There was so much pain and astonishment in Aric’s voice my stomach churned in painful rumbles. “Celia…what—”

“I told you, I don’t want to see you!” I croaked. The tears that had stopped just moments before returned full force. Being cruel to anyone—especially Aric—was unthinkable.

The seconds of stunned silence passed with brutal thumps to my insides until Misha broke through the horrible quiet. “Celia wants nothing to do with you. Go lick your wounds elsewhere, wolf. You are not welcome in our home.”

No one spoke. No one moved. No one breathed. For what seemed like an eternity, time stood still. “Come, Aric,” Gemini finally said. “Our efforts are better suited in finding Emme.”

Liam’s growls reverberated against the windows. “You’re an asshole, Misha. I know you’re influencing her somehow.”

Koda sounded more pissed than Liam. “Tim, if you don’t wipe that goddamn smirk off your face, I’ll tear out your throat and leave it for the crows!”

Shayna rushed past me, pausing only to shoot me a pained glance over her shoulder. Her presence would help facilitate the wolves’ departure, despite the confusion and disappointment shadowing her pixie face.

Taran waited with me with her arms crossed. I couldn’t face her. Hell, I couldn’t even raise my head. Yet I felt her taking me in and scented the sharp aroma of her shock as it pierced through my damaged nose.

When the last few snarls faded and the roar of the engines disappeared along the lengthy stretch of Misha’s driveway, Shayna returned and clasped my hands. “I know Aric doesn’t look the same, but he’s still the same wolf. He loves you, Ceel. You have to see past his injuries….”

Shayna’s voice faded when my sobs overtook me. She thought I was abandoning Aric because of his deformities. And I had to let her believe it was true. Despite how much it pained me, it would keep him, her, and everyone else safe for now.

Taran maneuvered her way between us and led me toward the sink. “Leave her alone, Shayna. Now’s not the time. Come on, we need to get this fucking glass out of her back.”

Chapter Three

A glimmer of silver light flashed beneath Shayna’s white tunic and traveled along her arm. Koda had given her a platinum belly ring for her birthday. Using her special gift, she transferred the alloy into the tweezers she held to lengthen and thin the tips. She hoped the more precise tool would help her remove the shard of glass embedded in my shoulder blade. The pain sucked. I didn’t understand how something so small could have pierced so deeply, but then I remembered Anara’s show of strength. I’d never encountered magic so powerful.

I gritted my teeth and worked to bury my pain, but Shayna’s unrelenting burrowing into my muscles had me writhing beneath her touch. It was all I could do not to change and bolt from the room.

Shayna’s grip remained firm, despite the shakiness in her voice. “I’m so sorry, Ceel. I’m having a hard time reaching it.”

Misha knelt before me and lifted my chin with his fingertips. “My darling, meet my eyes and I can help you endure the pain.”

My sisters and I were immune to the hypnotic powers vampires have over humans. Misha alone could connect with me, given he’d pass me his call…and because he almost killed me once, feeding from me. I nodded. After the day I’d had, I was ready for a “Misha high.” The moment our eyes locked, a soothing wave of peace filled me. The last time he’d calmed me I felt mellow and content—similar to when I woke in my warm bed to gentle raindrops pitter-pattering against my window. Not this time. Images appeared in my mind, full of vibrant colors and complete with surround sound.

Yellow finches chirped and flew happily across a vast grassy field where Misha and I sat on a soft brown blanket. A thick white sweater swathed the muscles of his arms and chest. I smiled. He looked amazing, although it was strange to see him in jeans rather than the designer slacks he preferred to wear. A soft breeze blew against his long blond hair, draping it over his shoulder while the blue sky illuminated his gray eyes like pools of melted silver.

A long white cotton dress covered my thin frame and a matching lace wrap draped over my bare shoulders. Misha’s gaze wandered down my body, softening when he fixed it on my chest. I glanced down, curious to see what held him so captivated.

My body jerked and I almost dropped the small bundle in my arms. A baby nursed at my breast. A baby! He squirmed a little before settling down and cuddling closer against me.

Taran’s swearing and Shayna’s panicked voice echoed in the distance. “What’s wrong with her, dude?”

“Her pain is more than I predicted. I will attempt a stronger hypnosis….”

The scene repeated itself before quickly morphing into another equally mind-blowing image. Misha and I held hands, walking along the same field, wearing the same clothes while three small children ran toward us with open arms. There were two boys and a little girl, their cheeks bright pink from running and laughing. They all appeared happy.

And they all resembled Misha.

Long blond hair swept away from their faces, revealing their twinkling gray eyes. The two boys jumped into Misha’s welcoming embrace. The pretty little girl skipped to me with a smile as warm as sunshine. “Mommy!” she cried.

I awoke abruptly, huddled on the bathroom floor with several towels wrapped around me. Cold sweat chilled my body. Misha lay sprawled at the opposite corner. Judging by his pallor and bulging eyes, he’d seen everything.

Okay…clearly the “Misha high” was the wrong way to go.

For the first time since I met him, Misha’s voice actually cracked when he spoke. “What…happened?”

Shayna and Taran crouched on either side of me. Their attention alternated between us, and confusion angled their small brows. Shayna adjusted the towels around me. “You were holding Celia’s face in your hands. Everything was fine at first, but then you started shaking.”

Taran’s eyes narrowed. “Not just shaking, but freaking glowing. Damnit, I don’t know what the hell happened but it looked like you both went into shock.”

Misha said nothing, stunned into silence. So not a good sign.

Thank God Emme arrived…although I wasn’t thrilled to find Hank at her side. Her eyes brimmed with tears the moment she saw me. “Oh my goodness, Celia.”