Ganymede moved off to lead everyone into the great hall. “Holgarth went ahead to lay the lie on the humans. This’ll just be a great fantasy to them. The dangerous and violent vampire finally captured and about to be locked up in the dungeon. Humans love that kind of stuff.” He paused. “Guess I’m just one of the common folk, because I like it, too. Breaks up the monotony.”

Cinn clenched her hands into fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. She welcomed the pain. She hated how they were treating Dacian, even as she understood why it was necessary. It was what he would’ve wanted. But there had to be a way to help him.

“You could probably help him, you know.”

Sparkle seemed to have a knack for striking at her weakest moment.

“How? I guess I could talk to him, but—”

“Cinn, Cinn, listen to your good friend, Sparkle Stardust.”

Cinn didn’t trust the sly gleam in her “good friend’s” eyes.

“Sex is a powerful motivator for men. And the promise of sex would probably bring Dacian out of his episode just like that.” Sparkle snapped her fingers.

“I guess so.” It might not snow in Galveston, but Cinn decided she was getting her own personal snow job from Sparkle.

“Trust me. I know men.” Sparkle looped her arm around Cinn’s and led her toward the great hall.

Cinn looked over her shoulder. “My plants.” She was torn. She wanted to be with Dacian, but she was afraid to leave her plants alone. When exactly had Dacian gained equal footing with her beloved plants?

“Wade is already there.” She smiled. “You’re really a big hit with him.”

“But he has to be tired. He was there all day.”

Sparkle shrugged. “Demons don’t need a lot of sleep. And he’s really motivated to help you. Which is strange. Wade has stayed here before, but he never looked twice at any woman. He was into his boat and fishing. Nothing else.”

Cinn knew there was something important in Sparkle’s comment, but she was too distracted right now to think about it.

As they walked down the steps leading to the dungeon, it seemed way too quiet. Sparkle knocked on the door and Edge opened it.

Edge looked like hell. He had cuts and bruises covering every exposed surface of his skin. His eyes blazed with his need for more violence. “When this bloodsucker is back in his right mind, I’m going to rip his freaking head off. I thought the night feeders were the weak sisters of the vampire world. What happened to this one?”

If Edge was expecting an answer from Cinn, he was in for a long wait.