“Bain has it covered.” Edge smiled. “No one messes with Bain, even a pissed-off goddess. The man has skills.”

Cinn didn’t think she wanted to know what those skills were. The new world she’d stepped into when she had arrived at the castle overwhelmed her. She needed some adjustment time.

There was only one person she wanted with her now. She looked up at Dacian. His expression convinced her she’d never take a shower alone again as long as Airmid was doing her thing. “Thank you.” She gazed at everyone in the room. “Thank all of you.”

Then her attention returned to Dacian. “I want to take Vince back to the greenhouse.” She didn’t think she’d mention that Vince had finally spoken to her. That was personal and could wait. “We’ll somehow make him safe there.”

“And then you can go with me to get back my clothes. We’re lucky. The store is open late tonight.” Sparkle had slipped into the room. “Of course, I want my clothes back only so I can go forth and teach the masses the joyously ecstatic feeling that comes from looking sexy and stylish.”

Everyone stared at her.

“What?”

Dacian answered. “Airmid kidnapped Cinn from her bathroom.”

Cinn put in her two cents. “Ganymede was the hero. He sent Dacian and Edge to rescue me.” She raised her gaze to the ceiling. “Just a suggestion, but a person with true depth of character would understand the power of forgiveness.”

“They would?” Sparkle looked blank for a moment. Then she smiled. “They would.” She turned to Ganymede. “Since I’ll be getting my old clothes back tonight, I don’t need to be mad at you anymore. Time to leave that moldy old greenhouse and come home, my very own golden god.”

Golden god? Cinn took another look at Ganymede. All she saw was a chubby black-and-white cat. Talk about love being blind.

Ganymede leaped from the bureau and padded to the door. “I’ll get my things right now. And don’t worry, I’ll never again touch any of your clothes, no matter how shallow you get, my sweet strawberry.”

Sparkle blew him a kiss before offering a finger wave.

Cinn hummed in her mind until the Splenda moment was over. There was just so much artificial sweetness anyone could stand.

“I’ll be with Cinn everyplace she goes as long as I’m awake.” Dacian’s stare dared anyone to argue with that. Even Sparkle stayed quiet.

Edge finally spoke up. “Be careful. Don’t get caught somewhere we can’t reach you quickly.”

They all understood his implication. If Stephan attacked Dacian’s mind at the wrong time, a lot of people would die.

Including me. Somehow the thought didn’t horrify Cinn as it once had. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t be ready to run like hell if Dacian told her to.

Dacian nodded. “Sparkle will be with us tonight.”