“For a few years after Stephan began messing with my head, I didn’t have a clue what I did when I was out of it. Then one day I ran into Kyla. We’d lived in the same area for a while. She told me I’d killed half the people in a nearby town. And that was just during one killing rage. There must have been other towns, other dead people.”

“You can’t blame yourself. The killings were on Stephan’s head.”

The anger he heard in her voice surprised him. “I killed.”

She made a rude noise.

“The next time the rage hit, I came out of it with some personal damage. Guess my food fought back.” He didn’t try to hide his bitterness. “I wanted to make sure I never forgot what I was capable of doing during a rage, so I imposed my will on my body. I kept it from healing long enough for the scars to form.”

Cinn looked away, and he got the feeling she was trying to control her reaction. Finally, she returned her gaze to him. “Kyla knew about your rages?”

“No, she knew about my killing. I didn’t tell her about Stephan.”

“She was there when the Mackenzies tried to trap you, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah. I’d killed some of them, too.” He didn’t feel anger at Kyla’s part in the plan. She was a Mackenzie, and clan was important to her.

He sat quietly while Cinn ate. Thinking. Things were getting complicated. He didn’t just want to make love with Cinn until it was time for him to leave with Taurin. He wanted to break Stephan’s hold on him so he didn’t have to leave her. And that was one of the scariest revelations of his long life.

Then there was Airmid. How could he leave the castle while the goddess was still a danger to Cinn? Okay, that wasn’t even an option. He couldn’t. He’d have to find a way to protect his brother and Cinn. From two different dangers. No, three, counting himself.

She rubbed her hand across her eyes. “Now that I’ve stuffed myself, I feel as though I could sleep for a week.”

Dacian paid for her meal and stood. He picked up Vince. “Then you need to sleep. In your own bed.” He answered her unspoken question. “Alone.”

“But the plants—”

“Will be fine.” He guided her to the elevator. “Ganymede doesn’t always come across as a supernatural heavyweight, but I have a feeling he could take both Airmid and Stephan down in a fight. Together. He owes you, so let him watch the greenhouse till dawn.”

“And you?”