by Nina Bangs
Dacian didn’t know if he liked the tone of that “now.”
“Have you two had sex yet?”
The man at the next table turned to look at them.
“Not your business, Sparkle.” Dacian met her gaze directly.
“Of course it is. Cinn explained to me that my calling in life was perfectly praiseworthy as long as I was doing it to improve people’s lives.” She tried to look humble, but the slyness hung around in the depths of her eyes. “I want you guys to be happy, and I think having wild sex a few times a night will really lower your stress levels.”
The man at the next table had evidently told his wife, because she cast a furtive glance their way.
Suddenly, Sparkle clapped. “I have a great idea. I’ll create your own special castle fantasy.” Her eyes glittered with excitement. “Eric was great when he was here. He was Eric the Evil. You can play the wicked vampire this time, Dacian. You’ve lived the part, so you shouldn’t have any problem with the role-playing.”
“Someone stop her.” Cinn’s mutter went unnoticed.
“Cinn, you’ll be the intrepid vampire hunter. We’ll fix you up with a cute little stake and everything. We’ll get Edge and Bain to join in so it’ll feel more authentic. Now here’s the best part.” She slid the tip of her tongue across her full lower lip.
Everyone at the next table leaned closer.
Dacian knew he should be as horrified as Cinn evidently was, but he couldn’t help being intrigued. Whatever Sparkle came up with would end in sex, and if the sex was with Cinn, then he was game.
Sparkle tapped Cinn’s hand to make sure she had her attention. “Your trusted partners, Edge the Immortal Death-bringer and Bain the Demon Hell-spawn, will help you to subdue the vampire. But he’s so absolutely gorgeous you decide to have your wicked way with him before you stake him.”
Cinn’s gaze flickered around her, pausing when she noted the rapt attention of the couple at the next table. “Oh, God, this is so embarrassing.”
Dacian figured that Sparkle and embarrassment didn’t meet very often.
“This is soooo good. You and your helpers secure the vampire to the table in the dungeon. The one with all the neat restraints. Then when your helpers leave, you rip his clothes from that luscious body.”
The man and woman at the next table stopped even pretending to eat.
“Then—”
It seemed like the whole restaurant stilled.
“Then you drive him to the brink of orgasm with your lips, tongue, teeth, and talented fingers. And just when he can’t stand one more minute of the exquisite sexual sensations, you—”
“Go home.” Cinn stood.
A small moan of disappointment whispered across the room.
Dacian sort of felt the same way. He was ready for the fantasy to happen right now. He wouldn’t mind if it took place here on one of these tables. He was that hot for Cinn. But no restraints. That would remind him too much of his rages.
Cinn beckoned to a waiter. “Our bills and a doggie bag.” Her stare told Sparkle in no uncertain terms who the doggie was in this group. “I really can’t see any character-building aspects in this whole thing.”
Sparkle looked surprised. “I don’t see why not. You obviously need to loosen up. I was just helping with that.” Her gaze slid to Dacian, and she smiled. “I think Dacian loosened up a lot.” Her gaze drifted lower. “Or not.”
Just as the waiter brought their bills, Sparkle made her point. “The old me would try to match people who were completely different in all ways except for sexual compatibility. That led to lots of conflicts outside the bedroom.”
“Well, you’re doing it again. Dacian and I have nothing in common.” Cinn avoided Dacian’s stare.
Except for the incredible sex. Dacian figured she was way into denial if she wouldn’t even own up to that. But he was into his own denial. He didn’t want to admit that her rejection hurt, because he’d survived this long by not caring whether or not anyone accepted him.
Sparkle narrowed her gaze on Cinn. “You’re refusing to admit this in the same way you refuse to admit that what you do with your plants is beyond ordinary. Wake up and smell the truth, sister. Both you and Dacian are being threatened by a supernatural power. Both of you have lived in your own kind of isolation.” She held up her hand to stop Cinn’s denial. “Just because you’re surrounded by family doesn’t mean you’re not alone. Each of you is misunderstood by the ones closest to you.”
