by Nina Bangs
“Do what?”
“Try to scare me by playing up your negatives.”
He couldn’t stop his surprised bark of laughter. “Lady, I don’t have anything but negatives. Believe it.”
She didn’t respond. Instead her expression smoothed out and she closed her eyes.
“What’re you doing?”
She didn’t answer for a moment, and then she opened her eyes. “I was sending Vince calm and peaceful feelings. It’ll reassure him.”
“Right. Reassure.” God, he hoped Taurin hurried home. Or maybe Airmid really would show up. Kicking goddess butt might keep him sane.
Cinn glanced around the greenhouse. “Well, I think everyone’s fine, so we can leave.” She headed for the kitchen exit, but paused with her hand on the door to glance back at him. “I can introduce you to the rest of the plants tomorrow night.”
“Wonderful.” He didn’t think she heard his muttered sarcasm.
Suddenly she grinned at him. It was playful and teasing and so sexy he almost groaned. Had he warned her about his uncontrollable bouts of lust? Sure he had. The exaggeration might turn out not to be an exaggeration at all. Maybe he’d spent too long in the Alaskan wilderness, because Want was wearing a capital W and coming up fast in his rearview mirror. He couldn’t let it gain any traction, because he had serious stuff to deal with. He couldn’t afford any side trips.
“My friends run and hide when I start talking about my plants. You can’t. I’m looking forward to having a captive audience. The life of a bodyguard sucks lemons, doesn’t it?” Her soft laughter was an expression of real amusement.
No one had shared that kind of laughter with him for a long time. She’d never know what a rare treat it was. And because he could almost feel his hard edges turning to mush, he strode through the kitchen, determined to put some space between them.
Dacian was already halfway across the great hall and headed for the stone steps that would take him back to her room when he remembered. He’d forgotten to lock the greenhouse door. He glanced behind him. He’d also forgotten to bring her with him. Even now she could be grabbing her plants to load into her truck. Damn.
When he got back to the greenhouse, he found her waiting for him, holding Vince all cozy in his pot.
“I decided to take him up to the room with me. He’ll be less nervous if I’m nearby.” She didn’t ask why he’d rushed off, and he didn’t offer an explanation.
Her narrowed gaze told him she was ready for his contemptuous comments. So he didn’t make any. “Great. Take him with you. Let’s get back to your room.” He thought about offering to carry the plant for her, but decided against it. The thought of one of her leafy charges in his undead clutches would horrify her too much.
He did compromise by taking one of the elevators in the hotel lobby up to her floor instead of climbing the stairs. She’d never know how much it cost him to stand in that small enclosed box. Whenever he camped out in a national park, he simply slept in a cave or the ground. No coffin for him. He could dig himself out of the earth. He’d never let himself be trapped again.
Once back in front of her door, she simply stared at him. He met her stare and held it. He’d protect her whether she wanted it or not.
“Give me some space, Dacian. I need to spend tonight alone in my room without you or Asima crowding me.”
He understood the need for alone time. And so he decided to compromise again. Damn, he hadn’t done this much compromising ever. He’d always been a my-way kind of guy. He nodded. “For tonight. I’ll hang around in the hall. I’ll know if someone gets into your room.”
She looked troubled. Evidently the thought of Airmid being able to simply materialize in her room bothered Cinn. It should. You didn’t mess with goddesses. He’d found they were a lot more dangerous than the gods because they held grudges longer.
“Thank you.”
Her relief that he wouldn’t be sleeping on her couch sort of ticked him off. Yeah, it was all about ego. Because even with his scars and his attitude, he’d never had problems attracting women when he wanted them.
As she closed her door behind her, Dacian once again felt the light brush against his mind that he could now identify as Vince. Only this time it wasn’t quite so tentative.
“Got it.”
The shock of hearing the voice stopped him dead. He reeled back his memory, trying to remember what he’d said to Vince. “I don’t make polite with anyone dropping in uninvited. Got it?” Holy shit. The plant could talk, or at least it was learning to talk. Maybe Cinn needed to think about what she was creating out in that greenhouse. For now, he’d keep his mouth shut about Vince. If the plant wanted to talk to her, it would. It wasn’t any of Dacian’s business.
