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Not bothering to watch the smaller male scurry away, the leader focused his attention on the remaining minotaurs.
“I’m going to deal with the crowd. I’m expecting you to escort our guests to the dungeons.” He stabbed a finger toward Ryshi. “Don’t talk to them, don’t listen to them. Don’t even look at them until they’re locked in a cell.” The male grimaced as a fine dust fell from the top of the tunnel. Obviously, the crowd was threatening to collapse the entire colosseum with their displeasure. “If either of them escapes I’m holding each of you responsible,” he finished his warning between clenched teeth. “Got it?”
The guards hastily moved to surround Sofie and Ryshi, their spears pointed at them in a visible threat. Presumably reassured that his orders would be carried out, the commander marched back down the tunnel in a visibly foul mood.
Once he was out of sight, Ryshi heaved a dramatic sigh. The commander was too cunning to be manipulated. The others, however, might be easier.
“Harsh. Is he always so unreasonable?” he asked in tones that dripped with sympathy. As if the poor creatures were being unbearably abused.
In response, one of the guards behind him poked Ryshi in the back with the point of his spear.
“Move,” he ordered.
Ryshi glared over his shoulder. The blade had cut deep enough to make him bleed. “Careful with that thing, moo-boy,” he snarled. “Another poke and it will be lodged up your ass.”
The guard narrowed his gaze, poking him again. The scent of amber swirled through the air, but before Ryshi could carry through on his threat—and he fully intended to shove the spear up the male’s ass—Sofie was grabbing his arm and urging him to follow their captors down the tunnel.
With a grimace, Ryshi forced himself to concentrate on the female next to him. He’d been trying to provoke the minotaurs into doing something stupid; instead, they’d neatly turned the tables on him. Again.
He had to start thinking like a master thief and not a male obsessed with protecting his…
His mate.
There. He’d said it. Even if it was just in his own mind. Hopefully, accepting his natural instincts would allow him to leash them long enough to come up with a plan.
“Sorry about this,” he muttered, glancing toward Sofie’s tense profile. “I intended to dazzle you with my dramatic rescue. I didn’t realize they’d made improvements to the place.”
She glanced toward him, her expression more determined than accusing. Thank the goddess.
“They are still angry that you escaped with their holy artifact,” she said.
“Holy?”
“That’s what they claim.”
Ryshi rolled his eyes. Only a group of demons who’d been secluded for endless years would imagine the stone he’d taken was somehow sacred.
“It has magic. Like thousands and thousands of other stones.” He shook his head in disgust. “Nothing worth holding a grudge for so long.”
Her lips twisted, as if silently reminding him that he risked his life to acquire that particular stone, but she didn’t say the words out loud. Instead, she shrugged.
“What else do they have to do beyond fight and hold grudges?”
“Fair point.”
Sofie’s grim expression returned as they were herded through an opening that led to a side passage. This one was smaller, but it was thankfully sewer-free. Not that it smelled much better. The entire colosseum needed to be torched to the ground to get rid of the stench.
“The dungeons are close.” Sofie spoke softly to keep the guards from overhearing her words. In fact, Ryshi wasn’t sure that she wasn’t speaking directly into his mind. “We need to escape before they can put the silver collar back on me.”
“Yes,” he agreed without hesitation. The sooner Sofie was away from the guards the better. “I’ll create a distraction and you—”
“No.”
Ryshi flinched. Had she lost faith in his ability to be a partner? He wouldn’t blame her. He’d blundered badly. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t entirely his fault. Or that his usually sharp wits had been dulled by his tumultuous emotions for the female.
“I swear that I won’t fail again.”
She ignored his promise, a chill spreading through the passage. “I need you to take your jinn form and leave this area.”