Okay, he took exception to that. He glanced around, noted the other diners’ avid interest, and lowered his voice. “Taurin understands me just fine.” Dacian didn’t care if he sounded defensive. “I chose to abandon him. I walked away and for two hundred years didn’t contact him. He has no brother, not in the true sense of the word.”
“Crap.” Sparkle could be succinct when she wanted to be. “You’ve defied Stephan for two hundred years to keep Taurin safe. The same way Cinn is defying Airmid to protect her plants.” She plunked her money down on the table and turned to leave the restaurant, but she threw a last shot over her shoulder. “My character rating is soaring. I’ve brought together two lonely but caring people who truly need each other.” She glanced skyward. “Put that on your spreadsheet, O Big Boss.”
Cinn avoided looking at Dacian, which just made him mad. So they had nothing in common, huh? More like she didn’t want to have anything in common with a vampire. How about what had happened on the greenhouse table? She’d seemed pretty involved with that. But maybe it was just about the sex. He immediately felt outraged.
And as much as his mind told him he was overreacting, his emotions stayed in upset mode. But now wasn’t the time for a confrontation. So he remained silent all the way back to the castle while Cinn stared out at the dark gulf waters.
By the time they headed through the great hall toward her greenhouse, he’d managed to build a wall around his anger. The nightly fantasies were in full swing, and he spotted Eric leaning against a far wall, watching the costumed castle employees spin fantasies for the customers.
As he wound his way toward the other vampire, Cinn finally spoke. “If you want to talk to Eric, why don’t I ask Holgarth to walk to the greenhouse with me?”
She couldn’t wait to be rid of him. “Sure. I’ll be there as soon as I’m done here.”
He watched her join Holgarth, who was standing by the door, probably intimidating every customer who dared enter the castle. He was that kind of guy.
Eric grinned at him, but Dacian could see the caution in his eyes. Even Eric was leery of his unpredictable rages. “What’s happening?”
“I think we need to talk about Stephan.”
Eric nodded.
Dacian appreciated that Eric didn’t waste time with useless talk. “I’m not the only one who should be worried about him. He’s gathering his army, and as soon as he feels secure in his power he’ll try to take out any other vampires who might stand in his way.”
“That would be the Mackenzies?”
“The Mackenzies are the dominant vampire clan. He’ll have to destroy you if he wants to rule the vampire world.”
“What’s your point?”
“I can’t destroy my maker, but someone will have to, and soon. My original plans were to grab Taurin and run, try to find a place to hide him where Stephan wouldn’t find him. My plans have changed.”
“Because of Cinn.” Eric didn’t make it a question.
“Yeah. A little. But if Stephan thinks Taurin is here, why hasn’t he already taken him?”
“Maybe he knows your brother isn’t in the castle right now.”
“And how would he know that?”
Eric nodded. “Yeah. Someone here would have to tell him.”
“If Stephan has a spy in the castle, then he knows I’m here.”
Eric looked thoughtful. “You think he just used Taurin to flush you out into the open, that he fed that info to your guy on purpose?”
“It worked once before.”
They
were both silent, remembering the fire and its consequences.
“So what do you think will happen?” Eric’s eyes glittered with excitement.
“I’m not sure. If he just wanted me, he could have tried to take me as soon as I arrived. And I don’t know why he’d wait until Taurin comes home to strike.”
“If he wants you to fight on his side, then he’ll still want Taurin as a hostage to ensure you don’t run as soon as his back is turned.”
Dacian didn’t like that scenario, but it made sense. “This isn’t a good place for him to wage a battle. Too many nonhumans.”
“He could take you out of contention by doing what he’s done before. You won’t be much help to anyone chained to the dungeon wall.”
“There’s that.” Dacian hated feeling so helpless. What he hated even more was the thought that he wouldn’t be able to protect either Taurin or Cinn.
“Who do you think the mole is?” The expression in Eric’s eyes didn’t bode well for whoever was passing info to Stephan.
Dacian shrugged. “Could be anyone, even a human.” He’d started this talk with Eric to enlist the Mackenzies’ help in destroying Stephan, but now he was rethinking things. “If Stephan comes here, people will die. Human and nonhuman. I don’t need more deaths on my conscience.”
