Yeah, okay, so he had other things he wanted to do with her through the night. Guarding her was only one in a long list. And that was where the danger came in.

Her hair was tousled and her face flushed from running down those stairs. Dacian knew she’d run because he’d heard her coming. His enhanced hearing was a blessing and a curse. Right now he could hear the pounding of her heart and the rush of blood through her body. Her blood sang to him, a siren’s song. It would be sweet and … He felt the slide of his fangs and cut off all thoughts of her blood.

Dacian concentrated on the outer package. Too bad her clothes got in the way of his full appreciation. Her skin would be smooth and soft as he slid his fingers the length of her body. She’d be warm and moist as he pushed her legs apart and put his mouth… His fangs made a return appearance.

And as much as he wanted to drag her to the floor, rip her clothes from her body, and bury himself deep inside her, he knew those fangs were going to be a problem. He wanted her too much, and his vampire nature was part and parcel of his whole sexual experience. Maybe if it hadn’t been so long, or his lust weren’t so overwhelming, he could make love to her without a show of fang. But he didn’t think his control was good enough right now.

“Airmid destroyed the store.”

He blinked, finally realizing how upset she was. “Airmid? Are you okay?” The hell with the store. He led her to the couch. Damned if he was going to let her isolate herself in a chair. Dacian drew her down beside him. “Tell me the whole story.”

She didn’t object when he tucked her against his side. He indulged himself in an almost-forgotten human reflex. He held the breath he no longer had while praying she wouldn’t suddenly remember what she was cozying up to and jerk away. Who knew he actually had a sensitive bone in his undead body?

“Sparkle and I went shopping. She wanted to buy some clothes that proved she wasn’t shallow. We got separated, and Airmid ambushed me. She wanted me to destroy my plants, I said no, and she lost it.”

Dacian closed his eyes. Cinn was such an innocent. She had no idea how dangerous a pissed-off goddess could be. He wanted to rage against his inability to guard her 24-7. He opened his eyes. “Next time, take Bain or Edge with you. They’re more reliable than Sparkle.” From what he’d seen, anyone would be more reliable than Sparkle. Yeah, so he was letting her name sway his opinion. He just couldn’t see a Sparkle Stardust as a dangerous, competent bodyguard.