Sparkle might leave Ganymede feeling confused and conflicted, but he knew exactly how to handle danger. Action.

“Did Bourne see you?” Ganymede ticked off in his mind what needed to be done.

“Don’t think so. He was too busy trying to choose between the cream filled and glazed donuts.” Mistral reached down to wipe dirt from his boots.

“He wouldn’t be wasting time on donuts if he knew you were this close, Mede.” Sparkle stepped past Mistral. “You’ll want to talk to the others. I’ll have them waiting in the parlor.”

Ganymede felt pride in her. This was his Sparkle, the one who understood him best in the world. No panic, just cold common sense in the face of a threat. “Send Holgarth up.” He turned to Mistral. “Go back. Follow Bourne. See if you can find out where he’s staying.” Ganymede would try to keep the battle away from this house. The others hadn’t signed on for a dance with the Big Boss.

Mistral nodded then left with not one snarky comment. Maybe he would be a worthy protector—not that Sparkle needed one—if Ganymede came out on the losing end of this dust-up.

Ganymede was going over in his mind what he would say downstairs when Holgarth entered. The wizard wore a dry robe exactly like the one he’d worn in the backyard. Either the bird bath hadn’t been filled with as much water as Ganymede had wanted or Holgarth had used magic to dry his robe. Of course, maybe the wizard packed identical robes for emergencies just like this one.

Holgarth crossed his arms and somehow managed to look down his long thin nose even though said nose was about level with Ganymede’s chest. “If you’re hoping for a favor, first I’ll expect an abject apology from you. In front of witnesses. And then I may or may not accept it depending on how merciful I’m feeling.”

“I’m lucky then that I don’t want a favor for myself. I’m clueing you in so you can do yourself the favor.” Ganymede almost smiled at Holgarth’s disappointed expression. The wizard lived to humiliate. “The Big Boss is buying donuts about a block away.”

Holgarth’s eyes widened even as his face paled. “A block away?”

“His business is with me. Sparkle probably told you about all the fun I’ve been having this past month?”

The wizard pursed his thin lips. “It would be hard to miss the rampant destruction. I’m sure drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa fed your inner child.”

“Right. And even though I don’t intend to have our little meeting here, I’m sure you can understand the importance of keeping this house off the grid.” Holgarth had met the Big Boss. He’d understand the power of a pissed off Bourne.

Holgarth nodded. “What should I do?” No sarcasm this time.

“The sorceress who owned this place put a do-not-notice spell on it before she died. I need whatever protection spells you have that can strengthen hers.”

“Why ask a cheap imitation when you can talk to the original?”

Ganymede and Holgarth both spun toward the strange voice. An older black woman sat behind them, her back as straight and uncompromising as her chair. Her short gray hair framed a face lined but still beautiful. She stared at Ganymede with narrow-eyed disapproval.

Ganymede watched her figure shimmer just a tiny bit. Okay, this was the ghost the real-estate agent had mentioned. She was bound to show up eventually. Too bad it had to be now. He’d dealt with ghosts before. Not a fan of them. They slithered around in the shadows looking for ways to disrupt the lives of the living. “And you are?”

“Lucinda. You and your friends are cluttering up my house. I particularly find Sparkle—a cheap and tawdry name—offensive. She leaves her shoes on the floor of my bedroom, her jewelry all over my bureau, and her disgusting makeup all over my exquisite window table.”

Her gaze softened a little as she shifted her attention to Holgarth. “Even though your skills are probably far inferior to mine, I appreciate that you wear the robes of your profession. Too many of today’s magic makers dress as though they worked in the stables.”

Ganymede could see why she approved of Holgarth’s robe. She wore a long red robe with swirling silver planets scattered over it. At least she’d forgone the silly pointed hat.

Holgarth blew himself up like an angry blowfish. “Madam, my talents are inferior to no one. And in case it has escaped your notice, you are dead. You’re useless.”

Without warning, Holgarth’s hat flew from his head and landed on the carpet where a giant, invisible foot stomped it flat.

Ganymede tried to look sympathetic. “Gee, I hope you packed an extra.”

For once, Holgarth was struck speechless.

“If you’re finished trying to flaunt your superiority, wizard, perhaps we could work together to save my house from the wrath of this Big Boss person.” Her tone suggested she was being magnanimous to a lesser being.

That was Ganymede’s signal. He was outta here. Hopefully, after they got done playing my-spells-are-bigger-than-yours, they’d start protecting the house. He closed the bedroom door quietly on the rising voices and raced down the stairs.

He found Sparkle and the four kids in the parlor. Blue Bunny didn’t have the yellow thing with her. Ganymede frowned. He hoped it wasn’t eating one of his rooms to cope with its loneliness.

