My Wicked Vampire by Nina Bangs

Vince.
    “It’s from Bain. He just wanted to let you know that Sparkle had delivered your new clothes and shoes.” Then Edge glanced up.
    “Whoa. Talk about a new person.” His smile was slow and sexy. “Love the leather pants and silky top. Very hot. I—”
    “Vince is gone.”
    “Vince?” He glanced around. “You had a man here last night? Bain didn’t mention it.”
    She wanted to scream at the time wasted in explaining things to him. “No, no, no. My plant. Vince was sitting under the window last night. Now he’s gone.”
    “Oh.” He looked puzzled by her obvious upset. “Bain was here. We can ask him.”
    “Ask him now.”
    Shrugging, Edge pulled out his cell and called Bain. From listening to Edge’s side of the conversation, she got that Bain was ticked at Edge for waking him and no,he didn’t have a clue where the freaking plant was. No one had stolen it while he was on duty.
    After what seemed hours, Edge put his cell away. “Bain didn’t—”
    “Could Bain have stolen Vince?”
    His smile turned patronizing. “Bain’s more into stealing souls than plants. I’m sure Sparkle will—”
    “Fuck Sparkle. Someone stole my damn plant and I want him back.”
    Edge’s eyes widened. He couldn’t have looked more surprised if a plant, well, bit him. “If clothes make the woman, then your clothes have made you into one tough lady.” He grinned. “Not a bad thing.”
    “No one messes with my plants.” Now how to back up the tough talk? “We have to start searching for him.” What if whoever took him killed him? She choked back a sob.
    Just then she felt the tiniest brush against her mind. Weak and trembling, it was still recognizable. Vince was alive and reaching out to her. “Mama is coming, baby.” She yanked open the door.
    “Where are you going?” Edge hadn’t moved.
    “I …” I don’t know. She closed her eyes, took a deep calming breath, and then opened them. “Why don’t you tell Sparkle what happened while I check on my other plants?” Then she remembered. “You have the keys to the greenhouse, don’t you?”
    Edge pulled them out of his pocket to show her. “While you’re checking on your plants, I’ll spread the word.” He pulled out his cell phone again. “I’d tap directly into everyone’s mind, but with so many shields to break through I’d sap all of my power.” His expression turned grim. “And I’ll never let anyone catch me at less than full power.”
    Something in his expression hinted at a past experience, and at another time she would’ve been interested, but not now. “You know the castle. Where do you think I should start looking?”
    He shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” Edge followed her out the door.
    All the way down to the greenhouse she prayed that by some miracle she’d find Vince there among her other plants. A brief glance around, though, dashed her hopes. She could feel her whole body slumping. Who could’ve done this? Her subconscious supplied a name. Airmid.
    Feeling as though she were sleepwalking, Cinn wandered the aisles. She stopped briefly beside Eva, her miniature rosebush. Eva was finally blooming. Cinn touched one tiny bloom. This was her newest strain of sexual energy plants. She wasn’t sure yet exactly how powerful Eva would be, but right now she didn’t really care.
    Edge had waited outside the greenhouse, and when she finally emerged he was just putting his cell phone away. “Everything okay in there?”
    She just nodded.
    “Sparkle is spreading the word. She’s sending someone down to guard the greenhouse when you aren’t here. As soon as he arrives, we can start searching.” His expression hinted that he didn’t hold out much hope, though. “What exactly makes this Vince so important to you?” He left unsaid that it was just a plant, after all.
    “I put a little of myself into every plant.” More than she’d ever admit to anyone. That was her secret. “It’s like giving birth. They’re my