Cinn ignored the comments floating around her. Dacian was in there somewhere, helpless. She’d just turned to look at Asima when the door crashed open and a strange vampire filled the doorway. Cinn could see others crowded behind him.

Asima didn’t hesitate. Cinn felt the flash of her power as she hit the vampire with it. He staggered back, but he didn’t go down. He smiled, and it chilled whatever parts of Cinn weren’t already freezing.

The human audience cheered Asima’s efforts. Cinn wondered how long it would be before they realized this was the real deal.

“Interesting. What is the cat, Zane?” He moved aside so the man behind him could step in beside him. “Oh, and up your power. I felt that attack.”

Cinn recognized the newest arrival. The sorcerer.

“You don’t have to ask him. I can speak for myself. I’m Asima, the messenger of the goddess Bast, and you are not welcome here, vampire.”

The vampire seemed to think that was a hoot. “Well, I’m Stephan, cat. And I’m not welcome in a whole bunch of places. But that doesn’t bother me much.”

“Stephan?” He’d caught Cinn by surprise. He didn’t look like the description Dacian had given them. This guy had short dark hair and no mustache.

“I know, I know, you were expecting someone who looked completely different. But my good friend Kyla told me you had my description, so I simply changed a few things about myself.”

Stephan waited while Asima hurled another blast. This one bounced harmlessly away from him. Zane had done his job. Frantically, Cinn sent out a mental cry for help.

“I’m blocking your Mayday, plant lady, so don’t expect anyone to rush to your rescue. My people are keeping your people busy while I visit here. And I’ve brought a few of my special friends along.” He moved farther into the greenhouse so the ones behind him could enter. When it didn’t look like there was enough room for them, he swept some of her plants to the floor and shoved the counter aside.

Up till now, the humans had been cheering and boo-ing, enjoying themselves. Now some of them grew quiet.

Cinn had thought she’d felt hate earlier, when she’d found out what Stephan had done to Dacian. But it was nothing to what she felt now. Dacian wasn’t the mindless killer in this room. She tried to calm her mind, to think logically. Dacian and her plants were helpless. The sorcerer was neutralizing Asima. No one would bother with Cinn. They wouldn’t expect a human to pose a threat. Hell, she probably didn’t.