Alonzo closed his eyes briefly. For a moment he could barely breathe. He let Elijah and Timur push him away from the scene of the battle. The other leopards were melting into the night as well. “I’m going to tie that woman to my bed and just let her live there. I’ll have to put a thousand guards around the house, and even then I won’t be satisfied that she’s safe.”

“Welcome to my world,” Elijah said.

“Let’s get out of here. I need to have a few words with my woman before she goes to work.”

“Not that it will do you any good, but I wish you luck,” Elijah said and then trotted off with a wave of his hand.

Gorya opened the door for him to slide into the passenger side, Timur right behind him.

“I’ve got a few words for her as well,” Timur muttered.

For some reason, that made Alonzo smile.

20

“WHEN did you learn to do hair?” Catarina asked Emma. “That’s beautiful and so perfect for her dress.”

Evangeline looked at herself in the mirror. Emma had woven magic with her hair. Half was up in an elaborate twist of curls while the rest fell in waves and curls down her back. Catarina had done her makeup. It was very subtle and light, but a little smokier on the eyes than she’d ever worn. She loved it.

Emma laughed. “I didn’t go to school for hair, but I watch videos all the time and do Andraya’s hair as well as my own. I knew what her dress looked like and searched for the perfect hairdo.”

“You found it,” Siena said. She hadn’t been able to go wedding dress shopping with Evangeline. Both Emma and Catarina had, as well as Saria Donovan. Drake had brought his wife out for the wedding. She had insisted on coming early for the preparations.

Evangeline was grateful to the women. She might have run for the hills if she’d been alone.

“Just so you’re warned,” Siena said. “Fyodor will get bossier once you’re married.”

Evangeline shook her head. “That’s just not possible. He can’t get any worse.”

The women laughed. “He will,” Saria confirmed while Emma and Catarina nodded. “Just ignore him, that’s what I do. Drake is really bad now that I’m pregnant. I mean really, unless there’s a problem with the pregnancy, women can do everythin’ they did before, right?”

“I’ve always had a problem with pregnancies,” Emma disclosed, “so I wouldn’t know.”

“Look at me,” Siena said. “I think Elijah has X-ray vision and can see through walls. Even if he’s at the other end of the house, if I move, he knows it and saunters in to give me a lecture.”