Page 2 of The Minotaur's Little Peach
"Soreya." The name slips out before I can second-guess myself. "Soreya Venn."
"Korrun Thal." He extends one massive hand toward me, palm up. "And before you ask—yes, I'm serious about buying everything."
I stare at his outstretched hand for a moment before placing mine in it. His fingers close around mine with surprising gentleness, engulfing my hand completely. The contact sends warmth shooting up my arm.
"You don't even know what I'm charging."
"Doesn't matter." His thumb brushes across my knuckles, and I have to concentrate on breathing normally. "I've got a feeling it's worth whatever you're asking."
"You might change your mind when you see the state of some of these." I gesture toward the basket with my free hand, though I make no move to pull away from his touch. "Half of them should've been sold yesterday."
"Then I'll eat them today." He releases my hand, and I immediately miss the warmth. "Problem solved."
"All of them? There's enough fruit in here to feed a small army."
"Good thing I've got the appetite for it." That grin returns, lazy and confident. "Besides, can't have you standing out hereuntil sunset trying to move bruised pears. The heat's only getting worse."
He's not wrong. The late afternoon sun beats down mercilessly, and the crowds are already thinning as people seek shelter indoors. In another hour, I'll be lucky to sell even half of what's left.
"You're either very generous or completely mad."
"Maybe both." He reaches into a small pouch at his waist and pulls out a handful of silver coins. "Which one do you prefer?"
I laugh before I can stop myself—actually laugh, not the polite chuckle I usually offer customers. "I haven't decided yet."
"Fair enough." He counts out the coins, far more than anything in my basket is worth. "Take your time figuring it out."
I stare at the silver coins in my palm, their weight more substantial than anything I've held in months. With all the fruit sold, for the first time in longer than I can remember, I have nowhere I need to be. No more customers to charm, no more fruit to protect from the heat.
"Well." I pocket the coins, hyperaware of Korrun's presence beside me. "I suppose that's my day finished."
"Mine too, actually." He hefts the now-full basket with one hand like it weighs nothing. "I was planning to stash these and head down to the beach for a run. Care to join me?"
The invitation catches me off guard. When was the last time someone asked me to do something just for the pleasure of it? Not because they needed something, not because I owed them labor or coin, but simply because they wanted my company.
"I don't really run." The words come out before I can think them through properly.
"Then we'll walk." He shrugs, the motion causing muscles to shift beneath that sable-brown hide. "The beach is still there whether we're moving fast or slow."
Something inside me loosens at the easy way he adjusts his plans. No irritation, no pressure. Just acceptance.
"I haven't been to the beach in..." I trail off, trying to remember. "Years, actually. Not since I was indentured."
"Then it's about time." Korrun starts walking toward the colosseum's side entrance, and I fall into step beside him. "Come on, let's get this fruit somewhere cool before it turns to mush."
The training facility behind the colosseum is a world I've only glimpsed from the outside. Stone corridors echo with our footsteps, and the air carries the metallic tang of weapons and leather. Practice rings stretch out in both directions, most empty now in the late afternoon heat.
"You train here?" I ask, watching him navigate the maze of rooms with familiar ease.
"Every day." He pushes open a heavy wooden door, revealing what looks like a storage room lined with shelves. "Been doing it for about eight years now."
"That's a long time." I lean against the doorframe as he sets the basket on a high shelf, well away from any prying hands. "Do you enjoy it?"
"Most days." He turns back to me, and there's something thoughtful in his expression. "There's something satisfying about watching someone discover what they're capable of. Seeing them push past what they thought were their limits."
The passion in his voice does something to my chest, makes it feel tight and warm at the same time. "Sounds like you're good at it."
"I try to be fair." He closes the door and we head back toward the main corridor. "Too many trainers think breaking someone down is the only way to build them up. Never made sense to me."
