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That had to mean they were out of the colosseum and far enough from the city to be out of the stink zone.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“A cave I found in the middle of the woods.”
She tilted back her head to study the male who was seated cross-legged on the hard-packed earth with her cradled in his lap. Despite the hellish hours they’d spent in the labyrinth, not to mention the recent battle with the minotaurs, Ryshi managed to appear as if he’d just stepped out of his shisha parlor. The dark green tunic and trousers didn’t have a wrinkle or a speck of dust to mar the satin material. Even the wide copper cuffs around his ankles and wrists glowed in the dim light that filled the cave.
With an effort, she forced her attention back to their surroundings. It was that or rip off her companion’s clothes and devour him.
“I don’t smell minotaurs,” she said.
“As far as I can tell they haven’t been in this area in centuries. I’m not sure why, but for now we’re safe.”
Sofie shook her head, not bothering to figure out why the minotaurs avoided the area. They wouldn’t be around long enough for it to matter.
“We’re not safe. They’ll soon track us here.”
“They won’t track us.”
Surprised by the absolute certainty in his voice, Sofie turned to study him in confusion.
“How can you be so sure?”
A wicked smile touched his lips. “You’re not the only one with skills.”
Sofie flinched, grimly refusing to consider her own supposed skills. “Tell me how you did it.”
“Smoke leaves no trail.”
She blinked. He’d carried her on a waft of mist? No way. She might look small, but she was a vampire. She weighed a lot more than a human female.
“You couldn’t have carried me here in your smoke form,” she protested.
He shrugged. “It’s amazing what you can do when you are desperate.”
She gazed into the liquid ebony of his eyes, abruptly realizing that he wasn’t just talking about his ability to whisk her away from the tunnels beneath the colosseum.
A shudder raced through her. “True.”
There was a brief silence before he brushed his fingers through the short strands of her hair.
“Does it hurt you?”
“Being carried in smoke?” She deliberately misinterpreted his question, hoping he would take the hint.
He didn’t.
Of course.
“Releasing your powers,” he clarified. “Does it cause you pain?”
“No.”
His fingers traced the stubborn line of her jaw. “Sofie.”
“Yes,” she grudgingly conceded. “Yes, it causes pain.”
“Physical pain?” She shook her head, but she refused to say more. Ryshi gently cupped her chin in his palm, his features softening as he gazed down at her. “Sofie, talk to me. Please.”