No way could he settle down outside her door. He had too much suppressed energy, so he started to pace. He moved silently, but he wasn’t worried about other guests discovering him. They’d all be asleep.
Every time he passed Cinn’s door, he saw the room’s name, Wicked Intentions. By the time he’d passed it for the hundredth time, it had become his mantra. What he wanted to do with her had no goodness and light attached to it. He’d had plenty of time to let his imagination run amok, and what he had planned for the plant lady would scare her shitless.
He was working on the second hundred trips up and down the damn hall when he sensed the presence. Its power wrapped around him and he had to exert all of his own strength to keep it at bay. What the hell was it? Airmid? Possibly. She’d want to take out any possible protectors before going after Cinn.
The presence was also mounting a massive attack on his mind. This was no tentative tapping. Dacian strengthened the wall around his thoughts with reinforced concrete and tempered steel. Nothing would get in. Then he stilled as only a vampire could and felt.
It was climbing the steps toward him. He could’ve charged down the stone stairs to meet it, but he didn’t like fighting in confined spaces. If it came to violence, the hallway offered more maneuvering room. Whatever it was didn’t seem to care if he sensed it. So he stood in front of Cinn’s door and waited.
A man emerged from the stairwell. Big, with sandy-colored hair that reminded Dacian of a lion’s coat, and a grim reaper tattoo on one bare bicep, he would’ve looked formidable even if Dacian hadn’t sensed he wasn’t human.
As the guy drew closer, he slowed, and his amber eyes grew colder in direct proportion to his power push.
The hell with him. This wasn’t Airmid. But even if it had been the goddess, Dacian didn’t take crap from anyone. He gathered his power and did some pushing of his own. At the same time, he tried to jump into the stranger’s mind. No deal. He wasn’t really surprised, but he wanted the man to know that two could play the same game.
The guy stopped several yards away from him and just stared.
“Seen enough?” Dacian kept his voice quiet, but he put all the threat he could into the question.
The other man didn’t answer for a moment, and then he nodded. “Yeah, I guess I have. I had a few things to do tonight, and I just got back. Decided I’d come up to make sure you really were guarding Cinn. I take over the guard duty at dawn.”
Dacian knew his smile was no smile at all. “Don’t trust me? That’s okay, because I don’t trust anyone, especially someone who hasn’t told me his name.”
The big man shrugged. “Names don’t matter, vampire. But if you need to know, I’m Edge. I’m one of your fellow ‘managers,’ which is just a fancy term Sparkle uses for the men she’s trying to manipulate at the moment. Right now it’s you, me, and Bain. The three before us were Eric, Brynn, and Conall. They’ve moved on to other projects.”
Dacian figured Edge was using the small talk to work up to something bigger, so he didn’t say anything.
Edge smiled. “Wait, I think you know Eric Mackenzie. At least he says he knows you. I called him as soon as I found out that Ganymede had dragged your ass back to the castle. Eric says he’ll be here as fast as he can. Seems
you two have some old times to talk over.” His smile widened, but it didn’t make him look less dangerous.
Dacian didn’t let Edge see by even a blink how this news shook him. Hell, he didn’t need Eric complicating what was already a tangled mess. “I’m looking forward to seeing Eric again. So what’s your part in this game? And what’s your real name?”
Edge shrugged. “Hey, I’m just an interested observer. I’ve been here while Taurin searched for you. It takes a cold bastard to let his own brother think he’s been dead for two hundred years. But then, I admire someone who doesn’t let his emotions rule him.” His smile grew a little warmer. “That’s from one cold bastard to another.”
Dacian didn’t let the slight warming fool him for a moment. Edge would smile just like that as he tore off your head. “Your real name? Because you seem to be the kind of guy who would have a behind-the-scenes name.” A guess, but he figured more than likely it was true. “Oh, and you have the same eyes as Sparkle and Ganymede, so I’m guessing you’re another cosmic troublemaker. Never heard of you guys before, and now I’m tripping over you everywhere I go. Weird.”
