Isabeau felt her heart leap in her chest. For the first time, she felt lighter, as though there was a chance she could make the day special and memorable. Most likely, she realized, because she had someone to share her happiness with, someone to talk to while she got ready. Conner had Rio and the others, even Doc, but she didn’t know anyone that well. Mary made Isabeau feel as if she was being fussed over: Not only did she want to help with the preparations, but she looked forward to it.

She nodded and went on through the house to the back room where Jeremiah was resting. Conner and Rio were in the room with him. Jeremiah looked pale, bruises and lacerations marring his body. An IV fed him and she noted a bag of antibiotics dripping into his arm.

“How is he?” she asked.

Conner wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her to the side of the bed. “He’s fighting an infection, but Doc says he’ll make it. He’s going to have an interesting voice for the rest of his life.”

Rio sighed. “I shouldn’t have used him. He wasn’t ready.”

“I don’t think you could have stopped him,” Isabeau said. “He felt guilty for listening to Suma in the first place. He had the need to make it up to himself and maybe to me. He would have just followed you.”

“He handled himself well,” Conner pointed out. “He didn’t panic and in spite of encountering an enemy, he went back to the original mission, trying to protect us. Suma was experienced and a fighter. I had a few bad moments with him myself. Isabeau shot him, remember? I just finished the job.”

“You would have taken him,” Rio said, “but it was going to take time we didn’t have.”

“I think Ottila is going to be more dangerous than ever,” Isabeau ventured hesitantly. “He appeared to take a backseat to Suma, but I didn’t believe it after encountering him. I think he was the brains. And I think his number-one priority will be seeking revenge for Suma.”

Conner shook his head. “It will be acquiring you.”

She frowned. “Suma and Ottila seemed like close brothers. He said they . . .” She bit her lip and forced herself to continue, although she found it embarrassing. “They shared everything—including women. He was willing to share me with Suma, although he said I would carry his child.”

“That alone speaks to who is the dominant,” Rio said. “He would have taken her in her heat, not allowing Suma access to her, to insure the child was his. She’s right, Conner, it was Ottila, not Suma, who was calling the shots.”