by Nina Bangs
Taurin’s face was a calm mask—no narrowed eyes, no thinned lips. No welcoming smile either. Dacian’s brother wore his vampire face.
So Dacian searched for hints in Taurin’s body language. Clenched fists. That could mean he was trying to control his emotions, or more likely, he wanted to punch Dacian’s face in.
Dacian understood his brother’s reaction because he wore his own mask. But he was better at it than Taurin. He didn’t clench his fists.
Tension snapped and crackled around the greenhouse. Dacian figured if he touched metal right now he’d shock his ass off.
He wanted to take the few strides separating him from his brother and wrap his arms around him.
He wanted to walk out of here lugging his shame behind him.
He did nothing. He waited.
“Guys, this is all crap. You haven’t seen each other in two hundred years. Hug each other. Punch each other. Talk to each other.” Cinn threw up her hands. “I’ll wait outside. And no, I won’t need a guard because there’re plenty of people in the kitchen at this time of night. Oh, a warning: Wreck my greenhouse and you pay in blood.” She slammed the door leading to the kitchen as she left.
Dacian sensed fear beneath Cinn’s frustration with them. Fear they’d fight? He didn’t think so. She probably shared his fear that they’d turn and walk away from each other.
Well, he wouldn’t be the one walking. “Heard you got married.”
Taurin nodded, but his mask didn’t slip. “She’ll give me hell for slipping away from her like this to meet you. She’s afraid I’ll try to kill you. The thought has merit.”
Why did you do it? Why did you let me think you were dead for two hundred years? Taurin’s unspoken accusation hung between them, poisoning the air and the closeness they’d once shared. Was forgiveness possible?
“Do you want to hear the story?” Dacian was losing his vampire cool. He clenched his hands into fists.
“Tell it.” Taurin’s voice gave nothing away.
Dacian kept it short. In clipped sentences he described what happened each time he turned Stephan down. He didn’t spare himself as he described the slaughters for which he was responsible.
“And you didn’t think I’d want to know about this? Didn’t think I might be able to help you? Didn’t trust me enough to share what you planned?” Taurin’s smooth mask was slipping also. Anger, hurt, and a long sorrow shone in his eyes.
Even though Taurin didn’t emphasize any of his words, Dacian knew which one his brother wanted to shout. Trust. He’d hurt Taurin, and knowing that tore at him.
“If I’d told you everything, would you have let me disappear for two hundred years without contacting me?”
For the first time, Taurin broke eye contact. “No.”
Dacian remained silent. He’d made his point. It was Taurin’s turn.
Dacian’s brother met his gaze again. Anger had pushed the other emotions into the background. “Did you know I spent two hundred years trying to kill Eric Mackenzie because I blamed him and the other Mackenzies for your death?”
Dacian winced.
“Yeah, and he almost killed me right back. I’d be dead if it weren’t for his wife, Donna. She saved me after Eric left me in a field to meet the sun.”
Son of a bitch. Dacian felt the slide of his fangs. He’d rip Eric apart, he’d…He forced back his unreasoning bloodlust. Eric had only been protecting himself from a perceived rogue vampire. You caused the whole thing, almost got your brother killed. If hate hadn’t crazed him, Taurin would never have taken on any of the Mackenzies.
Dacian had to say the words. “I’m sorry.”
They seemed to bounce right off Taurin. “So what brought you back from the dead?”
“All those centuries in Alaska, I kept contacts with the outside world. I had someone watching both you and Stephan. I got word that Stephan knew where you were and was going after you to get to me. I knew I had to reach here first and take you somewhere safe where Stephan couldn’t find you.”
“Fuck that.” Taurin’s anger exploded. “It’s okay for you to watch over me, but I’m not allowed to try to save you. What kind of shit is that?”
Dacian only knew three words that would defuse all of Taurin’s fury, tough words for someone like him to say, but they needed saying. “I love you.”
Taurin visibly wilted. “That’s playing dirty, big brother.”
Dacian nodded.
“I’m not running, you know.”
“Neither of us is running. I know I’m done with it. The main players in the castle are having a meeting later tonight to decide how to beat Stephan.”
“You think he’ll come himself and not just send some of his underlings?”
