Cinn sat on the cot. She sighed and her shoulders slumped. “Will this thing with Airmid ever end? I can’t guard my plants forever, and I can’t depend on others to do it for me.”

Dacian sat on the chair. “You’ll have to talk to her again, convince her to back off.” His expression said he’d be there when that conversation took place.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Neither of them seemed willing to continue the conversation, so Dacian reverted to thoughts of the fantasy. He’d been sure the sunlight and food would share top billing with their lovemaking. After all, he could make love without a fantasy. He’d been wrong. Dacian couldn’t even remember the taste of the hot dog, and the sunlight had hurt his eyes and made him sweat. He liked the night better.

But he remembered every smooth line of her body, remembered the warmth of her skin and the scent of his woman. There was possession attached to each memory. The realization had been sneaking around corners in his mind ever since he had first emerged from his rage to the sight of her round little behind. But it hadn’t decided to come out of the shadows until the fantasy.

That was because Eric had made sure Dacian didn’t bring along any of his normal baggage, all of his excuses for why a relationship wouldn’t work. He couldn’t love a human because she’d grow old and die. A woman wouldn’t love him because of his fangs and liquid diet. Love couldn’t survive as long as Stephan still walked the night. All legit reasons for running from Cinn, but none of them had mattered on top of that roof.

Time to cut off his thoughts before they really got dangerous. He might accept his feelings for Cinn, but he’d never act on them. And she might enjoy making love with him, but she had too much common sense to involve her emotions.

“Hey, I need to talk to Cinn.” Wade’s voice came before him as he pounded on the door.

Jerked out of his increasingly depressing thoughts, Dacian stood and opened the door. Wade strode in, bringing a blast of cold air and the promise of dawn. Damn.

Cinn didn’t look too thrilled by the demon’s visit either. “What’s happening, Wade?”