As Cinn waited for Sparkle to spout more lunacy, she felt a tentative fluttering in her mind. It was questioning and unsure, but it was a definite presence. Vince? Was it possible? Had he sensed her fear over the distance between the dungeon and the greenhouse? Had her fear finally driven him to reach out?

“I’ll try to say this in a way that won’t terrify you.” Sparkle pursed her full lips, making the act of thinking into an erotic invitation. “But there are some things that just have to be said with no sugarcoating.”

There it was again. Stronger this time. Cinn held her breath as the fluttering became a careful probing. Vince was trying to analyze her emotions. She was sure of it. She forced herself to relax, to send peaceful thoughts his way. And after a few seconds the presence receded and was gone.

“You, Cinn Airmid, have supernatural powers given to you by your family’s namesake, the Celtic goddess Airmid.” Sparkle held up both hands. “Now don’t start crying and going hysterical on me. Let me explain …” She frowned. “Why are you smiling? You’re supposed to be overcome with panic and disbelief.”

Cinn shook her head, bemused by the wonder of what had just happened. “I’ll be overcome with panic and disbelief in a moment. Something incredible just happened.”

Sparkle didn’t look happy. Evidently she’d been hoping for a lot more frenzy and fear.

“Vince just connected with me mentally.” Cinn knew she must have a silly grin pasted on her face. “He sensed my emotional turmoil.”

“Vince? Is he an assistant? I don’t remember agreeing to pay an assistant.” She looked outraged at the thought.

Cinn’s breath caught at the wonder of it all. “Vince is my vinca minor.”

Sparkle looked blank.

“A periwinkle, Sparkle. He’s one of my plants.”

Chapter Two

The routine was always the same. Dacian struggled free of the madness even as he silently cursed his maker. After the cursing came the questions. How long had the rage lasted this time? Had he killed anyone along the way? He seemed to remember reaching Big Bend National Park before Stephan had mentally hit him with the usual demand: Come back to me. Yeah, like that was going to happen.

And then when Dacian had refused, Stephan took his mind and twisted it into uncontrollable patterns of anger until his head felt ready to explode with his need to kill. That was where Dacian’s memories stopped until he emerged from the long dark tunnel of his insane fury.

Careful not to give any hint of returning awareness, Dacian took stock. Chained to a freaking wall. No windows. Big-ass door. Probably locked. Two women. Unarmed.