Page 76 of Dancing for the Minotaur

Terra’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God–look at that!” she exclaimed.

Taurex followed her gaze, and his expression immediately darkened.

“No,” was all he said.

Terra turned to him with an innocent expression.

“I didn’t say anything,” she protested.

He raised an eyebrow.

“You were about to.”

“I was just looking,” Terra said.

The big Monstrum crossed his arms over his broad chest.

“I said, no.”

She burst out laughing.

“But don’t people decorate their horns?”

“Some do,” he allowed grudgingly.

“But you don’t?” Terra asked.

“No.” Taurex shook his head firmly.

“Why not? It looks like fun!”

“Because I am not a festival display,” he rumbled.

Terra laughed harder.

“But just think how cute you’d look with flowers on your horns!”

One of the vendors heard her and held up a vine covered in tiny golden flowers that glowed and tinkled with soft, bell-like chimes.

“This would look magnificent against his horns,” she told Terra.

“I agree,” Terra said, nodding.

Taurex stared at both of them.

“No.”

Terra took the vine from the vendor and held it up near his face–though she had to stand on tiptoes to do so.

“Come on. Just let me see,” she coaxed.

He shook his head again.

“No.”

“Please? It would look pretty,” she wheedled, still laughing.