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Sofie paused. The silver collar around her neck meant that she couldn’t use her powers to trap the male’s mind. A damned shame. She sensed this beast would be easy to control. But she recalled Ryshi mentioning the best way to battle a minotaur was by prompting him to lose his temper.
If she could get the male close enough to the bars, she could grab him and physically force him to open the cell door.
“I caught a glimpse of the town. It’s even nastier than this place.” She took a step forward, a mocking smile curving her lips. “I can’t imagine why you go to such an effort to keep creatures out. Who would willingly visit such a pigsty?”
The minotaur’s nostrils flared in outrage. “The traditional lands are beautiful. Lush and green and…” The words trailed away as the male realized he was probably giving away more than he should. “How did you get here?”
Sofie tucked away the knowledge that Ryshi had been right. This wasn’t the actual homeland. At the same time, she considered how she could get information as she continued to piss off the guard.
“I’m not sure.” She took another step forward, standing just an inch from the bars. She hoped it would lure the male closer. “I was tracking a gargoyle through a field when I was sucked into this place.”
The guard frowned. “Impossible.”
“You think I used magic to get here?” she taunted. “I’m a vampire.”
“I know what you are.”
“Then you should realize that I couldn’t open a gateway. It had to be one of your people who kidnapped me.”
The male stuck out his lower jaw. “My people never leave. Especially not from this area.”
Sofie shrugged. “Okay. Maybe the gargoyle did it.”
“If there was a gargoyle hanging around here I would know.”
Sofie studied the guard. Despite the silver collar around her neck, she could sense that his ignorance was real. He didn’t have any knowledge of Levet. Or even the plot to kidnap the gargoyle.
Did that mean the gargoyle was in the homeland? Or maybe he was already dead. Either way, she had to get out of the dungeon to discover the truth.
“Well, if I didn’t open a gateway, and you claim there is no gargoyle, then by process of elimination it had to be a minotaur who is responsible, right?”
The male blinked, clearly having difficulty processing her words. At last he gave up and stomped his foot in frustration.
“You’re pissing me off, leech.”
Sofie laughed. “Like I give a shit.”
The guard stepped toward the cell. “You think I won’t kill you?”
Sofie blew him a kiss, silently urging him closer. “You can try.”
There was a brief hesitation, as if the male was battling his urge to charge into the cell and beat her into submission. Annoyingly, he managed to contain his brutish instincts. At least for the moment.
“First, I want to know what happened to your companion,” he growled.
Sofie stilled, concentrating on keeping her expression from revealing her shock at his words. She’d hoped that the minotaurs hadn’t caught sight of Ryshi before he disappeared. That would give him the best opportunity to hide in the shadows until he found a means to help her escape.
And if that was impossible, then to simply flee and save himself. The mere thought that the minotaurs might hurt him made her stomach clench with a sense of dread.
“Companion?” She blinked in faux confusion. “You mean the gargoyle?”
The guard stomped his foot. “Stop yammering about that damned gargoyle.”
“You’re the one who asked.”
“I’m talking about the male who was with you just before you were captured.”
“You’re delusional.” Sofie folded her arms over her chest, staring at the guard as if he’d lost his mind. “There was no male. At least, not with me.”
