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Sofie considered the pattern of the lightning. He was right. After entering this section of the labyrinth, they’d been herded like cattle away from that particular location.
“The opening will be in the most dangerous area,” she said dryly.
“Yep.”
“Run toward that dead tree stump to the right,” she commanded, not waiting for Ryshi to agree before she was sprinting out of the cave and across the hard ground. Ryshi quickly caught up despite her blinding speed, racing beside her. “Stop!” They skidded to a halt as a bolt hit a rock directly in front of them. The explosion of dirt smacked into Sofie’s face, but she remained focused. Becoming distracted now could mean the death of her. And Ryshi. “To the left,” she called out. They dashed toward a wide fissure, easily vaulting over it as the lightning struck just inches behind them. “Stop.” Another bolt. This one a few feet to the side. “Forward.”
Together, they zigzagged their way toward the rock formation. “Can you see the opening?”
Ryshi swiveled his head from side to side, a tension vibrating around him. At last, he gave a sharp nod.
“Yes.” He stretched out his arm. “Give me your hand.”
Sofie wrapped her fingers around his, squeezing them in warning. “Hold on.” She counted to three, waiting for the lightning to strike just in front of them. The flash was blinding, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t see the opening anyway. “Now!”
Ryshi took the lead, tugging her toward a large stone formation perched in front of a jagged cliff. Sofie followed without hesitation, placing the trust she claimed she didn’t possess in her companion as he jumped directly into the pile of rocks.
Chapter 7
Bertha grumbled as she searched for a comfortable position. It was impossible. The rose garden had a dozen marble benches, statues, fountains, and other knickknacks that poked and prodded her backside. It was like sitting on a pincushion.
Landing in Styx’s backyard probably hadn’t been her best decision, she ruefully conceded. It wasn’t precisely designed for comfort. At least not for a gargoyle of her impressive size. But she hadn’t known what else to do after she felt Levet being taken from this world.
As soon as she’d sensed his distress, she’d flown to the spot where he’d disappeared. She’d intended to follow his trail and smoosh whoever had dared to attack her tiny relative. But once she’d arrived in the middle of the field outside of Chicago, she’d been shocked by the unmistakable scent of minotaur.
What were the reclusive creatures doing there? And more importantly, why had they taken Levet?
The questions had no answers. Even worse, she had no means of navigating the labyrinth, not even in her current form. Thankfully, she’d heard rumors of a jinn mongrel who claimed to have survived the journey. And she had known exactly where to find him. Flying the short distance to Chicago, she’d landed behind the Anasso’s lair, not considering the fact that she wouldn’t be able to communicate with Styx. Vampires were too thick skulled to receive telepathic messages.
Unfortunately, she’d also failed to consider the awkwardness of being squashed in such a cramped space.
Not her fault.
In the first place, the King of Vampires should have a more expansive estate. If she were a queen she’d insist on a garden the size of Versailles. And in the second place, she’d spent the last months stuck in the shape of a human. Now that she was once again in her demon form, she occasionally forgot that she needed adequate room for her fabulous girth.
She supposed that she should take comfort in the knowledge that eventually the stupid vampire had realized that Levet was in danger and had sent the thief to rescue him. Plus, he was no longer waving around his big sword. She didn’t want to have to smoosh him unless absolutely necessary.
Stretching out her wings, Bertha tried to knock away the stupid ornaments that were stabbing into her tender bits. A wasted effort, she acknowledged with a flare of annoyance. And to add to her irritation, the outrageously gorgeous god who was hovering around her like a mother hen instantly moved to stand directly in front of her.
His dark eyes smoldered with flames as he glanced around in the hope of finding some enemy to battle.
“Is something wrong? Are you in pain?”
“I think a sundial is poking my…” Bertha cleared her throat, snapping her wings back to fold them against her body. “Tail.”
The flames remained dancing in the dark eyes as a wicked smile curved his lips. “I can remove it.”
Bertha shivered at the thought of having his long, slender fingers in such an intimate spot. She knew from experience they created searing pleasure as they…
No, no, no.
She wasn’t here to be fondled by the god of the underworld. As much as she might want to be. She was here for Levet.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.
His smile widened. “Too late.”
Bertha rolled her eyes. “Why are you here?”
