by Nina Bangs
She seemed to feel a need to fill up the silence. “I didn’t want to leave the room in my nightgown, but I have to be comfortable when I sleep.
He allowed his gaze to drop to those slippers again. They fascinated him. He knew he was smiling.
“They say sleep to me, okay?” She sounded defensive.
He held up his hands. “Hey, I don’t care what you wear on your feet.”
She wasn’t appeased. “I can’t get to sleep if I’m not wearing something I associate with bedtime. It’s just a habit.”
Dacian knew he shouldn’t say it, but he did. “Do you have to wear something you associate with sex when you make love?”
If he’d expected her to flush and get all embarrassed, he would’ve been disappointed.
Cinn met his gaze directly. “That would be tough to do. I don’t wear anything when I make love. How about you?” She looked as though she expected an answer.
“You’re right. It’s best with nothing at all.” The mental image almost tipped him over the edge of his personal control.
She looked away from him then, as she headed for the door. He caught up with her and they took the elevator down to the hotel lobby in silence.
As the door opened and they started to walk out, another woman stepped in. She slammed into Dacian.
The woman’s eyes widened as she stared at him. Slowly, she backed out of the elevator, never taking her gaze from him. “Dacian.” That one word was whispered on a soft sigh of emotion.
He stepped from the elevator. “Kyla.” Dacian remembered her after all the centuries. Their relationship had been a mistake, one of many in his life.
She put her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Beside him, he felt Cinn tense. Hell.
“Cinn, this is Kyla Mackenzie. A friend from a long time ago.” He returned his gaze to Kyla. “Kyla, this is Cinn Airmid. We’re working on a…project together.”
“You’re really alive.” She’d removed her hand from her mouth, and now she just stared.
“Vampire?” Cinn got right to the point.
He nodded.
Kyla didn’t even glance at her. “Everyone thought you were dead.”
“An understandable conclusion.” And if he sounded a little stiff, that was also understandable. “Why are you here?”
“I need to sit down.” Kyla motioned toward a nearby grouping of leather chairs.
He steered a strangely quiet Cinn toward the chairs. When they were all seated, he waited for Kyla to explain, while he tried not to remember how they’d parted.
“Yesterday Eric got a call from someone named Edge. The guy said you were here. Eric called everyone he could reach who’d been there when the fire…” Her voice faded away as she looked down at her hands. Finally, she looked up again. “Anyway, Eric said he was flying in, and I said I’d be here, too.”
“Is anyone else coming?” He didn’t need any more Mackenzies complicating things.
She shook her head. “Wow, this is incredible. I mean, I know that Eric said you were alive, but to really see you…” Kyla trailed off again.
This could get uncomfortable. “Maybe we can get together for a few drinks before you leave. Catch up on each others’ lives.” That wasn’t going to happen, if he could help it.
“Sure, sure.” She waved him away. “I know you have things to do. Have you seen Taurin yet?”
“No.” He knew his answer was clipped, but he couldn’t help it. Taurin was the only person he loved in the world, and facing him would be one of the toughest things he ever did.
Dacian stood, and Cinn stood with him. No use prolonging this meeting. But maybe before he left he’d stop to say good-bye to her. After all, Kyla had obviously flown in just for him. He wished she hadn’t. He didn’t like to feel obligated.
By the time they got to the greenhouse, Dacian was mentally ducking the questions he could sense zinging silently his way from Cinn. He got a brief reprieve from Wade.
The demon met them at the door. He didn’t even look at Dacian. He stared at Cinn. His gaze was a slurpy lick the length of a melting ice-cream cone. Dacian growled low in his throat. He didn’t bother to analyze his reaction.
“I just wanted you to know I bought a new Pathfinder. I’m naming her Cinn. Maybe you’ll let me take you out on her someday.”
Dacian couldn’t figure out how a demon’s eyes could look like a lovesick puppy’s.
“Wow, thank you, Wade.” Her expression said she didn’t have a clue what a Pathfinder was. “Umm, you can go get some rest now. Dacian and I will be here until dawn.”