The teens had it right. They all sprawled on the floor. Sparkle sat defiantly on a chair that looked a lot like Old Sparky and just about as comfortable. She’d crossed her legs, making her short black dress ride up her smooth thigh. One sandal dangled from her toe, and she absently bobbed it up and down. Sexy, sexy, sexy… Stop it. Focus on the important stuff.

Ganymede dropped down next to Jerry and leaned back against the wall. He wasn’t a lover of rooms like this—too much color, too much everything—but it brought back memories. Ganymede had livened up the Victorian period with moments of amazing chaos shared with Sparkle.

He met Sparkle’s gaze. The warmth he saw there told him she remembered, too. He wanted to wrap himself in the heat of those good times. Ah, the wonder years, when they’d fallen together onto one of those awesomely overwrought beds after a day spent spreading madness and then rocked the night with their loving.

Finally, she looked away, her warmth cooling. She must have remembered how ticked she was at him. He forced himself to match her coldness and mentally shrugged. That was the past. Time to think about his future.

“Okay, kids, here’s the deal. I got a little frustrated with things a month or so ago and decided to take it out on the world. I did some smashing and exploding and tearing down of a few famous landmarks. No lives lost. But it sort of got a lot of negative press.”

Orion grinned. “Sounds like fun. Did you make the earth shake?”

“Yeah, a little.” Ganymede paused for a moment trying to figure out how to explain the Big Boss. “Now here’s the thing. We have a head guy that keeps all the troublemakers in check, makes sure they don’t destroy the planet. He must’ve caught a few CNN reports on what I’d done. Anyway, he’s hunting for me now. When he finds me, he’ll try to eliminate my ass.” Ganymede knew his eyes must be glowing. He made an effort to rein in his emotions. “It’s not going to happen.”

“Where is he now?” Blue Bunny looked worried.

“At the store down the street.” He tried to mumble the words.

“Down the street? Like…a block away?” Jill thought about that. Then she smiled. “Can I give him nightmares? I’ve thought of some horrible ones.”

“What’s his name, and how do we help you?” Jerry leaned forward, his expression eager.

Ganymede smiled. That had gone well. No one had panicked. They were even offering to help. He didn’t want to feel good about that, but he did.

“His title is the Big Boss, but his name is Bourne. For the moment. He changes names a lot. And you guys won’t be helping me. This fight is strictly between Bourne and me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get into this house.” He hoped. “The wizard will put up strong wards and spell the place so no one will be able to find it.” He wouldn’t complicate things right now by mentioning Lucinda.

“Tell them the rest, Mede.” Sparkle held his gaze as she picked at the polish on one nail.

Ganymede frowned. Polish picking. Not a good sign. “Sure. Most of you don’t remember anything before you were ‘born’ on this planet. I do.” Ganymede glanced at Jerry, ready to reveal that he remembered, too. The kid’s expression stopped him. Fear? Not an emotion Ganymede would associate with the newbie. Jerry gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Okay, so the kid didn’t want to share? Strange. Ganymede nodded. He’d keep Jerry’s secret for now.

“Before? What before?” Orion looked at Blue Bunny and Jill.

Both of them shrugged. Ganymede took a deep breath and then told them all he knew about their maker, which wasn’t a whole lot. “I remember being thrown into a cage. No face because he was in his energy form. Then there was lots of training.” He shrugged. “Seemed like it went on forever. Everything is hazy after that. He told me not to worry about my friends and family because I wouldn’t remember them where I was going.”

When he finished, they sat staring at him for what seemed years. Then Blue Bunny spoke.

“Why wait for him to open the portal? Can’t we do it ourselves and climb through? I mean, I opened one when I called the animals.”

“Tried that. Didn’t work. He controls entry at his end. You won’t get it open.” Ganymede summed it up. “I want to make him pay. For everything.” He allowed his thoughts to skim across all he knew of his creator, along with so much he still didn’t remember. “So unless I want to wait seven more years for him to toss more of you into this world, I have to make him come to me.” He’d have to tell Sparkle his plan before facing Bourne. Just in case. That way everything could go forward even if he didn’t.

He allowed a moment for them to pepper him with questions. Who was this creator? Why did he make us? Why hasn’t he come here himself to do whatever he wants done? When their voices finally faded into silence, Ganymede shrugged. “I don’t have answers. I only remember a little of my past. Enough to know he stole me from my family, robbed me of who I should’ve been.” Ganymede glanced at Jerry. Hate lived in the kid’s eyes.

Unanswered questions circled Ganymede’s mind, a never-ending chain of frustration. He wanted to rip off that door in his brain and allow all of his memories to flood him. Knowing only part of the story was a bitch. He could hardly wait to get Jerry alone so he could pump the kid for info.

