Page 59 of Minding the Minotaur

“So that’s it, then.” She tosses her blonde mane. “You’re not going to help your own family.”

“Nope. Not this time.”

When I cross my arms and jut my jaw, she flounces to the door and yanks it open. “As for you and that paper skin. Personal trainer my ass. I smelled the pheromones between you. Saw the moony looks you were exchanging. Don’t think you’ve got a future with her. Minotaurs can’t breed with humans, and you’ve got rocks in your head if you think otherwise.”

After the door has slammed behind her, I rake a shaking hand through my scruff.

For once, I’ve stood my ground with Clarisse.

Stood up for whatIwant. For Sammy and me to have a life together. Maybe even a youngling of our own. And I’m not going to listen to Clarisse’s mean-spirited parting shot.

I straighten my spine and head for the door. It’s time to let Sammy know exactly how I feel about her.

CHAPTER 19

SAMMY

I’m perched on a stool in the kitchen, watching Tippy slice and dice vegetables.

“What are you making?” I ask, in an attempt to keep my mind from sliding to the conversation Arlo is having right now with his sister. It was a shock when she bowled straight into him and announced she was pregnant. I thought she was an ex-lover for a moment there. I was so relieved when he introduced her as Clarisse. But I was not relieved to see Arlo’s horrified expression at her announcement.

Yuck, messy.

Tippy answers, “Chicken and golden vegetable soup. All the goods in this one.”

“Your food is delicious,” I tell her. “I know Arlo complains, but he stays hale and healthy on it.”

“I make sure it’s nutrient dense,” Tippy replies proudly. “I have recipes going way back to my witch ancestors.”

“How long ago was that?”

“About five generations back. We lost our witch lineage soon after the rebellion.”

“I heard a bit about that. The magic that used to be here, that isn’t anymore. Silas told me when we were at Digger’s last week.”

“Ah, yeah, Silas is a total boffin, not much he doesn’t know.”

“Is it true that your witch forebears were… killed?”

She nods. “Burnt at the stake apparently. Can’t help bad luck. A few of us escaped by shifting into our fox selves.” Tippy shrugs. “I can’t practice magic, sadly, but I can use herbs and make medicines. It gives me a buzz helping folks to stay healthy. That reminds me—” She goes to the fridge and gets out a bottle of bright yellow liquid. “Try this.”

She grabs a spoon and pours some out. “Go on, it’s not poison.”

I sip gingerly off the spoon, trying not to pull a face at the taste. “It’s a little bitter. What is it?”

“A quit smoking elixir I’ve made for Jax.” Her brows pleat. “He’s going to get really sick if he doesn’t give up smoking.”

“Yeah, I know. His sister Clem worries about him.”

“Iworry about him.” Something in her tone makes me glance at her sharply. She flicks her amber eyes away. “I worry aboutallmy clients.”

“Is Jax one of them?”

“Not willingly. But I’m going to take him on.” Her pretty mouth sets in a determined line. I waggle my brows suggestively. “Do you have a crush…”

“No! Ew—no way!”

“Aw, I don’t know,” I tease, seeing her ears flick. “He’s kind of handsome in a lean and hungry way, don’t you think?”