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“Yes, the unworthy. Not every creature who seeks the peace of our lands is unworthy. How can new seeds spread and grow if they are hidden in the darkness?”
“We were safe.”
“You smothered yourself until you began to fade from the inside out.” The goddess tilted back her head, gazing at the hole in the sky. “My magic is dying a slow, painful death.”
“Mother, please listen….”
The male’s pleading words died on his lips as Gaia turned away and concentrated on a spot behind the minotaurs. Seconds later, the illusion once again shattered, this time revealing the filthy city where the minotaurs who had been banished were trapped.
Shouts of alarm could be heard as the minotaurs poured out of the colosseum to discover what was happening. No surprise that Commander Stavros was in the lead. He was the sort of demon who would take charge of any situation.
A smile of pleasure curved Gaia’s lips. “Stavros, come to me,” she commanded.
“No, he’s a traitor…argh.” The groveling male at the goddess’s feet was suddenly flying through the air, landing in the orchard with an audible thud.
Gaia watched Stavros striding toward her before she turned her attention to Levet.
“Your relative has bartered for your freedom,” she said. “Take your friends and go.” The moss-green eyes narrowed. “And never return to this place.”
Ryshi snorted. “I’m going to guess he’s heard that before.”
Levet parted his lips, but before he could further annoy Ryshi, power rushed over them, as vast as the breaking of a dam. It was like nothing Ryshi had ever felt. Warm and lush and scented with clover. A golden glow surrounded them, lifting them off their feet.
Then everything faded to black.
* * * *
Sofie couldn’t sense the magic of the goddess, but she knew they were being transported away from the minotaur homeland. Thankfully, she easily recognized her surroundings as they were dumped out of the darkness onto yet another green patch of grass.
This one happened to be in Styx’s garden.
Rising to her feet, she grasped her dagger and turned in a slow circle. There was no smell of minotaur or the weird stench of the labyrinth. There wasn’t even the smell of gargoyle. Obviously, Inga and Levet had been sent to another location.
Which was fine with Sofie.
She was ready for some alone time with her new mate.
Turning to make sure that Ryshi was unharmed, Sofie muttered a low curse and moved to stand in front of him. A vampire was approaching.
“Finally,” a male voice drawled as Styx stepped into the garden, his six-foot-plus frame covered in leather and his long black hair pulled into a tight braid. “I was beginning to fear you couldn’t escape the labyrinth.”
Sofie grimaced. Right now she didn’t want to think about her time stuck in the maze. It was going to give her nightmares for years to come.
“I’m not sure we could have without the help of a goddess,” she admitted.
Styx scowled. “A goddess? What goddess?”
“It’s a long story.”
Easily sensing her reluctance to discuss her adventure, Styx glanced around, as if looking for something. Or someone.
“What about the gargoyle?”
Sofie shrugged. “He was with us, along with the Queen of the Merfolk. I’m assuming they were returned to her castle. The goddess was definitely eager to get us all out of her homeland.”
“What was Inga doing in the labyrinth?” Styx held up his hand, a shudder racing through his large body. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. As long as Levet isn’t here and his relatives stay the hell out of my garden, I don’t care where they are or what they’re doing.”
“No shit,” Ryshi muttered, obviously sympathizing with the Anasso’s distaste for the tiny gargoyle.
