As Sparkle set the cat on the floor, a short thin man wearing a blue robe decorated with stars and a matching pointed hat stepped through the doorway. His long pointed beard almost quivered with distaste, and his eyes were frosty with disapproval.

“Oh, goody, the demented undead has a moment of lucidity.” He strode over to hand Dacian what looked like a monk’s robe. “Put this on. When I take you through the great hall everyone will think you’re part of the ongoing fantasy.” He sniffed. “Ah, the sweet scent of Mother Earth. May I suggest you shower as soon as you get to your room?”

Dacian was just wrapping the robe around himself when Sparkle reached out and whipped the scarf from his hips. “Pure silk. I’m still shallow enough to want this back.”

Holgarth huffed his disdain. “Well, at least I can’t criticize your taste in clothing because you have no clothing. And I’ve never seen a vampire with scars like yours. Where…?”

Dacian didn’t give him a chance to finish his question. Pulling the robe tightly around him, he strode from the dungeon, forcing Holgarth to follow him.

Sparkle narrowed her eyes as she watched the vampire leave. “There’s a lot he didn’t tell us.”

Mede leaped onto the iron maiden and began washing his face. “I’ll root around in his mind later. He’s powerful, but he won’t be able to keep me out when I want in.”

“He’s a night feeder, so why is he so powerful? They’re usually the jackals of the vampire world, strictly scavengers. No night feeder should’ve been able to snap those chains.” She was intrigued, and she hadn’t felt this energized since she’d decided to become a woman with depth and character. “And all those scars.” She allowed herself a delicious shudder. “They’re kind of sexy in a primal savage way.”

Before Mede could open his mouth, she waved his comment away. “I know. Thinking about sex was the old me. The new me should get past it. Well, climbing out of the shallow end of the pool is tough. And it’s not fun.” She pursed her lips in a pout. Her puckered lips always drove Mede crazy. Too bad. Let him suffer the way she was suffering.

“I need a cookie.” He held her with a fixed stare.

She knew her smile was taunting and sensual, but she didn’t give a damn. She’d climb back on the character-building wagon tomorrow. “I just bet you do.”