Relief flooded through me. Of all of them, Nick still looked human. He could return home, and no one would see a huge difference in him. He still had a chance at a normal life.
I pulled at Astaroth’s arms, and he released me. Nick stood in the center of the circle, covered in blood, the sword dangling at his side, and staring right at me. I could feel the anger and confusion radiating off him. Or maybe it was my own.
“You have won your chance at freedom,” Astaroth declared.
“His chance?” The goblins around us shook as I questioned their king. “I’d say he won it fair and square. Send him home!”
Astaroth looked down at me. “He will have the same chance you had.”
My brows shot up. “Will you try to impregnate him, too, if he loses?”
A sneer pulled at his lip. “Nick,” he spit his name like it was revolting. “If you solve the labyrinth and make it to my castle, you will return home.”
A portal opened next to Nick. Before he even knew what was happening, a goblin snatched the sword away and shoved him through it. Nick didn’t stand a chance in the labyrinth covered in blood and without a weapon. The beasts would hunt him down and devour him.
The games had officially come to an end. The goblins rushed around the field to set up for the celebration, but I was over it. All of it. I’d be damned if I would participate in any fashion or give Astaroth what he wanted.
“What was that about?” I fumed.
Astaroth lowered his voice. “We will discuss this after.”
“We will discuss this now!” I yelled and shoved him. The goblins in our vicinity scurried away. “Tell me why you did it!”
He gripped my wrists and pulled me against him. “I will not fight with you here. Lower your voice.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” I shoved against him again trying to break free. “I am done with you.” Astaroth turned his head, staring off into the distance, angering me more. “Do you hear me? I’m done!”
In an instant, Astaroth picked me up and launched me through a portal. I bounced hard on the bed and almost fell off.
“Stay,” he shouted and sprinted across the room to the balcony.
I jumped off the bed to follow as a portal opened in the air. He leapt on the balustrade and jumped through it, disappearing from sight. Before I could reach the archway, bricks appeared blocking me from following. I turned to run to the door, and it was bricked up, too.
“Fuck!”
