My Wicked Vampire (8 page)

Asima’s gaze slid away from Cinn’s. “
Maybe.
“

Out of the corner of her eye, Cinn saw Dacian getting ready to yell at Asima. She held up her hand to stop him. Asima was a powerful being, and Cinn didn’t think she could be bullied.

“Anything you know, you need to tell me now while we can still save him.” Okay, she’d pull out all the stops. “He’s just a baby, out in the cold, frightened and alone.”

Emotion glistened in Asima’s eyes. “
I’m not crying. Messengers of Bast are cold, analytical
,
and never ever cry.
“

“I understand how strong you are, but are you strong enough to tell us the truth?” She held her breath. Everything depended on Asima now.

“
Well
,
there might be a trash can across the street from the park. On the seawall. Next to a bench. And that trash can might have a plant in it.
“ She blinked rapidly.

Cinn was already up and running. As she glanced at Dacian, she could tell from his expression that he was
passing the info on to the other searchers. Asima kept ahead of them, covering the ground in long leaps. Lucky for Asima, there wasn’t much late-night traffic on Seawall Boulevard or else she’d have used up at least eight of her nine lives.

Everyone converged on the trash can together. No one moved as Cinn reached into the can … and closed her fingers around Vince’s pot. When she pulled the pot from the can, everyone cheered. Vince looked limp, definitely not in good shape, but at least no one had yanked him out of the pot. He could be saved. She gently rolled up his vine and tucked his pot under her coat.

She didn’t stop to question Asima as she ran back to the greenhouse. Dacian stayed with her. Asima and the others didn’t follow.

Panting, she stopped at the greenhouse door, and when Wade swung it open she hurried inside.

“Well, hello, beautiful lady. Did anyone ever tell you that you’re as lovely as a rainbow trout?”

“Not now, Wade. I have to save Vince.” Somewhere in the back of her mind she made note of Wade’s strange compliment, but then pushed it aside.

Dacian remained silent as she worked over Vince. Finally, she straightened. “He’ll survive. I’m leaving him here because of the controlled temperature and humidity.
I’ll
guard the greenhouse tonight.” And God help the person who tried to stop her.

“At least come back into the castle long enough to grab something to eat. Besides, everyone’s meeting so Asima can tell her story. You’ll want to be there.” Dacian looked anxious to be gone.

Cinn stared at Wade. He stared back at her with adoration shining in his demon’s eyes. She sucked in her breath. That was right, Wade was a demon. And he’d seemed so normal. If
he
could be nonhuman, then any
one could. But at least he’d have the power to defend her greenhouse.

“Fine.” She looked at Wade. “I appreciate you giving up so much of your time today. I owe you.”

“No problem, ma’am. You know, I’d trade my favorite Shimano CTE 200 DC reel with the computer chip in it for a night out with you.”

Oh, boy. Cinn glanced at Dacian. Dacian didn’t look amused. Well, she thought Wade was sweet. Strange, but sweet.

Once inside, Dacian and Cinn followed Sparkle into the meeting room attached to the restaurant. Asima perched on her own chair. She looked elegant and unflustered.

Ganymede didn’t bother with a chair. He’d plunked his ample bottom on the table next to Sparkle’s chair. Holgarth sat at the head of the table, probably his self-appointed spot. He was that kind of guy.

“Now that everyone is here.” His glance at Cinn and Dacian suggested that they’d kept everyone waiting for hours. “We’ll begin the investigation into how the plant, Vince, ended up in the trash can.”

Asima turned calm eyes on Holgarth. “
You are such a blowhard, wizard. There doesn’t have to be an investigation. I threw the plant into the trash can.
“

Humans might have gasped. Nonhumans just stared. Well, Cinn was a human, and she gasped loud enough to cause everyone to glance her way.

“
I materialized in Cinn’s room while she was sleeping. Bain was asleep on her couch. He sleeps very soundly for a demon.
“

“You slept on my couch without my permission?” Cinn couldn’t keep the horror out of her voice. A
demon
had slept with her.

Everyone stared at Bain. He shrugged. “I don’t do floors.”

As one, everyone’s gaze swung back to Asima.

“
I took the plant. I was supposed to destroy it, but I felt bad about that. It’s such a pretty plant. So instead of throwing it into the Gulf
,
I threw it in the trash can. I thought someone might pass by and find it.
“

“And why did you do this dastardly deed?” Holgarth was at his pretentious best.

“The goddess Airmid told me to.”

Silence filled the room. Even Cinn didn’t gasp this time. Dacian figured she’d used up all her air on her first gasp. He knew Holgarth was supposed to be asking the questions, but he couldn’t wait for the wizard to spit the next one out. “Why would you do what Airmid told you to do?”

Holgarth’s gaze was cold enough to freeze Dacian’s eyeballs. “I believe that I’m in charge of asking questions, vampire.”

Dacian wasn’t intimidated. “Yeah, well, then ask them faster.”

Holgarth turned to Asima. “Exactly why would you do what Airmid told you to do?”

Asima settled in. She looked like she was primed for a long explanation. “
I work for Bast, greatest of all goddesses, protector of cats everywhere, queen of—
”

“Yes, yes, we know. Get on with it.” Holgarth tapped his finger impatiently on the table.

Asima speared him with an enigmatic cat stare that could mean anything from, “I think you’re an amazing person,” to “You’re a wizened old fart.”

Dacian suspected the latter.

“
Bast and Airmid have been best friends for thousands of years. So when Airmid needed someone to help her achieve her goals, she contacted Bast.
” Asima offered a cat shrug. “
And Bast ordered me to help Airmid. I must obey my goddess.
”

Holgarth leaned forward. “Why did Airmid want to destroy the plant?”

