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I bent over, scratching Angel’s sides. She liked it. She bumped me with her head. And started purring.

“I don’t feel any wounds,” I said continuing to rub her sides. “I don’t sense anything weird either…wait a minute.”

I did sense something. A presence. No,multiplepresences. And they were inside of my cat.

“Do you think a Guardian could have hidden inside my cat, taking her as a host?” I asked Nero.

He frowned. “I suppose anything is possible with a magical cat.”

I kept sensing. But this didn’t feel like the Guardians. It didn’t feel like a person’s mind. It felt…distinctly feline.

I gave Angel one final scratch behind the ears, then rose. “Ok, so it’s not the Guardians.”

“Then what is it?” Basanti wondered.

“Angel is pregnant,” I said in shock. “My cat is pregnant.”

No wonder she was so protective of Sierra. And had gone all mega momma warrior on a bad guy during the battle.

“Angel have babies?” Sierra said, her eyes wide, trembling.

“Yeah, in a couple of months,” I told her.

Sierra squealed in excitement, running toward Angel with wide, open arms.

I caught her. “You need to be careful with her now, Sierra. That’s why she hid. You were too rough. She didn’t want you to hurt her babies.”

Sierra looked at Angel, love burning in her eyes. “Sierra won’t hurt Angel. Promise.” She crossed her hands over her heart.

“Good girl.”

Sierra grinned, clapping her hands. She looked at Eira and said, “Baby Angels.”

“Baby Angels!” Eira repeated.

The two of them skipped off, chanting those two words, over and over and over again.

“Well, I guess congratulations are in order.” Basanti slapped me on the back. “You’re going to have kittens.”

“Yeah, but…” I looked at my cat in surprise. “Who’s the daddy?”

Angel gave me a coy look.