Edge moved a little closer, and Dacian made sure his back was to the wall. Words masked intentions, and since he couldn’t read Edge’s mind, he’d have to go with body language. And Edge’s body language said he was putting himself in a position to attack.
“My real name? Finis. The End. I’m the cosmic troublemaker in charge of death. You deserve it, I bring it. I’ve done my thing for tens of thousands of years.” He wasn’t smiling now. “From what I’ve heard, you deserve a dropkick into hell more than most. And if it wouldn’t upset Taurin and make Sparkle all pissy, I’d take you out right now.”
“And you think you could do it?” Dacian made his voice casual and only slightly interested. But he gathered his powers around him. Ready.
Edge seemed surprised. “Sure. Why not? Look, you’re a night feeder. And everyone knows night feeders are at the bottom of the vampire power rankings. I could destroy you in my sleep.” His expression said it was only a matter of time before he tried.
Dacian was almost enjoying himself now. The troublemaker was underestimating him, just like Stephan had underestimated him. Stephan had thought because he was older than Dacian that he would be the one in control. Over the last two hundred years he’d found out differently.
“Try.” He hissed the challenge, positive that Edge had too much ego to turn it down.
Edge glanced up and down the hall and Dacian could almost hear him mentally calculating how much damage he could get away with inflicting on this nothing vampire.
Dacian saw it in his eyes a second before Edge struck, and he flung up his shields. The blast of power rocked Dacian, but his shields held and the blue flash bounced away from him and dissipated.
This was the part Dacian lived for. Edge’s eyes widened in shock and then his lips thinned in concentration.
“Well, well. Looks like I’ll have to work a little harder. Your point, bloodsucker. I wasn’t expecting any resistance.” He tried to look unconcerned. “Of course, I wasn’t trying to fry you, just lay a hurting on you. Like the hurting you’ve laid on your brother for so many years.”
Low blow. That made Dacian mad. Because it was true. It drove him to retaliate instead of just protecting himself as he’d planned.
Without trying to control his power, he lashed out at the other man. A whiplash of energy snapped Edge’s head back. A red welt pulsed angrily along his jaw.
“Son of a bitch.” Edge’s comment was one part surprise and three parts fury.
He backed away from Dacian and then let him have it. Slivers of glass drove at Dacian from every direction. Dacian’s shield shook and wavered under the onslaught.
Dacian had to give himself time to strengthen his shield, so he retaliated. Rivulets of fire crept across the floor, converging on the cursing troublemaker. The streams of flame crept over his shield, looking for a crack, a place to slide through and incinerate the enemy.
The sharp cracks of shattering glass and the sizzle of the flame filled the hallway with noise and smoke. Dacian had lost himself in the battle, and the glare from Edge said he wasn’t pulling any punches either.
But Dacian was weakening. The troublemaker was wearing him down. When he couldn’t maintain his shield any longer, he’d have to escape. He eyed the window at the end of the hallway. It was a narrow castle window, but if he shifted right before he hit it, he could smash through and be gone.
Cinn. Damn. He had to protect her. He’d have to find her window, crash through, and then listen to her scream bloody hell. But he didn’t have any other plan, so he’d go with it. The next power play by Edge shoved him hard against the wall and the troublemaker grinned. He sensed victory.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Ganymede’s roar of anger rattled around in Dacian’s head. Edge looked pained. They both froze.
Ganymede stood in front of the elevator, his cat’s eyes narrowed, his ears pinned, and his tail lashing from side to side. A man Dacian didn’t know stood beside the cat. He was grinning. The bastard.
“I just had to go into the minds of every guest on this floor and convince them they only dreamed there was glass breaking and a fire in the hallway.”
He could do that? Dacian was impressed.
The cat padded down the hall until he stood between the two men. “Who started this?” His whiskers twitched.
Dacian kept quiet. So did Edge. The troublemaker went up a notch in his opinion. He wasn’t a finger-pointer.
“Idiots.” Ganymede nodded at the man beside him. “Maybe Bain can keep his mind on business. He’ll take over for the rest of the night. You two”—he nodded at Dacian and Edge—“come with me. Sparkle wants to talk to you.”