“Here’s the important part. All of you have plenty of power, but you don’t have a clue yet how to maximize it. So if by chance Bourne does make it into this house—and he won’t as long as I’m alive—don’t challenge him. You’d be like a mosquito buzzing in his ear. He’d swat you out of the air. I don’t think he’ll harm you if you don’t call attention to yourselves. He’s not into random killing. Stay nonthreatening no matter what happens. Got it?”

They all nodded. Except for Jerry. He wore his Dark Lord of Evil Intentions expression. That worried Ganymede.

Before anyone else could ask a question, Holgarth entered the room. “We’ve—”

Ganymede tried to respect the minds of others. Most of the time. But now he needed to get a message to Holgarth before he said anything else. No time to ask permission. “Don’t mention Lucinda.”

The wizard looked startled for a moment, but then continued. “I’ve warded the house and strengthened the do-not-notice spell. You’ll be able to get out, but someone will have to lower the ward for you to get back in. You’re completely safe.” He smiled smugly. “I’m very good at what I do. No one will come near the house.”

Someone rang the bell.

Everyone froze. Sparkle finally breathed deeply then stood. “I’ll answer that.”

“Not a good idea. Let me do it.” Ganymede’s narrowed eyes and totally terrifying smile said deadly predator loud and clear.

But Sparkle was determined. No one named the Big Boss was out for her blood. “You’ll scare the life out of whoever’s at the door. Be reasonable. Bourne wouldn’t bother to ring the bell. Locked doors don’t stop him. It’s probably…” Who could it be? Holgarth might be an arrogant old fart, but he knew his job.

She didn’t wait for Mede to demand that she stand aside. Sparkle strode from the parlor into the hallway, Mede right beside her. She could sense his need to shout her into submission, maybe even to pick her up and set her aside. To his credit, he didn’t try either. Mede knew from experience what would happen if he tried to “protect” her when she was in determined mode.

Sparkle reached the door and then peered through the spy hole. She blinked. Nothing. She tried looking as far to the left and right as she could. Still nothing. She turned to find everyone had left the parlor and was crowded around her. “I don’t see anyone.”

Mede stilled. Sparkle knew he was extending his senses beyond the door, searching for a threat. “We could just not answer.” Yes, it was the coward’s way, but she wasn’t feeling too brave right now.

Suddenly, Mede frowned. “No, I’ll answer it. Step back.” He reached past her for the knob.

Sparkle did the one thing she knew would confuse him long enough for her to open the door. Fine, so she wanted to do this. Sparkle stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

For a moment, Mede did nothing. Then, with a groan, he wrapped his arms around her then pulled her close. His mouth moved over hers, warm and welcoming. He slid his tongue across her lower lip and she opened to him. Their tongues tangled with a fierceness fed by all the unspoken words between them, and the few she’d spoken in anger. His taste of cool Highland nights and hot Texas days was so familiar, so loved. He took her breath away.

He must’ve taken away the breaths of the kids, too, because she heard a collective gasp behind her followed by a lone giggle.

Before he could pull away, she reached back and opened the door.

He dropped his arms, glaring at her. “You tricked me.”

Mede looked so offended she almost laughed. Instead Sparkle faced the open door and the little girl standing there. “Yes?”

She was small, with straight black hair that hung past her shoulders and eyes so dark they appeared black. She looked Asian and was wearing a Girl Scout uniform. She smiled.

“Want to buy some cookies?”

Sparkle pasted a smile onto her face. How had this child gotten past Holgarth’s wards? In fact, how had she even seen the house? “What’s your name, sweetie. Do you live around here?”

The girl’s smile widened. “I’m Amaya. I live down the street.” She gestured vaguely. “The mints are good. Everyone buys them.” She held an order sheet and pen out to Sparkle.

Sparkle started to reach for the paper, but Mede put his hand over hers.

“Don’t.” He moved up beside Sparkle and then just stared at Amaya.

The girl’s smile never wavered. She tried to peer past them. “You have a very powerful house.” She looked impressed by this fact.

“Blue Bunny, come here.” Mede spoke quietly, still not taking his gaze from Amaya.

Blue Bunny squeezed between them. “Yeah?”

“I want you to call the nearest animal.” His tone remained calm and nonthreatening. “And I hope you’ve locked the yellow creature in your room.”

Blue Bunny looked puzzled, but she shrugged and then concentrated.

Sparkle gasped. So quickly that she couldn’t follow the movement, Amaya disappeared. And in her place crouched a fox.

“Cool” Orion stretched to get a better view past Jill.

Jerry asked the obvious. “Where did Amaya go? And why does that fox have five tails?”