Maria agreed, of course. “It’s de least you can do. We’d also like them to have added bling. I was thinking colored diamonds.”

That perked up Edith in more ways than one. “I want pink diamonds. The same color as my nipples.” She tried to pull down her push-up bra. “Want to see?”

“No,” I growled.

Maria elbowed her away. “We also want hair jewelry. Just because you’re bald, don’t expect de rest of us to follow suit.”

Sympathy was a term completely unfamiliar to the good Catholics. My temper flared. “Step away from the tigress, before she knocks you on your butt implants.”

Agnes played with one of her long pigtails. “Celia, let me be perfectly blunt. You’ve been a real pain in the ass. If you want us in your wedding party you’ll have to work for it.”

They ranted about what a bitch I was after I slammed the guesthouse door in their faces.

Danny stared at the closed door. “Wow. They’re convinced you’re marrying Misha.”

Ying-Ying had been watching some kind of Asian game show with Bren. She took a good look at me and hugged me. When she swung open the door, the naughty Catholics scattered. She winked my way and lotus-pose floated down the steps. No one messed with Ying-Ying. Ever.

Danny bent over Bren, closed his eyes, and touched his bare arm. We waited but nothing happened. He failed to block Anara’s power like he’d done with the other wolves. Bren didn’t so much as stir. “What do you think we can do to save him?”

Danny shook his head. “I don’t know. For Anara to manipulate the wolves and trap Bren’s wolf in this state, he must be even more powerful than we think. Especially if none of his Pack suspects what’s happening.” He paused and took a seat next to me on the lounge. “I don’t know how to fight him, Celia. And I’m not sure if we can. Pack Elders…they just don’t do this.”

“Well, this one does and has had fun doing it.” My attention fell to the thick binder on the wooden coffee table. The sticky on top read: “Guest List for Bride’s Approval.”

I groaned. On to problem number two. “Danny, there’s something else I need to talk to you about….I had this dream—a vision actually—that Misha and I had children. It was right after Anara first attacked me. Misha was trying to soothe me with his vamp mojo. When he attempted a stronger hypnosis, he saw the image, too.” I pointed to the binder. “I think that’s why he’s convinced we’re getting married. Despite my protests.”

Danny’s eyes darted nervously. My voice turned from Demi Moore husky to shit-has-hit-the-fan high-pitched. “This is the part where you tell me it’s nothing to worry about. That it was just some freaky thing that happened.” He remained silent. “Danny!”

“Celia, I don’t know what’s happening. Seeing as you’re pregnant, you could be developing the ability to have visions of what’s to come.”

I stood abruptly. “Why would I all of a sudden develop a new power?”

“You told me the first time you changed into a tigress, you had just gone through a growth spurt.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Growth is hormone-related and so is pregnancy. Your body is producing tremendous amounts of hormones to maintain the fetus. They could have given your gifts an extra boost.”

“But Danny, Aric is my baby’s father. In my vision, I had three children and they all resembled Misha.”

Danny touched his chin thoughtfully. “That does add to the confusion. Have you had any other images since involving Aric?”

I hesitated. “There was one. But it was more like a nightmare.” I explained the dream involving Aric burning and the scarred children.

Despite the gruesome accounts, he surprised me by smiling. “That was likely a result of your guilt over hurting Aric. I wouldn’t worry about that one coming true.”

“But at least that involved children where Aric was the father.”

Danny stopped smiling. “Yeah. Well, I guess you’re right about that.”

Not exactly what I wanted to hear. But as much as Danny always tried to make me feel better, he’d never lie or give me false hope. He excused himself and went into the hall bathroom. He returned with a bottle of antiseptic and a wet towel. Very carefully, he wiped saturated cotton balls across my bleeding bald spots, and then covered my head with a nice cool towel. My sensitive scalp throbbed at first, but the coolness of the thick cotton soothed the sting. “Thanks, Danny.”

His face remained unusually pale. “Celia, I’m concerned about your baby’s life. If Anara, the remaining Tribesmen, or heck, even if the shape-shifters find out, they’ll want your child dead.”

My claws splintered the wood as they protruded across the heavy table and my words released with a growl. “Anara considers me an atrocity. I recognize that any child of mine and Aric’s would be perceived the same way. But why should the Tribe or those damn shape-shifters care?”

“Celia, you’re an extraordinary and powerful being, whose powers are yet to be fully tested. Aric is believed to be the strongest were in history. That makes you both dangerous and a threat. Any child from your union will be perceived as a force to be reckoned with.”

I stood, my chest rising and falling quickly. “But what if the baby is human? A human couldn’t possibly harm them.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “The dark ones likely won’t wait to find out.”

All of my concerns lately had revolved around Anara, but Danny was right. I’d made multiple enemies and none would be jumping for joy at the news of my pregnancy. The shape-shifters especially frightened me. They were born witches, murdering countless in exchange for the ability to transform into any creature they wished. They were hard to detect, hard to kill, and carried the power of hell within them. I’d met one briefly a while back. News that I’d conceived a child with Aric Connor might renew his interest in killing me.

My vision blurred with tears. Damnit.

Danny took my hand. “Celia, I promise to do anything to protect you and your baby.” If he was trying not to make me cry, it wasn’t working. Without saying the words, Danny had just vowed to die for me if he had to. He sat me back down. “I was thinking there has to be a way to get everyone together and tell them about Anara.”