“If he wants you to fight on his side, then he’ll still want Taurin as a hostage to ensure you don’t run as soon as his back is turned.”

Dacian didn’t like that scenario, but it made sense. “This isn’t a good place for him to wage a battle. Too many nonhumans.”

“He could take you out of contention by doing what he’s done before. You won’t be much help to anyone chained to the dungeon wall.”

“There’s that.” Dacian hated feeling so helpless. What he hated even more was the thought that he wouldn’t be able to protect either Taurin or Cinn.

“Who do you think the mole is?” The expression in Eric’s eyes didn’t bode well for whoever was passing info to Stephan.

Dacian shrugged. “Could be anyone, even a human.” He’d started this talk with Eric to enlist the Mackenzies’ help in destroying Stephan, but now he was rethinking things. “If Stephan comes here, people will die. Human and nonhuman. I don’t need more deaths on my conscience.”

Eric shook his head. “You’re wrong. The castle is the best place for a confrontation. It can be defended. And Sparkle can close down the park for a while so no humans will be involved. She doesn’t run the park for the money. It’s here for her amusement.”

“I guess you’re right.” The full scope of what might happen was finally unrolling in his mind. Not much could scare Dacian, but this did.

“I’ll set up a meeting of every nonhuman who might be involved. And I’ll put a call out for any Mackenzies who can make it here.”

“Do I sense battle plans?” Holgarth had moved silently up to join the group. He waved away Dacian’s unspoken question. “I deposited her in the greenhouse. Edge is guarding it tonight. Wade is there, too, along with Asima.” His thin lips twitched, which for Holgarth must be a rolling-on-the-floor belly laugh. “The plant lady is safe for the moment.”

For the moment was the operative phrase. As angry as he was with her, Dacian couldn’t stop worrying, couldn’t stop caring.

Eric changed the subject. “Something important has come up, wizard. We need to call a castle meeting.”

Surprisingly, Holgarth didn’t pepper Eric with questions. He simply nodded. “I left my post by the door where I spend agonizing hours trying to explain the intricacies of our fantasies to clueless humans because I have a message for you, vampire.”

Both Eric and Dacian looked expectantly at him.

Holgarth made an impatient sound. “The message is for the rabidly insane vampire of the group.” He took a moment to straighten his pointed hat and smooth a few nonexistent wrinkles from his robe.

Dacian ground his teeth and barely controlled the slide of his fangs. The old fart was delaying on purpose.