Page 51 of Taurus's Quest
She could practically read his mind. Kill the minotaur, locate the schematic, leave. She put her hands on Taurus’ chest. “I’ll be fine. I’ll nap while you’re gone so I can be rested for later.” She offered a smile and a pathetic attempt at a sexy wink.
He sighed. “I don’t like it. We should all just leave together.”
“Then you have no incentive to keep me alive,” Asterion growled. “My way, if you break your promise and I die, then so does she.”
Taurus stiffened. “Explain yourself. I thought you said the center of the Labyrinth was safe.”
“It is. However, this entire structure is linked to me. Upon my death, the spell will evaporate, and my prison will collapse.” No need for him to add the part where anyone inside would be killed.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not planning to betray you. Grab your stuff so we can go.”
“There is nothing here I ever want to see again other than kitty.”
“What about the plans we came for?” Taurus glanced around at the clutter.
“I assumed the lady would want me to leave the instructions to build the astrolábos as insurance you’ll return for her.”
Circe glanced at Taurus. “I know he’ll come back for me, so I’d rather the schematic go with you. We need to start fabricating and assembling the parts as soon as possible.”
Asterion bent over to grab a fat book, the binding of it falling apart. He flipped it open and removed several loose and yellowed sheets, which he tucked inside his ragged vest. He then scooped his kitty before giving a nod. “I’m ready.
“Soon as I dump his ass at Tower and hand the instructions over, I’m heading right back,” Taurus promised, dragging her close.
“I’ll be waiting,” she whispered against his lips as they shared a kiss.
“Don’t leave this room,” Taurus advised before addressing Asterion. “Time to go.”
Circe hugged herself as Taurus placed his hand on Asterion’s arm, and Asterion eyed it suspiciously. In the blink of an eye—the bright flash forcing the lids shut—they were gone.
And she was alone.
Napping proved impossible, and so she amused herself going through Asterion’s gathered treasures. Ancient tomes with writing so faded it would be of no use to a historian. Dented pieces of armor piled in a corner. Under a heap of rags, she found the treasure he’d spoken of, a medley of rings, necklaces, loose jewels, and coins.
Before boredom had a chance to set in, the scuffing of footsteps indicated someone approaching. Taurus made it back much faster than expected.
Too fast.
Just as it occurred to her that it might not be Taurus, Demetrius entered the maze’s inner chamber with a smirk.
Chapter 15
The starbeaming from the Labyrinth to Tower took only seconds, with Taurus and the minotaur landing on his dais in the portal room.
Asterion staggered away from Taurus, shaking his horned head. “That was unpleasant.”
“But it worked,” Taurus noted. “Welcome to Tower.”
It took a moment for Asterion to recover from the fact he’d escaped his prison. He gaped around in astonishment. “You kept your word. You actually freed me.”
“Told you I would. Now if you don’t mind, I must leave you so I can return to the gorge and fetch Circe.”
“Leave? But…” Asterion appeared at a loss. “What am I to do?”
While a worried Taurus wanted to run off and rescue Circe, he couldn’t exactly dump a minotaur without giving Aries or someone a brief rundown of what happened.
Luckily, he didn’t have to go far to find another warrior. As he exited the portal room, Leo hit the bottom step.
“Olivia said you were back already. Did you get the plans?” Leo asked.
