Page 34 of My Fated Minotaur Hero

"I, uh, I’ll get them later," I manage, flashing my ID badge.He waves me through, looking confused, and perhaps mildly alarmed.

“They’re in the lost and found!”

“Thanks!” I call as I hurry toward the stairwell.

I take the stairs two at a time, my heart pounding. Please let the chalice still be there. Please let this work.

I skid to a stop in front of the alcove where I found it before. The chalice sits there, innocuous as ever, as if I had never even picked it up.

"Okay," I mutter, picking it up with trembling hands. "Drink, all who thirst for knowledge..."

I wait.

Come on...

Nothing.

"Hocus pocus!" I shake the chalice, as if that might help. "Work, damn you!"

"Ms. Reed?"

“Meow, meow, meow!” I practically scream even as I hear the voice behind me.

I whirl around to see Dr. Abernathy, head of the history department, staring at me with concern.

Oh dear.

"Are you alright?" he asks, taking in my disheveled and oddly dressed appearance – oh god, the robe - and I suddenly realize my most likely rather wild eyes.

"Fine!" I squeak. "Just, um, doing some research."

He frowns. "The archives are closing soon. Perhaps you should call it a day?"

"Right, of course." I nod, plastering on a smile. "I'll just be a few more minutes."

He backs out of the room looking anything but convinced that I am in fact “fine” at all.

As soon as he's gone, I turn back to the chalice, desperation clawing at my chest.

"Please," I whisper. "Please, I need to go back. I need ... I need Kalen."

The words catch in my throat. God, when did I become this person? Pining over some guy I've known for all of two days?

Some minotaur Liv.Minotaur.

Details, details.

So, what if he’s, well, a beast of legend. He's my mate. I have decided we are not entertaining door number two anymore, that I have lost my marbles. No, he’s my other half. And I need him like I need air, and that’s that.

I try everything I can think of. I read the inscription forwards, backwards, in pig Latin. I would try interpretive dance if I thought it would help.

Nothing works.

As the lights flicker, signaling closing time, I slump against the wall, defeated.

"Time to go," the security guard calls. "We're locking up."

I nod mutely, allowing myself to be herded out of the building.

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