Cinn wouldn’t blame her if she backed out of the search party. Since Dacian and she had looked into everything in the castle that would qualify as cold and a box, the next step was to search outside. Cinn didn’t figure Asima for a cold-weather cat.

Once Edge, Bain, and even Holgarth showed up, Dacian filled them in on Vince’s three last words. Even with all her worry, Cinn got some satisfaction from their shocked expressions. A plant could communicate. Let Holgarth call that unimportant.

They worked out a search plan and then separated. Dacian and Cinn stayed together and Asima tagged along with them.

After searching all the garbage bins on the park grounds and not hearing any encouraging words from the rest of the searchers, Cinn was almost ready to give up. If they didn’t find him soon it might be too late because the trash collectors would empty the bins in the morning and cart everything to the dump. And if she were honest, she’d have to admit that most likely he was already gone. Dacian hadn’t heard his voice again, and she hadn’t felt him brushing against her mind.

Asima had remained strangely silent. Not that Cinn didn’t appreciate the quiet, but it gave her too much time to think. About Vince, about Dacian, and about how her life seemed to be spiraling out of control. She was in the middle of wondering how she’d react if Dacian reverted to his vampire nature—whatever that was—when Asima finally spoke.

“What will happen to your plant if he’s out in the cold?“

“He’ll die.” Not exactly true. Vince could survive the cold, but if a lie would energize the search, then she’d lie her butt off.

Asima was silent for a little longer. “Umm, maybe we should check some of the trash cans outside the park.“

Distracted, Cinn didn’t pay much attention to her answer. “Where would we start? I bet there are a hundred trash cans outside the park walls. Besides, if someone was going to throw Vince in the trash, why not just heave him in one closer to the castle?”

“Because this person knew that no one would bother checking outside the park?“

Something in Asima’s voice caught Cinn’s attention. Squatting down, she peered into the cat’s eyes. “Do you know something, Asima?”

Asima’s gaze slid away from Cinn’s. “Maybe.“

Out of the corner of her eye, Cinn saw Dacian getting ready to yell at Asima. She held up her hand to stop him. Asima was a powerful being, and Cinn didn’t think she could be bullied.

“Anything you know, you need to tell me now while we can still save him.” Okay, she’d pull out all the stops. “He’s just a baby, out in the cold, frightened and alone.”