Page 165 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“You said Mom went to get him from the police station.”

Lucy’s face went red.

“That is not the same thing, Cody.”

“It kind of is.”

Before the argument could continue, Lucy reached Taurex. For one second, she simply looked up at him. Then her face crumpled and to Terra’s surprise, her mother threw both arms around Taurex’s waist.

“Thank you for saving my grandbabies,” Lucy said to him, her voice breaking. “Thank you so, so much.”

Taurex froze and Terra saw uncertainty cross his face, as though he genuinely didn’t know what to do with an elderly human woman hugging him with all her strength.

Then his expression softened and, very carefully, he wrapped one enormous arm around Lucy’s frail shoulders.

“You need not thank me,” he said quietly.

“Yes, I do.” Lucy held him tighter. “You brought those babies home.”

“They were frightened, but unharmed.”

“You brought them home,” Lucy repeated, looking up at him with wet eyes. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

Taurex lowered his head slightly.

“I am glad I was able to do so.”

Terra stood beside the car watching them, and something deep inside her chest began to ache.

Taurex was so careful with her mother.

Lucy looked incredibly small beside him, even more fragile than usual, her graying head barely reaching the middle of his chest and her thin shoulders nearly swallowed beneath his muscular arm.

Taurex could have lifted her with one hand, yet the way he hugged her was extremely gentle. He held himself rigidly enough that none of his weight pressed against her, and when Lucy finally stepped back, Taurex kept one hand near her elbow as though ready to catch her if she became unsteady.

The sight made Terra’s throat tighten. She had always known he was gentle with her, and she had seen the patience he showed Cody and Lisa. But watching him with her mother brought it all together in a way she hadn’t been prepared for.

This huge, terrifying-looking Monstrum who could kill four armed men and walk away without a scratch, was also the male who remembered how Terra liked her tea, bought gifts specifically chosen for each of her children, and treated her elderly mother as though she were precious.

He would make such a good father, whispered a little voice in her head. It’s too bad you pushed him away.

Terra felt a stab of regret because it was true—the big Monstrum would make a wonderful father. Not a replacement for Jackson—she would never ask anyone to erase her children’s biological father, regardless of how badly he had failed them. But Taurex was dependable and brave and kind. He was someone Cody could look up to. Someone Lisa could run to when she was frightened. Someone who would show up every single time, no matter how difficult the circumstances were.

“Are we standing outside all day?” Lucy demanded suddenly, wiping at her eyes and breaking Terra’s regretful train of thought. “It’s ninety-five degrees and I’m getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.”

“It is extremely humid,” Taurex agreed.

Lucy patted his arm.

“That’s Tampa, sweetheart.”

Terra almost laughed at the endearment. Apparently she wasn’t the only woman in the family calling Taurex sweet names now.

They went inside, and within five minutes the living room had turned into complete chaos.

Lisa immediately retrieved her mood-bloom bracelet from her bedroom and insisted on showing Taurex that she had managed to make the blossoms turn three different colors at once.

“Look!” she exclaimed.