“Cinn, this is my brother, Taurin.” He glanced at Taurin. “This is Cinn, my…” And his voice trailed off.

His what? She had to know.

“Just his. He hasn’t added the last word yet. But it looks very promising.”

Vince. Cinn felt the familiar shock. She guessed that would never go away. She stared over at the periwinkle. He looked just like an ordinary plant. How could he be sentient? Had she really done that? Where was his brain? How had he learned so much language in such a short time? How could he communicate mentally? And why was he talking to her now? Her head felt ready to explode from all her questions.

Vince’s laughter was light but definitely male. “I have no brain like yours. I think with every one of my leaves. I learned language by listening to many thoughts. And I did not communicate with you at first because I was in awe. You are my maker, my goddess.” The voice in her mind faded to a whisper on the last word.

No, she wasn’t anyone’s goddess. She didn’t want Vince thinking of her that way. But she had no time to digest the implication of Vince’s words because Taurin was smiling at her. God, he looked so much like Dacian.

“Hi, Cinn. Looks like you’ve already met Kristin.”

Cinn managed to smile past the unanswered questions ping-ponging around in her brain. What was she to Dacian? How could she deal with plants she didn’t understand anymore? She forced herself to answer him. “Yes. We met outside the door. We both thought we’d be counting body parts when we finally got in here.” But she saw now that it had been a needless worry. No one could miss the love the brothers felt for each other. It shone in their eyes.

If any of them thought they’d have time to talk over the bad old days, they were doomed to disappointment. Cinn heard the door swing open behind her and turned in time to see Ganymede pad into the room. Sparkle followed at a more leisurely pace.

It amazed Cinn that Sparkle had gotten there at all. Her leather pants were tighter than tight, and her clingy top was nothing but a second skin. There couldn’t be much breathing going on in there. Her boots had skinny four-inch heels. It was a wonder she didn’t get a nosebleed from the sudden change in elevation.

Sparkle offered Cinn a finger wave as she moved to her side. She leaned in to whisper, “This outfit is to arouse every male who sees it. And since I’m unattainable, they’ll go home and have wild sex with their wives. See, I’m making the world a happier place.”

Cinn wasn’t sure she followed Sparkle’s convoluted reasoning, but if rationalization worked for her, Cinn was fine with it. “Why are you guys here?”