Wade’s eyes narrowed on Dacian. But then Wade dismissed him to return his attention to Cinn. “I could protect you during the day. I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.”
The slight flaring of Cinn’s eyes said she was getting a mental image of the demon dogging her footsteps for an entire day. “I truly appreciate the offer, but I’ll be going out with Sparkle tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll guard your plants.” Wade’s tone said that was settled.
Dacian had his doubts about that plan. For whatever reason, Wade believed he was in love with Cinn. Strange. Demons weren’t usually an emotional lot. What worried Dacian was the demon’s reaction when Cinn eventually had to tell him she didn’t return his love. Dacian didn’t know how powerful Wade was, but any demon could make a destructive scorned lover.
“Thanks.”
From her expression, Dacian could see Cinn was coming to the same conclusion.
They watched Wade trudge reluctantly away, and then went into the greenhouse. Cinn’s cot was ready for her. He’d sit in the chair. And watch her sleep. He’d enjoy the rest of the night.
But she wasn’t quite ready for sleep. After checking to see how Vince was coming along, she sat on the edge of the cot. “So you and Kyla had a relationship?”
He was glad he’d long ago given up facial expressions. “What makes you think that?”
“Umm, maybe the weepy, soulful looks she threw your way? Those weren’t the eyes of someone who’d just been a friend.” She turned thoughtful. “And they weren’t the eyes of someone who was over you.”
He didn’t try to hold back his laughter. “Where did that conclusion come from?”
“Did you guys have a relationship?”
“Yes.”
“Did you break it off?”
“Yeah. But that was centuries ago, and believe me, she’s over it.” Cinn didn’t have to know about the threats Kyla had flung at him as he left.
She shrugged. “Maybe. Women understand other women. There’s something still there.”
He was just about to comment on her theory when Stephan stepped into his mind.
“You know the routine, Dacian. Come back to me. You’ll fight by my side. All my other children are here. We’re waiting for you. Do I have to repeat the threat?”
Not now! Not with Cinn so close. Dacian had never been so scared in his life. He had to stall his maker while Cinn escaped.
“I’ve been thinking about it, Stephan. The whole punishment thing is getting old.”
He reached for Cinn and gave her a hard shove toward the door. “Run!”
Dacian heard Stephan’s sigh whisper through his mind. “You have someone there who you don’t want to get hurt, so you’re trying to stall me. Can I assume your answer is the usual?”
Dacian didn’t answer. Instead, he sent a mental warning aimed at Ganymede. He was the most powerful entity in the castle, and he’d handled Dacian before. Dacian’s last coherent thought was a hope that he wouldn’t kill anyone this time.
Cinn ran. She could hardly drag enough air into her lungs as she breathed in panting gasps while her heart pounded out a rhythm of terror.
But she wasn’t running away from Dacian. She was running toward help. She had to reach someone who could stop what was happening to him. Anyone. She wouldn’t be picky.
Cinn knew she’d never forget the moment when she had looked into Dacian’s eyes and saw true
terror there. She’d somehow thought this was a man who feared nothing. Well, she’d been wrong. She didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that Stephan was on the phone.
And as she’d bolted for the door, she’d glanced back. His fangs were fully extended and there was nobody home in those black eyes.
She sobbed as she ran. Someone, please, someone, help him.
She slammed into a big body and sat down hard on the ground of the courtyard. Cinn stared up at the man she’d run into. He was only a huge black shadow in the darkness. But before she could climb to her feet and start to run again, he lifted her up.
“What’s wrong? Who do you want me to help?”
He’d read her mind. Nonhuman? She didn’t care what he was. A troll or ghoul was fine with her, as long as he could help Dacian.
Fear made her breathless. She pointed toward the greenhouse. “Dacian. Vampire. Needs help.”
She didn’t get the last word out before he was off and running. At the same time, Ganymede came bounding out of the castle, followed closely by Sparkle, Edge, and Bain. Even Holgarth trailed the pack.
