Page 15 of Minotaurs and other Magic

Nate shook his head. “No. My friends are human. There was thunder and then a rockslide.”

“The god of thunder, by his many names, is with one of my sisters. It was not him.” She crossed her arms. “I do not like this. Doorways should not open without reason, and they should not open from your side.” She pointed at Nate.

“Can we go to another doorway…maybe if you come to my world, you can find the answers you want.” There was a note of desperation in Nate’s voice.

Rohan wanted to see him happy, yet at the same time, he wasn’t ready to let him go. Nor could he go to the human world, as it had become inhospitable to beings from Tariko some centuries ago.

“The nearest doorway is over a moon away and through two city-states. Politically difficult.”

“It’s my only way home. Please.”

Rohan lowered his head. “No one has crossed to your world in a long time. It is too dangerous because your people began to slaughter mine. That doorway is guarded, a remnant from the last war. Had you come through there, they would have killed you.”

“But you can ask?” Nate pleaded.

“There are no humans in that city-state. They do not allow them to live.” The Strega said. “You could try pleading your case to the gods. Though there will be a price. Consider your options as your debts are mounting.”

“You will need to serve your year and a day before making a new deal, Nate.” Making a deal with a god was a dangerous thing and not something Nate should do before he understood the rules around magic and gods.

Nate tipped his face to the sky and shouted. “I fucking hate this place!”

Rohan didn’t speak English, but there was more than enough intent and magic that the meaning was clear.

Nate would rather be anywhere else than there.

CHAPTER 8

Gods were real.

There were doorways between worlds.

Magic and mythological creatures existed.

And so did debts and deals and danger.

Nate gripped the edge of the chariot and tried not to focus on the way Rohan’s body bumped into him with every rock the chariot made. No, it wasn’t Rohan bouncing around; it was him because he couldn’t keep his balance. Rohan had kept his hand on his back on the way out of town, now it seemed he no longer wanted to touch him. Which shouldn’t matter.

Rohan was a minotaur. He shouldn’t want to be touched by him, but he wanted the reassurance of his hand.

Everything was so fucking messed up. He screwed his eyes shut. They might all be lying to him, and how would he know? He knew nothing of magic or doorways.

The chariot bounced, and Nate stumbled, smacking his elbow on the side. He swore, and several things happened at once. Rohan called out, the chariot stopped, and Nate landed on the floor, staring up Rohan’s tunic…again. His vision blurred, and he brushed a couple of stray tears off his face.

“Fuck.” He switched to Tarikian. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be difficult.”

Was Rohan regretting buying his debt already?

The Strega and the prince hadn’t learned anything from him. He was useless.

Rohan squatted and swept his thumb over Nate’s cheek. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” He shook his head, then sighed. He was hurting in his heart, though that wasn’t what Rohan was asking. “My elbow will be fine.”

There was nothing funny about hitting the funny bone. The ache radiated up his arm and made his stomach tight.

The guards talked amongst themselves before one turned. “Your Highness, one of the horses has a stone. I will unhitch and?—”

“We are close. We will walk. See to the horses and chariot.” Rohan stood and offered Nate his hand.

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