey around here with your stepmom running around.”

“On the contrary—bless his heart, Drake obviously thought of that and dumped the wedding onto Paula’s lap to keep her from getting underfoot. Well, I guess I’d better get the worst over with until Drake comes back. I assume my uncle is downstairs?”

“Oh, yeah. And how.”

Jim’s annoyingly cheerful voice followed me downstairs as I braced myself to meet the displeasure of my formidable uncle.

“Morning, Rene. Er…have you seen my uncle?”

His lips twisted into a wry smile. “He is in the lounge. Would you like some company?”

“Lord, yes. I’d love a whole battalion of you,” I said, mentally girding my loins as I opened the door to the living room. To my surprise, Uncle Damian wasn’t the only one occupying it.

“Nora!” I said, rushing forward to hug her.

She hugged me back, her face alight with pleasure. “I’ve missed you. Hello, Jim.”

“Hey, Nora. How’s Paco? Still snack-sized?”

“But of course. Chihuahuas don’t ever grow past that.”

“Not that I’m complaining, but what are you doing here? Aren’t I on the verboten list for Guardians?” I asked.