Cinn didn’t like to do this, but she had to give the goddess a demonstration. “Threaten one of your plants in some way. Then try to feel the emotions of the plants around it.”

Something in Airmid’s expression caught at Cinn’s throat. She leaped from her chair just as the goddess reached the table and plucked Vince up. “What a marvelous idea. I think I’ll destroy this one and see if my plants care at all. I doubt they will.”

Cinn rushed at Airmid even as the goddess lifted Vince’s pot high above her head. Too late! She was going to be too late to save Vince.

Chapter Twelve

Without warning, a flash of light blinded Cinn for a moment. Then everything happened in starburst blasts. Dacian appeared and grabbed her. Edge materialized beside Airmid and jerked Vince from her grasp. Then another flash of light and they were all back in her room at the Castle of Dark Dreams.

“What the hell happened?” Her legs were so weak she dropped onto a chair the moment Dacian released her. “And how can you be up when it’s”—she glanced out the window—“already dark.” Time was definitely misbehaving. What had seemed only a short time in Airmid’s world had been hours here.

“Yo, your furry caped crusader saved your butt.” Ganymede sat in regal splendor atop her bureau. “Airmid the airhead is probably still trying to figure out what happened.” He chuckled. “She’ll be one pissed-off immortal.”

Dacian tried to translate for Cinn. “As soon as Edge saw you were gone, he sent a mental shout-out to Ganymede. The cat woke me up. We all met here, and eventually Ganymede was able to trace the path to Airmid’s home.” He held up his hand to ward off her question. “Don’t ask. I don’t have a clue how he did it. Then he sent us to where you were. We grabbed you, and Ganymede pulled us back here.”

Cinn glanced at Ganymede with new respect. “Wow, I’m totally impressed. Thank you.” Now, if only someone could stop Airmid from ambushing her every time she grew careless. And no, she refused to have a bathroom bodyguard.

“No problem, babe. Had to do it, though. My sweetie would never forgive me if I lost you. Besides, I need you to keep me in snacks until Sparkle lets me move back in.”

Edge looked thoughtful. “One thing I don’t understand. If Airmid is so pissed at Cinn, why didn’t she just kill her when she had the chance?”

“I wondered about that, too. She sure doesn’t have a problem with destroying my plants.”

No one seemed to have an answer to why Cinn was still alive.

Speaking of plants…“Who’s guarding the greenhouse?” Panic touched her. Airmid would be in a temper, and she might strike at Cinn’s plants even with someone guarding them.