Cinn sensed Holgarth’s reluctance to admit he needed help with anything. Didn’t anyone else see what Ganymede was doing to him? Maybe being nonhuman meant you didn’t care too much about the feelings of others. Score one for the human side.

“Yes. I’ll need Eric, Edge, and Bain. I can’t use Dacian or Taurin. They’re night feeders. They’d just confuse the gargoyles. Awakening the gargoyles takes immense power.” He paused as if gathering himself to speak the next sentence. “It will take more than just my power.”

Ganymede went on without seeming to notice Holgarth’s distress. Of course, Ganymede evidently didn’t know about the hooded wizard. Maybe Holgarth should have told him.

“Good. Get it done right after the meeting.” Then Ganymede turned back to the others. “Once the gargoyles are awakened, we’ll have time to plan our defense. Stephan will probably hang around Galveston, figuring we’ll have to come out of the park sometime. So once we have our plan in place, we’ll shut down the park for major repairs and send the humans home. Then we’ll invite him in.” And if a cat could smile, then Ganymede was smiling.

Cinn hated to interrupt his self-congratulation, but she had an important question. “What about Airmid? I don’t know if she’s here or not. We can’t sense her. Can your gargoyles keep her out, too?”

Ganymede seemed to actually give her question some serious thought before shaking his head. “Goddesses are too high in the paranormal hierarchy. The gargoyles can’t touch them. But she’s not a player in our battle with Stephan, so I don’t think she’ll interfere. We’ll continue to keep a guard on the greenhouse. If things get tight—not that a bunch of puny-ass night feeders will be a problem—then you’ll have to protect your plants the best way you can alone.”

A quick glance from Dacian assured her she wouldn’t be alone if he could help it. She wouldn’t be the one to remind him that Stephan would probably make sure he was chained up in the dungeon and out of the fight.

“Now go forth and kick butt.” Ganymede leaped from the counter and padded to the door. It swung open. “Coming up with me, sweetie?” He glanced at Sparkle.

“Be there in a few, snuggle-bunny.” Sparkle joined Cinn, Dacian, Kristin, and Taurin. “I apologize for what Mede said about the night feeders. I don’t think he even thinks of you guys as night feeders, so he wouldn’t realize he was insulting you.”

Cinn was just thinking how thoughtful Sparkle was when she ruined it.