Suddenly, the adrenaline drained from her. She sat back down in the middle of the courtyard and put her head in her hands. Roars and shouts filled the air.
Then she realized someone stood over her. She looked up to see Holgarth peering down at her. While she watched, he straightened his hat. Then he smiled at her. Okay, so it was a creaky smile, but it must still be a great effort for the wizard to stretch his lips into that shape. She offered him a weak smile back.
“You did the correct thing. Between all of them, they’ll get him back into the dungeon.”
She slowly climbed to her feet. “What about all the noise? Won’t some human call the police?” The words gave her a strange feeling, almost as if for this moment she wasn’t lining up on the side of humanity. “And how do you explain hauling a vampire complete with fangs and scary black eyes through the middle of the great hall?”
Holgarth’s smile was rusty, but he was trying. “My dear, this is the Castle of Dark Dreams, where fantastical things happen on a nightly basis. What else would you expect in a park called Live the Fantasy? Our customers love the drama. They think it’s part of the fantasy.”
While Cinn watched, horrified, Edge, Bain, and the stranger dragged Dacian from the greenhouse. He was smeared with blood, but from the looks of the men wrestling with him, most of it was theirs. She could see nothing human about the vampire they were trying to control. She didn’t bother to wipe away the tear that slid down her face.
Ganymede and Sparkle led the parade toward the great hall. They stopped when they reached the place where she stood.
“I could get him into the dungeon a little faster, but there’s just so much fantasy the paying public will accept.” Ganymede looked up at Sparkle. “Do we have any ice cream left? I need something to give me strength after that tussle.”
Sparkle just stared at him. “You didn’t lift a finger to help. You can’t be tired.”
“Couldn’t help. No opposable thumbs, sweetie. And we didn’t need my immense supernatural power this time.” He gazed up at her with a fair imitation of a big-eyed kitty. “But too much stress makes me tired. The weight of keeping the park running like a well-oiled machine takes a lot out of me.”
“Hmm. I could swear that Holgarth, Edge, and Bain keep it running. And the only oil in your life is what you get in your daily doughnuts. You use your cat form as an excuse to be lazy, Mede.” Sparkle threw up her hands. “Oh, what’s the use?”
Ganymede moved off to lead everyone into the great hall. “Holgarth went ahead to lay the lie on the humans. This’ll just be a great fantasy to them. The dangerous and violent vampire finally captured and about to be locked up in the dungeon. Humans love that kind of stuff.” He paused. “Guess I’m just one of the common folk, because I like it, too. Breaks up the monotony.”
Cinn clenched her hands into fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. She welcomed the pain. She hated how they were treating Dacian, even as she understood why it was necessary. It was what he would’ve wanted. But there had to be a way to help him.
“You could probably help him, you know.”
Sparkle seemed to have a knack for striking at her weakest moment.
“How? I guess I could talk to him, but—”
“Cinn, Cinn, listen to your good friend, Sparkle Stardust.”
Cinn didn’t trust the sly gleam in her “good friend’s” eyes.
“Sex is a powerful motivator for men. And the promise of sex would probably bring Dacian out of his episode just like that.” Sparkle snapped her fingers.
“I guess so.” It might not snow in Galveston, but Cinn decided she was getting her own personal snow job from Sparkle.
“Trust me. I know men.” Sparkle looped her arm around Cinn’s and led her toward the great hall.
Cinn looked over her shoulder. “My plants.” She was torn. She wanted to be with Dacian, but she was afraid to leave her plants alone. When exactly had Dacian gained equal footing with her beloved plants?
“Wade is already there.” She smiled. “You’re really a big hit with him.”
“But he has to be tired. He was there all day.”
Sparkle shrugged. “Demons don’t need a lot of sleep. And he’s really motivated to help you. Which is strange. Wade has stayed here before, but he never looked twice at any woman. He was into his boat and fishing. Nothing else.”
