“I read somewhere that a sign of character depth is being sensitive to the feelings of others.” She glanced toward the ceiling. “Put another check in that right column, Big Boss.” Sparkle dropped her gaze. “Mmm, someone knows how to choose great clothes for you, Cinn. I think you should make time for sex tonight. Oh, and when you’re finished with the rest of my clothes, just tell me and I’ll send someone for them.”

“I thought you gave them to me.” Not that Cinn really wanted them. Okay, so she did. They made her feel sexy. And she wanted to look like a sensual woman for Dacian. And if that was shallow, she didn’t care. No Big Boss would bring the hammer down on her.

Sparkle widened her eyes. Cinn guessed she thought it made her look innocent. “Now why would I do that? I simply loaned them to you out of the goodness of my heart. I’m a very generous person. But if you really like them, we can go shopping sometime and I’ll help you choose your own sensual wardrobe.”

Holgarth coughed loudly. “It pains me to interrupt what must be a fascinating conversation, but we have vampires to defeat and a castle to defend. So could I possibly have just a measly few minutes of your precious time? Then you can all have lewd sex until dawn.”

Sparkle just laughed. “Try it sometime, wizard. If anyone needs it, you do.” She turned toward the door. “I’ll clear away all humans from the courtyard and the entrance to the great hall.” And then she left.

Dacian tossed a disbelieving glare at the wizard before turning to Taurin. “Why hasn’t anyone killed his ass before this?”

“Many have tried, my sporadically insane friend, but none have succeeded.” Holgarth smiled, a creaky, insincere lifting of his lips. “That’s not to say I don’t have my admirers. Napoleon found my advice invaluable.”

“He fired you.” Edge didn’t waste words.

“And immediately suffered a rather substantial loss at Waterloo.” The wizard tried to twist his face into a sympathetic expression, but the muscles just wouldn’t respond. Probably a Botox moment.

Cinn paused before following the others out the door that led into the courtyard. Asima was still by Teddy. No one had stayed behind to guard the plants.

Asima stared at her from those blue eyes. “I’ll keep them safe.”

“What if Airmid shows up? You know what Bast, Airmid’s good buddy, would want you to do.”

Something moved in Asima’s eyes that Cinn had never seen before. Something dangerous. “I will keep them safe. From everyone.”

Cinn believed her. God, she hoped she wasn’t making a huge mistake. She nodded at Asima and followed Dacian into the night.