AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They were completely black, the liquid ebony giving the impression of bottomless pools of pagan power.
Spreading his arms, Ryshi tilted back his head and sucked in a deep breath. “Ah. The sky. And fresh air.” He shuddered with pleasure. “Glorious.”
Sofie shivered as an unexpected heat spread through her body. As if the sight of the decadent male was warming parts of her that hadn’t been warmed in a very, very long time.
Disturbed by the sensations, she forced herself to turn away. It was disturbing enough to have her mind wrapped around his. The last thing she wanted was to be distracted by her unwelcome awareness.
“How do we get to the labyrinth?” she demanded.
“So impatient.” Ryshi strolled to stand next to her, the warm scent of amber lacing the night air. “I’ve been locked away for a decade. Can’t I have a moment to appreciate my freedom?”
“No.”
His low chuckle brushed over her like a caress. “As charming as ever.”
She clenched her fangs. “I’m waiting.”
“I thought about you, you know,” he drawled, clearly enjoying the knowledge that he was annoying her. “During the long days of pacing my cell I would imagine your beautiful face and your enticing scent.”
“That’s…” She deliberately allowed her words to trail away, slowly turning to face him. “Creepy.”
His smile went from wicked to rueful. “Okay. That might have come out a little more stalkerish than I intended,” he conceded. “But it’s true that I never forgot you.”
She shrugged, not about to reveal that he’d been in her dreams far more than she wanted to admit.
“I don’t imagine you did forget me. I was the one who captured you.”
“You caught me by surprise. I didn’t know a vampire could snare a mind. And certainly notmymind.”
Sofie didn’t doubt his shock. Ryshi had been leaving the lair of a vampire in Chicago when she’d approached. He’d been strolling down the street with the confidence of a male who had no fear of predators. Even when she’d appeared he’d been more curious than alarmed. It wasn’t until she’d actually grabbed his mind that he’d realized he was in danger. Even then, he’d maintained his arrogant attitude. She was fairly certain he’d have it even in death.
“Are you going to take us to the labyrinth before the gargoyle manages to escape on his own?”
Ryshi heaved a deep sigh. “Are you always so testy?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t like being away from my lair.”
The words were out before she could halt them and something that might have been sympathy simmered in the ebony depths of his eyes. Thankfully, he was wise enough to keep his lips shut as he turned to wave his hand in a languid motion. The sudden scent of wildflowers filled the air, revealing he’d opened a portal, although Sofie couldn’t see it.
“Our first stop is through there,” Ryshi told her, pointing at a spot directly in front of her.
Sofie sent him a wary glance. “What do you mean, our first stop?”
“The labyrinth is made up of layers of illusion. It’s those layers that create the maze.”
“My lair is hidden by illusion. What makes this one different?”
“Once you enter a particular portion of the labyrinth, you can’t leave. You must go forward and discover the opening to the next section.”
Sofie considered the explanation. She’d never given the minotaurs or the stories that spoke of them much thought, but if the maze was as insurmountable as the myths claimed, then there had to be more to them than just illusions.
“I assume the doorway is hidden?”
“Not only hidden, but also protected.”
