Page 17 of Her Possessive Minotaurs

Before Laia can react, Irix’s mouth crashes down on hers, the kiss hard and demanding. His hands grip her waist, pulling her flush against him. I want to tell her to push him away so I can care for her.

She should push him away, but part of her responds, a thrill of something dangerous sparking in her eyes. I can see it. Maybe she needs this, too.

My jaw tightens, fists clenching at my sides. I’m torn between wanting to stop it and not knowing how. This is who Irix is—wild, uncontrollable. He’s my brother.

Irix pulls back, a grin on his lips as he looks at me. “See? You’re too soft, brother. She needs someone who isn’t afraid to take what he wants.”

“Enough.” I step forward, my voice low and dangerous. I pull Laia from Irix’s grasp, my hand on her arm firm but gentle. “You’ve made your point.”

Irix laughs, stepping back with a shrug. “You’re boring,” he says, his tone mocking as he leaves us alone.

I watch him go, my face hardening. Turning back to Laia, I soften my voice. “Are you all right?”

Laia nods, though her heart still races. “I’m fine,” she whispers as she tries to act nonchalant, but I can see the emotions in her eyes and hear her heart beat wildly.

Silence reigns between us, the tension between us heavy in the air. My hand remains on her arm, offering what little comfort I can.

“I won’t let him hurt you again,” I say softly.

She looks up at me with wide eyes, searching for truth in my words.

I smile at her and say, Irix is tough. We can say he’s a savage through and through. But he also has a soft heart under all those tough muscles and coarse fur. You might not see it, but he’s a good minotaur. In my opinion, it should be Thalos you should watch out for.”

12

LAIA

The river’s cool spray hits my face as I stand beside Kael. The sound of rushing water fills the air, a soothing backdrop to a peaceful interaction between us. He’s showing me how to fish, his hands moving with a grace that belies his size.

“Like this,” Kael says, throwing a spear with a fluid motion. His eyes flick to mine, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’re getting the hang of it.”

I try to mimic his actions, feeling the spear tremble in my grip. “Thanks to you,” I reply, my voice softer than I intended. “But I don’t have your physical strength.”

He grins. “That’s why I’m here!” He captures one using his hand and grabs my spear, putting the fish at the tip as I got it myself.

I laugh out loud. Kael shrugs his shoulders as if it’s the most natural thing to do.

He has this very calming presence about him. There’s something about the way he moves, the quiet strength in his every gesture. He’s different from Thalos and Irix—gentler, more thoughtful. I can’t help but stare at him.

He notices my gaze and chuckles. “You’ll catch more fish if you watch the water instead of me.”

A blush creeps up my cheeks, and I quickly turn my attention back to the river. “Right,” I mumble, embarrassed but oddly warmed by his teasing.

The minutes pass in companionable silence, broken only by the occasional splash of water as we throw our spears. There’s an ease between us that feels novel. He’s a beast and a human, after all.

“Why did you help me?” I ask, unable to keep the question at bay any longer.

Kael’s eyes soften as he looks at me. “Because you needed it,” he says simply.

“But Thalos...”

“Thalos doesn’t always see things clearly,” Kael interrupts gently. “He’s focused on survival—our survival. Sometimes that makes him hard. He’s the most logical out of the three of us, making him more dangerous.”

“And you?”

He hesitates, as if choosing his words carefully. “I see someone who deserves a chance.”

His words wrap around me like a warm blanket on a cold night. For so long, I’ve been seen as nothing more than a burden or a tool to be used and discarded. To hear him say this—it means more than he could know.

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