Cinn knew there was something important in Sparkle’s comment, but she was too distracted right now to think about it.
As they walked down the steps leading to the dungeon, it seemed way too quiet. Sparkle knocked on the door and Edge opened it.
Edge looked like hell. He had cuts and bruises covering every exposed surface of his skin. His eyes blazed with his need for more violence. “When this bloodsucker is back in his right mind, I’m going to rip his freaking head off. I thought the night feeders were the weak sisters of the vampire world. What happened to this one?”
If Edge was expecting an answer from Cinn, he was in for a long wait.
Inside, Cinn only had eyes for Dacian. Once again he was chained spread-eagled against the wall. At least this time he’d kept all his clothes, even if they’d probably have to be tossed once he was sane again. Come to think of it, he didn’t have any clothes of his own, so he must have borrowed these from Edge or Bain.
Almost without realizing it, she moved closer. His black eyes focused on her throat and he bared his fangs at her. She took a deep breath. Should she talk to him? What could she say?
And no, she wouldn’t take Sparkle’s advice. Sparkle might be fine with using the promise of sex as a surgeon’s scalpel to cut away his rage and violence. But Cinn didn’t want to use sex as a weapon.
Dacian hissed at her. He licked his lower lip, a strangely erotic gesture without any erotic intent. Cinn had a feeling he was only anticipating dinner.
His vampire nature terrified her on a primal level, just as it had the first time. But this time she knew the man, knew that this wasn’t the real person. But what if it is? What if the person he’s shown you is a fake? No, she wouldn’t allow herself to believe that.
Someone touched her arm, and she uttered a startled squeak. She turned to see Bain by her side.
“I wouldn’t go any closer if I were you.” He might be warning her away, but pure joy and excitement gleamed in his blue eyes. “He’s one of the most physically powerful vampires I’ve ever met. Good thing he’s crazy right now, because I bet he has some serious supernatural powers when he’s in his right mind.” The demon shook his head in admiration.
“Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” The stranger who’d bumped into Cinn in the courtyard stepped out of the shadows.
Gorgeous, with brilliant blue eyes and long dark hair, he was obviously angry. He was also obviously another vampire, because he was showing fang. At least his eyes were still blue. Cinn decided Dacian
’s black eyes scared her even more than his dental display.
“We’re not sure.” Sparkle shrugged as she studied her nails. She frowned at the three broken ones before remembering that she was building character. She focused her attention on the new vampire. “When Ganymede brought him in he was like this. Then he snapped out of it. Now we’re back where we started. It’s something his maker, Stephan, is doing to him. He can’t control it, and we sure can’t either.”
Ganymede had taken a seat on top of the iron maiden. “I say we leave him here and let him come out of it on his own.”
Cinn’s head was spinning with the seemingly constant stream of violence. Where had her simple life of working with her plants veered off track?
Edge started for the door. “Sparkle’s right. Nothing we can do now until he comes out of it. Leave the guy alone. We don’t need to make a circus out of it.”
Cinn watched as Edge, followed closely by Bain, left. Holgarth had stayed up in the great hall to handle business.
Ganymede leaped from the iron maiden and padded to the door. “Coming, sugar-bucket? Exercise always makes me hungry. I think some of your cookies are still left.”
Sparkle sighed. “You can stay if you want, Cinn. Make sure Holgarth knows when you leave so he can lock the door. Try to get some rest, and we’ll shop in the afternoon.” She scowled. “Giant whoop.”
As Sparkle closed the dungeon door behind her, Cinn realized she was alone with two vampires. Too bad she couldn’t work up the energy to panic.
Dacian had stopped struggling against his bonds, but his eyes still held no awareness. It hurt her to look at him, so she looked at the strange vampire.
“Who are you?”
“Eric Mackenzie.”
Okay, that told her exactly nothing.
“Why are you here?”
“For him.” He nodded at Dacian.
“And you have a reason for being here for him?” Her temper was fraying, a victim of too much stimulus.