Eric shook his head. “You’re wrong. The castle is the best place for a confrontation. It can be defended. And Sparkle can close down the park for a while so no humans will be involved. She doesn’t run the park for the money. It’s here for her amusement.”
“I guess you’re right.” The full scope of what might happen was finally unrolling in his mind. Not much could scare Dacian, but this did.
“I’ll set up a meeting of every nonhuman who might be involved. And I’ll put a call out for any Mackenzies who can make it here.”
“Do I sense battle plans?” Holgarth had moved silently up to join the group. He waved away Dacian’s unspoken question. “I deposited her in the greenhouse. Edge is guarding it tonight. Wade is there, too, along with Asima.” His thin lips twitched, which for Holgarth must be a rolling-on-the-floor belly laugh. “The plant lady is safe for the moment.”
For the moment was the operative phrase. As angry as he was with her, Dacian couldn’t stop worrying, couldn’t stop caring.
Eric changed the subject. “Something important has come up, wizard. We need to call a castle meeting.”
Surprisingly, Holgarth didn’t pepper Eric with questions. He simply nodded. “I left my post by the door where I spend agonizing hours trying to explain the intricacies of our fantasies to clueless humans because I have a message for you, vampire.”
Both Eric and Dacian looked expectantly at him.
Holgarth made an impatient sound. “The message is for the rabidly insane vampire of the group.” He took a moment to straighten his pointed hat and smooth a few nonexistent wrinkles from his robe.
Dacian ground his teeth and barely controlled the slide of his fangs. The old fart was delaying on purpose.
The wizard met his gaze. “You have no idea how many of those less talented than me have used that term of disparagement.”
“Yeah, so you’ve proved you can slip into my mind. And if the shoe fits—” Dacian shrugged. “So what’s the message?”
“Taurin contacted me. He and his wife will be home tomorrow night.”
Chapter Thirteen
Cinn gazed helplessly around her greenhouse. Even here with her plants, where she’d always felt secure, everything was out of control. Asima whispered sweet nothings in Vince’s ear, er, leaf, while Teddy waved his mittened arms at them. Wade tramped down the aisle, his eyes bright as he carried his newest offering to her. And Edge sat, muscular arms crossed over his chest, scowling as he glanced at his watch.
She didn’t want to deal with any of this, and that was just wrong. How to save her plants and herself from Airmid should be occupying her every waking moment. It wasn’t. Instead, she thought about Dacian.
She’d made him mad. She’d felt his anger on the way home. He probably thought her silence meant she was still denying what Sparkle had said. Little did he know she’d stayed quiet because she was busy trying to find the right string to pull that would untangle the huge ball of confusion bouncing around in her head.
Paranormal entities didn’t exist. Hah!
She’d helped her plants evolve simply by hard work and her scientific knowledge of plants. Had to finally admit she was wrong about that.
Everything she’d done had improved her plants’ existence. Right. She’d turned Eva from a pretty flowering plant into a danger to society. Teddy was so much better off spending his days feeling frustrated jealousy. And Vince would be thrilled to realize he was the only one of his kind. No companions in his future, no hope of living an independent life.
Way to go, Cinn. Major screwups. You’ve managed to make everyone miserable. Yourself included.
But with her personal weather forecast predicting storms and more storms, she clung to one shining ray of hope. Dacian. He’d lodged in her heart and brought light, warmth, and an emotion too new, too deep, to accept right away. It was there, though. It was definitely there.
See, she’d finally found the right string to pull.
Cinn wanted to make love with him again, and again, into infinity. In order to have any chance of doing that, she had to save him from Stephan. Cinn wasn’t a violent person, but she would cheerfully plant a big fat stake in Stephan’s heart if it would free Dacian.
Wait. What had Sparkle said that first night in the dungeon? Something about Cinn using her healing power to help Dacian. She’d dismissed it just as she’d dismissed almost everything that didn’t line up with her narrow view of reality. Maybe she could—
“I’m so happy you’re finally opening yourself up to your inner power. Although I wouldn’t give Sparkle any credit for your transformation.” Asima sniffed her opinion of Sparkle.
