His thoughts scattered, leaving the one thing he didn’t want to discuss. But he couldn’t keep it from her. “Holgarth said Taurin will be home tomorrow night.”

“And you weren’t going to mention this?” Her voice had a dangerous edge to it.

He shrugged. “If I told you, you’d want to talk about it. My brother is off limits right now.” Because if he thought about Taurin, he’d release the hordes of chittering fears and questions held back only by his will. So, no, he wouldn’t talk about his brother.

She merely nodded. “Got it. What did Eric have to say?”

“We think Stephan might be coming here to take Taurin and me once we’re both in the castle. Eric believes we should make our stand here instead of running. The bottom line is that Stephan will eventually get around to attacking the Mackenzies, along with any other nonhumans who get in his way. It would be better if we stop him before he gains any more power.”

If his news shook her, she didn’t show it. She met his gaze. “And ‘we’ would be?”

“Any nonhuman who wants to help stop Stephan. Eric is putting out a call to the Mackenzies. I’m guessing that Ganymede, Sparkle, Edge, Bain, and Holgarth will join in.”

“Asima?”

He shrugged. “Who knows?”

“Me?”

“No.” Even the thought of her putting herself in that kind of danger made him want to rip out someone’s throat.

“If I’m a demigoddess, then I’m not technically human.”

“Close enough. The answer is still no. In fact, we need to find someplace secure for you and your plants where Airmid can’t reach you. The battle would be the perfect time for her to attack.”

Dacian watched her eyes darken and then narrow. She was mad. But he didn’t care how pissed off she got; he’d make sure she wasn’t anywhere near Stephan when the bad stuff went down. And if Stephan won?

That would mean he was dead. Permanently. Because no way would he allow Stephan to use him as his personal weapon. Dacian didn’t want to think about that eventuality, but he’d have a plan in place to make sure Cinn was safe. Just in case.

He frowned. He didn’t want to die. For the first time in centuries, he had a reason to not just exist, but to live. And that reason was Cinn Airmid. She made him want to throw on his red cape and go forth to slay rogue vampires and overbearing goddesses.

“We’ll talk about this when I’m calmer.” With that pronouncement, she rose, turned her back on him, and started working with her plants. He listened to her murmuring to them. God, he wanted her to use that tone of voice with him.