Page 58 of Alexis

The problem was that the monster seemed to be all lungs, legs, and horns. The truth was that it was likely Tiago would wear out first.

He had to move this fight closer to the cottage.

And then he would have to trick the minotaur with something unexpected, something that would buy him enough time to get into the house.

With the leaves still in place, the thing did have a blind side. And he did have a way to take advantage of that. But if he missed, that would be the end of him.

Then you’d better not miss.

Alexis’s words echoed in his head.

Tiago went on the offensive, attacking the creature again and again, always on its good side, dodging out of the way every time it countered, using the missed charges to guide them closer to the cottage.

Movement from the window distracted him for almost long enough to get caught by one of those wicked horns. He rolled out of the way just in time and came up facing the cottage just as Alexis threw open the small window and shouted to him.

“You should go,” she yelled. “Before you get yourself killed.”

The sight of her only renewed his determination.

“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me,” he shot back, squaring up to face the minotaur once more.

“Oberon,” she shouted as the thing prepared to charge once more. “Make this stop.”

Why didn’t I think of that?

But it didn’t matter. For the first time since Tiago set foot in the Center, Oberon was silent. The minotaur charged. Tiago was on his own.

He braced for another attack, shifting his stance and connecting with a solid hook as the beast sailed past. He was hitting it with shots that would have taken out any opponent he’d ever faced, and it was barely slowing down.

Tiago, on the other hand, was almost spent. He couldn’t keep up the dance much longer. It was time to go all in.

He stopped bouncing around and planted his feet. He wasn’t dodging this time. Alexis disappeared from the window. She probably didn’t want to watch him get impaled on those horns. He didn’t blame her.

He shifted his focus to the beast. The timing had to be perfect.

Everything dropped into slow motion as it charged for the last time. One way or the other, this ended now.

The sun glared off the water, and Tiago closed his eyes, shutting out the glare and all of the other distractions, until only the pounding hoofbeats on the sand remained.

He drew a breath, and launched himself higher than he ever had before, spinning in the air to bring his leg around to the creature’s blind side and letting it go with all his might.

He connected with what felt like a thunderclap, the force of the blow reverberating through his body and sending him hurtling back. He opened his eyes and ducked into a roll at the last second, coming to his feet to find the giant minotaur sitting in the sand, blinking its eyes in stunned silence.

He wasted no time sprinting to the door of the cabin.

He was prepared to break it down if he had to, but it swung open as he reached it. He called out for her, and hurried in to find Alexis, curled up on the floor, weeping.

24

ALEXIS

Alexis collapsed on the blue and white striped rug in front of the window, tears streaming down her cheeks.

He had done it. He had felled the minotaur using the kick she helped him with this morning.

This should have been a triumphant moment for both of them. So why did she feel so empty inside?

“Alexis,” Tiago said as he stepped inside, his voice deep with emotion.

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