“What?” Cinn hadn’t noticed that Asima had left Vince’s side. The cat now sat on the counter next to her.
“Haven’t you wondered why Airmid hasn’t knocked you in the head and dumped your body into an unmarked grave?”
“Well, maybe, a little.”
“Hmmph. It’s because she can’t.”
“And how do you know this?”
“I serve a goddess. I know these things. You obviously share some of her power or else you never would have been able to create such amazing plants. Airmid can’t just erase someone who is basically part of her. Huge congratulations, you’re a demigoddess.”
“Okay, head ready to explode here. That doesn’t make much sense to me.” Then what had made sense lately?
“Fine, I’ll reword it in language you can understand. Airmid can’t kill you without destroying a little of herself. Most goddesses aren’t into self-sacrifice.” Asima seemed to feel she’d said everything that needed saying, because she began washing her face with one delicate paw.
Sparkle wasn’t the only one experiencing rapid growth. Cinn’s basic beliefs and understanding of reality were expanding and morphing at warp speed. Her character? Not so much. Considering her violent thoughts aimed at Stephan, she’d guess that her character had taken a major hit.
“But she can still kill my plants.”
Asima paused in the washing process. “Oh, yes, she can certainly do that.” The cat glanced over at Teddy. “I have to visit Teddy now and read to him. It’s truly difficult for one cat, no matter how beautiful and talented, to keep two plants happy. Of course, they’re both male, so I have to be careful not to appeal to their baser instincts.”
“Uh-huh.” Cinn didn’t intend to go there. Ever.
She didn’t notice when Asima wandered off because Wade had arrived.
“Sorry I took so long getting to you, but I stopped to talk to Edge.”
Cinn glanced at Edge. He was grinning. Well, she was glad this awful situation amused Lord Death.
“Here. I got you this G. Loomi
s fishing rod. One of the best out there.” Something elemental appeared in his eyes. Something she hadn’t seen there before. “After we make love down in my cabin, we can come up on deck and fish while we look at the stars. You’ll love it out on the boat at night.”
That did it. She had to find a cure. Now. “It’s beautiful, Wade. What a shame it’s too cold to go out on a boat.”
Wade looked glum for a moment and then brightened. “It never stays cold for long in Galveston. First warm spell, we’ll take her out.”
Please don’t let him suggest we go to his room. She’d have to turn him down. And no matter how sweet he seemed at the moment, he was still a demon. Cinn didn’t want to stir up any demonic rages.
But evidently Wade’s imagination didn’t run any further than the deck of his boat. He nodded happily.
“I’ll always treasure this gift, Wade.” Cinn felt like gagging on her own hypocrisy. As soon as Wade was back to normal, she’d return all his gifts.
Just as Cinn was wondering what to say next, Dacian arrived. She closed her eyes. Thank you.
“Hey, Wade, great-looking rod you gave Cinn. She’ll get lots of use out of that.” Dacian slapped Wade on the back.
Wade narrowed his eyes. He might be completely oblivious to Cinn’s distress, but he understood perfectly that Dacian was a rival.
“With me. I’ll teach her how to use it. Don’t you have someone to bite somewhere?” When he wasn’t casting puppy-dog looks Cinn’s way, Wade could be pretty intimidating.
“I’m an employee of the castle. It’s my job to protect Cinn for the night. So I won’t be going anywhere.” Left unsaid was, “But you will.” Dacian held the demon’s gaze. “And right now I’m throwing everyone out so Cinn can work in peace.” He smiled as he said it, but the smile exposed some fang.
Edge was already on his way out the door, and Asima was reluctantly saying good-bye to Teddy. With a huff of frustration, Wade left.
“You might want to take the mittens off Teddy, Asima. They aren’t good for his growth.” Cinn hoped her smile didn’t look as weary as it felt.
“They’re good for my paws, though.” But she pulled them off with her teeth and dropped them on the counter beside Teddy’s pot. “I’ll be back in the morning, and I’ll bring some new music and a new book.”