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“You were foreseen.”
“It could be a mistake, you know. There are many other gargoyles.” Levet’s wings perked up as he was struck by a sudden inspiration. “My mother, for instance. She is much stronger and far better suited to facing doom. And I am certain she would be delighted if you were to kidnap her and—”
“Does she look like you?” the male rudely interrupted.
“Um, well. She might be a tad larger.”
“And her wings?”
Levet heaved a resigned sigh. “Leather.”
“You are the chosen one.”
“That sounds like such a good thing in books,” Levet muttered. “But I suspect it will not be as fun as I imagined it would be.”
Ignoring Levet’s grousing, the minotaur turned and placed his hands against the doors. The muscles of his wide shoulders bunched and he released a low grunt as he pushed against the carved wood. It’d obviously been a while since anyone had bothered to grease the hinges, Levet silently decided, as they squealed in protest before slowly allowing the doors to swing open.
“Follow me.”
The male stepped through the opening and Levet hesitated. What to do, what to do…
He could turn and try to make a run for it. He didn’t doubt that he could disappear among the numerous rooms in the fortress. His compact size allowed him to be very good at hiding. But then what? He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he could make his way through the labyrinth. It was very likely he would become trapped in the maze and spend the rest of eternity roaming around. Not the most pleasant future for a demon with his adventurous spirit.
For the moment, he had no choice but to go along with the minotaurs and hope they would eventually send him home.
Forcing his reluctant feet to carry him forward, Levet stepped through the open doorway and onto a long, narrow balcony built from wood. He scowled as he realized that the timber balustrade was too high to see over, and with a flap of his wings, he lifted himself off the ground to land on top of the wide railing.
Prepared to see hordes of demons charging in their direction, or perhaps magical fires circling the fortress, Levet was relieved when there was nothing to cause him alarm.
In fact, the pastoral landscape seemed perfectly normal. Beneath the silvery moonlight, Levet could easily make out the rolling fields golden with ripening wheat and the babbling brook that danced through the meadow. In the distance, he could see orchards where the trees swayed in the breeze, the fruit-ladened branches dipped toward the ground.
“I am no horti-torti, but—”
“A what?”
“You know. One of those creatures who know about planting stuff in the ground.” Levet waved his hand in a vague motion. “But everything looks fine to me. Indeed, it looks like a bumper-car crop. If that is all, I will be on my way.”
The male grabbed Levet’s wing before he could hop off the railing. “Not the fields. That.”
The minotaur pointed his finger toward the sky and Levet reluctantly tilted back his head. His gaze swept over the stars that were spattered like diamonds against the velvet backdrop, admiring the beauty before he at last located the spot that the male was indicating.
It was directly over the fortress and utterly barren. As if it was sucking away every star or speck of light that came near.
“Ah.” Levet’s stomach twisted with dread. “You mean the big black hole in the sky?”
“That is exactly what I mean.”
Chapter 10
Sofie sat on the hard pathway, her legs crossed as she used her dagger to carve a branch she’d chopped off and stripped of leaves. She wasn’t sure how long it’d been since they’d been whisked back to the entrance of the maze. There was a weird, sluggish sensation in the air that suggested that time moved slower in this particular area. Beside her, Ryshi was slumped against the hedge, his eyes closed.
Through their mental connection she could sense his struggle against the dark atmosphere that hung over them like a shroud. It wasn’t just the fact that his imp blood craved sunshine and fresh air. It was a soul-deep hatred for the thick silence and smothering sense of claustrophobia.
The emotions vibrated through Sofie with shocking intensity. She still had no idea why her connection with Ryshi was so…intimate. It could be because it was the second time she’d trapped his mind. Or the length of time they’d spent together. But neither answer felt right.
It was more like the familiarity she might have shared with a clansman. Or a mate…
Sofie muttered a curse, returning her attention to the figure she’d carved out of the wood. Clearly the atmosphere was affecting her as well. What other excuse could there be for the tingle of excitement sizzling down her spine?
