Instead of using the outside entrance to the greenhouse, he led her through the kitchen. “Sparkle showed me both entrances.” He unlocked the greenhouse door and stood back for her to enter first.

Cinn slipped past him. Close enough to realize what a truly big man he was. She glanced around. And how really alone they were out here. “These…episodes you have. Like the one in the dungeon. Um…do you have them often?”

His laughter was low and—maybe it was just her— sounded a little menacing. He‘d moved up close behind her, and she shivered as awareness drew a thin line of goose bumps down her arms. No, not awareness. Probably just static electricity.

“I have them whenever my maker calls me to him, and I don‘t come. Stephan has visions of world domination with his loving children at his side. Me? Not so much. So each time I turn him down, he sends a killing rage my way as punishment.” No lines of worry or nervous eye tics hinted that he was even a little worried about his episodes.

Well, she sure was. Against her better judgment, she gave in to her curiosity. “Why does he think that particular punishment will change your mind? And what would he want you to do if you gave in and joined him?” Did she really need to know this? Knowledge was power, so yes, she probably did.

He remained silent for a few heartbeats too long. Her heartbeats. Maybe his maker wanted him to slaughter every botanist he found alone and unprotected.

“After I came out of the first rage, I realized I‘d killed people. Lots of them.”

He might think his expression gave nothing away, but self-loathing lived in his eyes.

“People I knew.” He shrugged. “So I went away to a place where there weren‘t any people. And Stephan would want me to destroy anyone who opposed him.”

He moved a little closer, and she swallowed hard. Wow, that static electricity was doing a prickly dance up and down her spine. “Yes, well, let‘s hope he doesn‘t make a call while you‘re here.”

“Don‘t worry, I‘ll get warning and make myself scarce.”

Cinn nodded and then tried to look casual as she moved along the rows of her plants. She stopped beside Sandy. A little droopy. She leaned over the succulent and stroked it. “Feeling puny, sweetie? Guess the long trip was pretty stressful.”

She pretended not to hear the snort of derision behind her. With head high, she moved on to the next plant. She‘d covered half of the greenhouse, examining plants and offering some encouraging words, when Dacian interrupted.

“Son of a bitch! This plant bit me. What the hell is it?”