“Yeah, I think he’ll come himself. And I think he wants both of us. If he just wanted me, he could’ve struck as soon as Ganymede brought me here. He wants something more.”
“You think he figures if he holds me hostage you’ll do what he wants?”
“Something like that.” Beneath the conversation about their mutual enemy, Dacian could feel the dark river of their emotions still foaming, still at flood stage.
If Taurin wouldn’t take the steps that would close the space between them, Dacian would have to. He didn’t hurry as he walked to where his brother stood.
Taurin moved with the preternatural speed of his kind as he punched Dacian in the stomach.
“Bastard.” Dacian spoke from his doubled-over position. “Eric got me in the same spot.”
Taurin gave him no more time to complain, because he dragged Dacian upright and hugged him. “I never stopped looking for you once we realized you’d planned your disappearance. Don’t ever do that to me again.” Emotion clogged his voice. “Just don’t ever.”
Dacian wasn’t up to speech right now; he could only nod. But then he didn’t need to say anything. His brother couldn’t help feeling all that emotion pouring off him.
Taurin dropped his arms and Dacian stepped back just as an angry voice came from outside the greenhouse.
“Where the hell are they? Are they killing each other? Well, if Taurin isn’t already dead he will be when I get through with him. We’d just gotten here, and I was talking to Eric when my husband slipped away. From me! I’ve helped him search for Dacian. I’ve shared all his hopes and fears for his brother. I should’ve been there when he saw him for the first time in two hundred years. Okay, so it’s not just curiosity. I wanted to make sure the grand reunion didn’t end in a bloodbath.” Fierceness entered her voice. “And if Dacian was cruel to Taurin, he’ll answer to me.”
“Oh, shit.” Taurin rubbed his hand across his face. “Prepare to meet my wife.”
Dacian would have felt a little more worried if he hadn’t heard the laughter in Taurin’s voice.
Cinn stared bemused at Taurin’s wife. Because that was the only person this woman could be. With long black hair and big blue eyes, she didn’t look as though she should pose a threat to Dacian, but Cinn knew looks were deceiving. Who would guess that Cinn would even think of going one-on-one with Stephan? But for the right man all things were possible. And that admission really scared her.
Cinn glanced back at the greenhouse door. “I haven’t heard any cries of agony or objects breaking.” She smiled at the other woman. “By the way, I’m Cinn Airmid. My plants are inside the greenhouse, so I have a vested interest in this not turning violent.” My man is in there. And no matter how loud her common sense shouted, “Take that back,” Cinn knew the words were true. Lately her brain and heart hadn’t been on the same page often.
The woman relaxed a little and returned Cinn’s smile. “I’m Kristin Veris, Taurin’s wife. All of this is a huge surprise. We’d barely walked in the door when Eric intercepted us. He just said, ‘Dacian’s here.’ Eric always did know how to drop a bombshell.”
“I guess that rocked Taurin.” Cinn still didn’t hear any worrisome sounds from inside the greenhouse.
“You wouldn’t believe th
e look on his face. He grew completely still and just asked where. Eric said he wasn’t sure. I thought we’d spend a few minutes finding out what was going on before hunting for Dacian. When I turned to look for him again, he was gone.” Kristin stared at the door. “I can’t take it anymore. I have to know they aren’t both lying dead in there.” And without another word, she opened the door.
Cinn squeezed in right behind Kristin. A quick glance assured her both brothers were standing and there was no blood. She turned her relieved gaze on Dacian. “Introductions?”
“Cinn, this is my brother, Taurin.” He glanced at Taurin. “This is Cinn, my…” And his voice trailed off.
His what? She had to know.
“Just his. He hasn’t added the last word yet. But it looks very promising.”
Vince. Cinn felt the familiar shock. She guessed that would never go away. She stared over at the periwinkle. He looked just like an ordinary plant. How could he be sentient? Had she really done that? Where was his brain? How had he learned so much language in such a short time? How could he communicate mentally? And why was he talking to her now? Her head felt ready to explode from all her questions.
Vince’s laughter was light but definitely male. “I have no brain like yours. I think with every one of my leaves. I learned language by listening to many thoughts. And I did not communicate with you at first because I was in awe. You are my maker, my goddess.” The voice in her mind faded to a whisper on the last word.