Asima looked as though she thought the answer must be obvious. “
Because he’s an abomination.
”

“He absolutely is not. He’s timid and shy and—”

“Be quiet, woman.” Holgarth was at his most bombastic.

“Oh, stuff it, Holgarth.” Cinn half rose from her chair.

Dacian was proud of her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cared enough about anyone other than his brother to feel pride in them.

Asima turned her gaze on Cinn. “
I apologize for what I did to Vince, but you must understand that I couldn’t defy my goddess.
”

“Yet, in the end, you did.” Cinn seemed to find that an incredible act.

Asima sighed. “
Bast will be displeased with me.
”

Holgarth made an attempt to wrest control of the meeting back into his own hands. “What else did Airmid want you to do?”

“
She wanted me to destroy all the plants in the greenhouse and then take care of the plants that were already in guests’ rooms.
”

“The bitch.”

If expressions were anything to go by, everyone shared the opinion Cinn had voiced.

Asima brightened. “
Of course, I can’t do that now that you have a demon guarding the greenhouse. Airmid wants me to be discreet and not call attention to myself.
”

“
Like that’s ever going to happen.
” Ganymede made his first contribution to the discussion. “
Did you bring the bag of jellybeans with you, babe?
” He glanced hopefully at Sparkle.

Sparkle pulled a bag of candy from her purse and put it on the table. Ganymede dove in. Didn’t look like he’d be contributing anything else tonight.

Asima was evidently used to Ganymede’s insults, because she rattled on. “
And I obviously won’t be able to reach the plants in the guests’ rooms if you move them all into the greenhouse, too. You should do that right away before I finish taking the nap I intend to take as soon as I get back to my room.
”

“And you assume you’ll have a room to go back to?” Sparkle sounded gleeful at the prospect of kicking Asima’s furry butt out the door.

“
Of course. I’m your only connection to Airmid.
”

Dacian was tired of all this back-and-forth. Edge and Bain were starting to look restless, too. “Where is Airmid now?”

“
In the castle somewhere.
”

Well, hell. Dacian glanced at Cinn. Her hands were clenched into fists in her lap.

“So let’s go find the bitch.” Edge had the right idea. “What’s she look like?”

“
I don’t know.
” Asima looked bored. “
She communicated mentally with me.
” And then before anyone could ask another question, she disappeared.

“I hate when she does that.” Holgarth looked ticked.

It must have been tough losing his star witness right in the middle of the interrogation. Dacian pushed back his chair and stood. Cinn did the same.

“We have to get all the plants out of the guests’ rooms.” Cinn’s voice didn’t quiver, but the strain had to be working on her.

“Asima didn’t say what Airmid had planned for Cinn.” And right now Cinn was more important to Dacian than a hundred of her plants. “I’ll be with her at
night, but from dawn till sunset there always has to be someone watching her.” He cast Bain a pointed stare. “Someone who doesn’t sleep on the job.”

Bain glared before looking away.

“I’ll be with her in the afternoon.” Sparkle didn’t sound happy about that. “Tomorrow I have to buy new outfits. Ordinary. Serviceable. Cheap.” She said each word as though it burned her tongue. “I’ll need support.” She glanced at Cinn. “Would you go with me to the…” She closed her eyes, girding herself to say the words. “…big-box store?”

“What store did you have in mind?” There wasn’t a lot of interest in Cinn’s voice.

Sparkle shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in one.”

Oh, crap.
Cinn was going to have a hell of a day with the queen of sex and sin. Well, Dacian might not be able to help her with Sparkle, but he could sure make the rest of the night more comfortable. “I think Cinn needs some rest now.”

“I haven’t adjourned the meeting yet.” It seemed as if that really bothered Holgarth.

“Too bad.” Dacian guided Cinn out of the room.

She said nothing until they walked into her room and he closed the door behind them. “Thanks for getting me out of there.” Cinn glanced around and then froze.

He followed her gaze. On top of her pillow lay a sprig of some plant. “What is it?”

“Lavender. From Airmid. Who else would put it there?” Her expression turned bitter. “Just a friendly reminder that she can go anywhere she wants and there’s nowhere I can hide.”

Fury rose in him. He felt his fangs pushing against his lip and knew if she glanced at him now she’d see the
black eyes he’d shown her in the dungeon. With a huge effort, he pushed back against his need for violence. “You don’t have to hide. I’m here with you. And there are enough nonhumans in this castle to give even Airmid a fight. She’s on our turf now.”

Cinn turned weary eyes toward him. “Thanks for the support. Appreciate it.” She looked around as though she didn’t know where to start. “I’m just going to grab a few things. I’m sleeping in the greenhouse tonight.”

He didn’t try to argue with her. He figured it would be useless anyway. “Ganymede will already be collecting plants from the guests’ rooms. He’ll be able to do it without disturbing anyone. I’ll have a cot brought down to the greenhouse while you’re gathering your stuff together.”

Pulling out his cell, he ordered the cot along with pillows and bedding while she pulled what she’d need from her closet and then went into the bathroom. Torture was listening to her shower run while resisting the need to climb in with her.

He was vampire. Which meant that not only did he have preternatural speed and enhanced senses, but also a sex drive that in the right situation could be obsessive. It was getting to that stage with Cinn.

Dacian wanted to slide his hands over her bared body, slick from the warm water sluicing over her smooth skin. Then he’d slowly lick a trail…He shook his head.
Stop it.
Somewhere along the way he’d almost forgotten about Taurin and the danger from Stephan.

His torture ended when she finally emerged from the shower. Her face was scrubbed clean and she wore baggy jeans and a bulky sweatshirt. She had fuzzy slippers. And still he thought she was the sexiest thing he’d seen in centuries.

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.