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She arched her brows. Not so much in concern as in surprise. It was a unique talent.
“Is that it?”
“They aren’t as stupid as they look.” He emphasized the words.
Vampires were lethal predators who stayed firmly on top of the demon food chain. But their one weakness was arrogance. Even Sofie tended to believe she was invincible.
“Great,” she said dryly. “They’re as strong as an orc, they can appear and disappear, and they’re smart.”
“Not smart,” he corrected. He’d once witnessed two minotaurs spend an hour trying to get through a doorway at the same time. “Just not as dumb as they look. Oh, and I almost forgot, they carry spears that can punch through steel.”
They continued around the edge of the woods, the distant roar of minotaurs filling the air. With the thick cloud cover and heavy drizzle, it was impossible to know what time it was. Ryshi had assumed that time was irrelevant in this dimension since there didn’t seem to be any day or night. But the sound of cheering meant the daily battles had started in the colosseum.
“Let’s concentrate on how they can be defeated,” Sofie suggested, her gaze focused on the village.
“They are fearless in battle, but they’re also undisciplined,” Ryshi said. “Plus, they have no control over their tempers. I suspect they could be easily goaded into a reckless mistake.”
Sofie started to nod only to come to a sharp halt, reaching out to grab Ryshi’s arm.
“Stop!”
Ryshi did as she commanded, his head swiveling from side to side as he searched for the approaching danger.
“A minotaur?” he demanded.
“There’s one nearby,” she said, her expression distracted as she tilted back her head as if searching the branches of the nearest pine tree. “But that’s not what I’m worried about.”
“Then what is?”
“I smell silver.”
Ryshi didn’t possess the same sensitivity to silver as a vampire, but he instinctively lunged toward her. If there was silver in the area it had to be a trap. He’d managed to wrap his arms around her, but before he could shove her to the ground he felt a heavy blanket fall from the branch above them. No, not a blanket, he realized as Sofie released a cry of pain. It was a net made from strands of silver.
Ryshi tried to use his body to prevent the metal filaments from touching Sofie, but the net was tightening as if controlled by a spell. There was no way to keep it from searing her with a sickening stench of burned flesh. He had to get the damned thing off her. Not only to stop the damage to her body, but to keep it from draining her strength.
Attempting to determine the source of the magic, Ryshi was interrupted by the heavy sound of footsteps heading through the trees. The guards had obviously realized their trap had been sprung and were now coming to investigate. He had only seconds to do something.
Muttering a curse, Ryshi accepted he couldn’t help Sofie. Not while he was trapped in the net. The only way they were going to survive this was if he managed to escape. Once he was out of the net he would find a way to release her.
The question was whether or not she would release her hold on his mind.
“Sofie.” Glancing down, Ryshi grimaced as he caught sight of her agonized expression as the silver burned her skin. Her eyes were squeezed shut, as if she was trying to shut out the pain. “Sofie, can you hear me?”
She hissed in response, assuring him that she was still conscious. “The minotaurs are coming. I need you to let go.”
With an obvious effort she forced open her eyes. They were dazed with agony, but she managed to focus on him.
“What?”
“You have to trust me,” he whispered, cupping her face in his hands. “Let go.”
She stared at him a long time, as if reluctant to release her grip on his mind. Was she afraid he would abandon her? Or did she simply desire him to remain close? Both possibilities made his heart clench with regret. And the sense of guilt only intensified when the touch of her nestled in his mind slowly pulled away. It was like having a part of himself removed.
Dammit. The last thing he wanted to do was leave her with the minotaurs. Especially when he had no idea what they might do to her. But if he remained, then they would both be trapped.
He had to take the chance that he could save her.
Brushing his mouth over her parted lips, Ryshi savored his last taste of her before he released his magic and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