No, she wasn’t anyone’s goddess. She didn’t want Vince thinking of her that way. But she had no time to digest the implication of Vince’s words because Taurin was smiling at her. God, he looked so much like Dacian.
“Hi, Cinn. Looks like you’ve already met Kristin.”
Cinn managed to smile past the unanswered questions ping-ponging around in her brain. What was she to Dacian? How could she deal with plants she didn’t understand anymore? She forced herself to answer him. “Yes. We met outside the door. We both thought we’d be counting body parts when we finally got in here.” But she saw now that it had been a needless worry. No one could miss the love the brothers felt for each other. It shone in their eyes.
If any of them thought they’d have time to talk over the bad old days, they were doomed to disappointment. Cinn heard the door swing open behind her and turned in time to see Ganymede pad into the room. Sparkle followed at a more leisurely pace.
It amazed Cinn that Sparkle had gotten there at all. Her leather pants were tighter than tight, and her clingy top was nothing but a second skin. There couldn’t be much breathing going on in there. Her boots had skinny four-inch heels. It was a wonder she didn’t get a nosebleed from the sudden change in elevation.
Sparkle offered Cinn a finger wave as she moved to her side. She leaned in to whisper, “This outfit is to arouse every male who sees it. And since I’m unattainable, they’ll go home and have wild sex with their wives. See, I’m making the world a happier place.”
Cinn wasn’t sure she followed Sparkle’s convoluted reasoning, but if rationalization worked for her, Cinn was fine with it. “Why are you guys here?”
Ganymede answered her question. “Nice to see everyone getting along.” Actually, his expression said he would’ve enjoyed a little bloodshed before the brotherly love kicked in. “I’ve called a meeting in the greenhouse. Only nonhumans involved in the park get to attend. We need to talk about Stephan.”
“Stephan?” Kristin looked confused.
And while Taurin brought her up to speed, Dacian had his own question. “Why here?”
“Easier to control who might be listening in. The greenhouse tours stop at seven, so there won’t be a lot of hotel guests and tourists wandering around out here at night. I’ll sense as soon as someone comes close.”
One by one, everyone arrived. Finally, Ganymede stared at the greenhouse door and there was the click of the lock. “Okay, we’re all here except for Donna.”
“What about Kyla? She’s a Mackenzie, and she’s in the castle. I put out a call for the Mackenzie clan to meet here anyway, so she’ll be part of the battle.” Eric shot a pointed stare at Bain. “She’d probably be more trustworthy than a demon.”
Bain simply laughed.
Ganymede hissed at Eric. “I decide who’s here and who isn’t. I don’t know this Kyla. And I don’t care who thinks she’s trustworthy. Are you done?”
Yay, Ganymede. Cinn grinned. Yeah, she knew she was being petty and sort of jealous, okay, a lot jealous, but she was glad Kyla wasn’t at the meeting.
Eric subsided with a muttered complaint about minityrants.
Cinn glanced around. Dacian, Taurin, Kristin, Bain, Edge, Eric, Holgarth, and Asima. Asima? Then she pushed aside her lingering doubts about the cat. Ganymede wouldn’t have invited her if he didn’t trust her. Asima padded over to Teddy and curled up next to him.
But before Ganymede could begin, someone knocked at the door. With an annoyed hiss, Ganymede sent the door crashing open. A woman slipped inside. Cinn only had time to note that the woman was gorgeous, with shoulder-length blonde hair.
She waved at everyone. “I’m Donna Mackenzie, Eric’s wife. I did my show from a local affiliate and then drove like hell to get here. Did I miss anything?” But even as she asked, her gaze riveted on Dacian. “Where have you been for two hundred years?”
“Hold the questions.” Ganymede’s tail whipped up a storm. “Here’s the deal. I filled all of you in on this dumbass vampire, Stephan. He’s gathered an army of night feeders and now he thinks he’s Napoleon. Well, we’re about to give him his personal Waterloo.” He glanced at his wizard. “Fill them in on the details.”
Holgarth still looked a little shaken. Cinn didn’t blame him. The hooded wizard must’ve really rattled his confidence. Besides, it was scary knowing someone with that kind of power lurked somewhere in the castle.