Dacian groaned. Not Sparkle. He’d fight ten Edges and enjoy every second of it before he’d meet with the redheaded witch. A side glance at Edge showed the same expression of dread on his face. Great. Misery loved company.
“I think I’d like to sit in on this meeting.”
They all turned to where Cinn stood in her doorway, her favorite plant held protectively against her. She returned their stares. “And yes, he comes with me. No one’s taking him away.” Her expression dared any of them to try.
Which took a lot of guts, because if she had any sense at all she had to know any of them could take that plant from her without moving a muscle.
Dacian turned on Ganymede. “I thought you wiped everyone’s memory.”
The cat looked unconcerned. “I didn’t bother with her. It’s her butt on the line, so she deserves to know how she’s being protected.” He nodded at her. “Let’s get moving. I think I need a bowl of ice cream to keep from wiping the castle with the two of you.”
“If you think you can, cat, let’s see it.” Edge almost vibrated with aggression.
Dacian stared at him, amazed. Dumbass. No way would he take on the cat after going a round with Edge. Maybe Edge is a lot more powerful than you are. Yeah, there was that, too. Dacian prided himself on being pragmatic. He wasn’t into lost causes. He’d rather live to fight another day.
For a moment, the threat of unleashed power filled the hall with danger. Without thinking, Dacian moved in front of Cinn. If the explosion happened, he’d push her back into her room and take her out through the window.
And then the threat was over. Dacian didn’t know who had blinked, or even if anyone had, but the confrontation wouldn’t be tonight. Something told him it would eventually happen, though. That was one power struggle he didn’t want any part of.
Everyone except for the guy Ganymede had identified as Bain headed for the elevator, and Cinn fell into step beside Dacian. She’d taken the time to pull on jeans and a red top. But not a bra. He gripped his lower lip between his teeth to keep from showing fang. When he finally released his lip, he watched her gaze slide across it. She licked her own lips.
Awareness was suddenly alive a
nd well between them. He let his gaze slip to her feet. Safe enough. She still wore her fuzzy slippers. They made him smile. Good. Desire wasn’t banished, but at least it was bellowing outside the gates. And that was where he’d keep it for now.
“Do you want me to carry the plant?”
She frowned.
“I mean, carry Vince?” He hated to humanize the plant with a name, but if it made her more at ease with him he’d do it.
She wouldn’t let him carry the plant. She didn’t trust him. He was the terrifying undead to her. He didn’t try to slip into her mind to verify that belief because…he didn’t want the ugly details.
Cinn hesitated for a moment and then nodded. Reluctantly, she handed him the plant.
He couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d handed him a bomb. Dacian took Vince and wrapped his arms around the plant. If she’d put her trust in him to do this, he was going to make damn sure he didn’t drop the pot. She’d had the vine wrapped in a nice neat ball, but now it tumbled loose. Smothering a curse, Dacian gathered up the vine and draped it over his shoulder. Just freaking great. He glanced at Cinn. She was grinning. And suddenly, he felt like grinning, too.
Sparkle and Ganymede had a suite in one of the towers. Ganymede paused in front of the door. “Understand something. Sparkle did the decorating before she got depth and character. Personally I think this is who she really is, but that’s just me. Anyway, the first jerk who makes a crack about it gets a fist in the face.”
“You don’t have a fist.” Dacian had to point out the obvious.
“Smart-ass.” Ganymede turned back to the door. “I have claws, though.”
The door swung open and Ganymede padded in. Dacian, Cinn, and Edge followed him. Dacian and Cinn froze in the doorway. Edge just snorted his opinion and kept walking.
Sparkle swayed toward them. “Welcome. Have a seat.”
Her smile was an invite to have much more than a seat, but who was looking at her smile? Her nightgown was long, black, and just short of see-through.
Her smile widened as she studied Dacian. “I made sure I was decent for the meeting. And this gown is a leftover from my shallow days. I’ve ordered some plain cotton jammies, but they, um, must’ve gotten lost in the mail.” Her expression said she wasn’t looking too hard for them.
