Asima twitched her whiskers. “Perhaps.”

Cinn figured she’d better get this over with before the cat reconsidered. “Eva’s over here.” She led Asima to the rosebush. “Jump up on the counter. Put your paw or something on one of the open blooms. My theory is that Eva’s pollen causes the reaction.”

“An intriguing theory but highly unlikely.” Asima reached out with one elegant paw to bat at a flower and then switched paws for another bat at a different one. Finally, she stuck her nose into a flower.

“Easy. Don’t knock off the blooms.”

“Now what?”

“Go up to the great hall and touch Holgarth with whatever part of you still has some pollen on it. Make sure you touch skin. There has to be a pollen transfer.”

“Holgarth?” Asima sounded surprised, but then a sly gleam appeared in her eyes. “Holgarth. Yes, I could enjoy spurning his pitiful advances.” She brightened. “This will be fun.”

Cinn didn’t know if she trusted the cat’s obvious glee. But it was too late now.

“I’ll go right now.” Asima bounded along the counter, pausing for a moment to bat playfully at Vince’s leaves.

“Jeez, be careful, Asima. You could knock off some leaves. Oh, and whatever you do, never go near those plants in the corner. Those are my weed warriors. They’re off limits.”

“Uh-oh.” Dacian winced. “You said the wrong thing to Asima. A cat is curiosity with claws.”

Cinn saw the cat’s intention in her eyes a second before she acted.

With one leap Asima reached the off-limits plants. And before anyone could stop her, she batted at a prickly cactus.

Cinn’s shouted warning came too late. “Nooo! Don’t touch Teddy.”

Asima forgot to be careful. As she turned away from the cactus, one of the spines hooked in her side. And that fast, the plant had her. A whole section of one arm broke off at a joint and stuck to her.

Asima didn’t suffer in silence. She bounded away, the section of cactus clinging to her like a drunken rodeo rider. Her yowls filled the greenhouse and probably set off car alarms in the parking lot.

“Son of a bitch.” Dacian snatched a heavy burlap sack from the table. Then he leaped at Asima and wrapped the sack around her. He wasn’t taking any chances with a pollen transfer.

She squirmed and screeched as he grabbed the pliers Wade had left out. Holding the cat as still as he could, he used the pliers to yank out the spines. Finally silence filled the greenhouse.

“That went well.” Dacian dropped the piece of cactus into the trash. “Explain.”

Cinn cast a nervous look at Asima, who was handling the trauma by methodically grooming herself. The cat didn’t return Cinn’s gaze.