She glanced around her. Okay, there were a bunch of people in the castle with scary power. But at least she knew they were on the side of the angels. She glanced at Bain. Or maybe not.
“We have no idea how many vampires Stephan will bring with him. Not that it matters.” Holgarth sneered his contempt of all night feeders. “Even this Stephan, ancient though he is, won’t have the power of the Mackenzies or any of us.”
Uh-oh. Cinn watched Dacian’s eyes narrow. Holgarth forged on, unaware or uncaring that in making light of Stephan’s power, he’d also insulted Dacian.
Wait. He’d said “any of us.” For whatever reason, Cinn had assumed that Kristin and Donna were human. “Umm, just checking something out. Am I the only human here?”
Holgarth huffed his displeasure at being interrupted. “I’ll refrain from listing all your human frailties and simply give you the short answer. Yes. Now unless you have another inane question to ask, I’ll get on with the really important things we have to discuss.”
“You get off on making people mad, don’t you?” If Cinn had the power, she’d activate Teddy and have him shoot a few dozen spines into someone’s pompous butt.
Holgarth raised one supercilious brow. “Of course. And it’s so pathetically easy to do.”
Cinn glanced around the group. “How do you guys put up with him?”
Edge laughed. “The old guy has his moments. Ignore him.”
And as angry as Cinn was with Holgarth, she felt a twinge of sympathy when he winced at the word “old.” Maybe feeling vulnerable caused Holgarth to lash out at those he felt were weaker than he. Okay, cut the psychoanalysis. Maybe Holgarth was just naturally badtempered.
“This is taking too long.” Ganymede paced the counter. “I have a game to watch and a bowl of popcorn waiting for me. Here’s what’s going to happen.”
Cinn caught the humiliated expression in Holgarth’s eyes before he quickly masked it. Ganymede shouldn’t have done that.
“Holgarth is going to activate the park’s gargoyles. For anyone who doesn’t know, they’re our special defense system. Cool guys. They keep out whatever we
tell them to. Once awake, they’ll make sure no night feeders except for Taurin and Dacian get into the park. They won’t bother humans.”
Cinn couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “What if a few night feeders are already inside? And maybe Stephan hired some humans to infiltrate the castle.”
Ganymede yawned, exposing sharp little feline teeth. “No night feeders are in the castle. We would’ve sensed them. And humans don’t have enough power to worry about.”
Ganymede, the equal opportunity insulter. Cinn decided not to argue with him. It would be a waste of time.
Ganymede glanced at his wizard. “Will you need help?”
Cinn sensed Holgarth’s reluctance to admit he needed help with anything. Didn’t anyone else see what Ganymede was doing to him? Maybe being nonhuman meant you didn’t care too much about the feelings of others. Score one for the human side.
“Yes. I’ll need Eric, Edge, and Bain. I can’t use Dacian or Taurin. They’re night feeders. They’d just confuse the gargoyles. Awakening the gargoyles takes immense power.” He paused as if gathering himself to speak the next sentence. “It will take more than just my power.”
Ganymede went on without seeming to notice Holgarth’s distress. Of course, Ganymede evidently didn’t know about the hooded wizard. Maybe Holgarth should have told him.
“Good. Get it done right after the meeting.” Then Ganymede turned back to the others. “Once the gargoyles are awakened, we’ll have time to plan our defense. Stephan will probably hang around Galveston, figuring we’ll have to come out of the park sometime. So once we have our plan in place, we’ll shut down the park for major repairs and send the humans home. Then we’ll invite him in.” And if a cat could smile, then Ganymede was smiling.
Cinn hated to interrupt his self-congratulation, but she had an important question. “What about Airmid? I don’t know if she’s here or not. We can’t sense her. Can your gargoyles keep her out, too?”
Ganymede seemed to actually give her question some serious thought before shaking his head. “Goddesses are too high in the paranormal hierarchy. The gargoyles can’t touch them. But she’s not a player in our battle with Stephan, so I don’t think she’ll interfere. We’ll continue to keep a guard on the greenhouse. If things get tight—not that a bunch of puny-ass night feeders will be a problem—then you’ll have to protect your plants the best way you can alone.”