Page 63 of Minding the Minotaur

We pass the huge metal elevators that take shift workers down to other levels. Already, a crowd is forming ready to descend for their day shift, but we skirt past in the shadows of the rock wall and no-one notices us.

After this the tunnels are deserted, bare and dank scented.

After about an hour more, I sense Sammy lagging.

“You okay?”

“It seems a bit interminable.” She glances along the expanse of empty tunnels, the lighting dimmer here.

“That’s the outer Labyrinth for you. Nothing much happens here.”

Her shoulders droop a little and her steps flag.

Shit. This is what I was worried about. The last thing I need is for Sammy to run out of puff.

To be too exhausted to enjoy our first time together.

“Let me piggyback you,” I suggest.

She pins back her shoulders. “I’m fine, really. How much further?”

“About three hours.”

Her face falls. “Of just this rock?”

“Yeah, doesn’t change much. Until we get to the lake. Here, have a drink and a snack.”

I rummage about in my pack, get out the potato chips and a bottle of water. We eat while leaning against the rock wall.

“Okay, all good, got my second wind.” Her lips quirk and we get going again, my little human trotting valiantly beside me.

But after another half hour, she gives in. “Okay then, piggyback me.”

I hoist my pack around onto my chest then bend down, and she jumps onto my back.

“Aren’t I heavy?” she asks as I adjust her.

“Piece of cake,” I reassure her.

And then I’m off, clumsy at first, but I soon pick up speed, my hooves clunking on the hard stone. I let out a bellow of sheer pleasure as I get into my running rhythm, until finally, I’m charging through those fucking tunnels like the wind is at my heels.

“Woohoo!” Sammy squeals. “This is fun.”

That just makes me run even faster. I might not have wings on my hooves, but right now, I feel like I’m flying, speeding along these tunnels to get to the special place where I will finally claim my little human as mine.

CHAPTER 20

SAMMY

Being carried on the back of a minotaur travelling at speed is something else.

I cling to Arlo’s back, bury my face in his thick pelt and inhale the gorgeous smell of him, musky and sweet and salty.

To my surprise, Arlo proves to be an incredibly smooth ride. His bulky muscles act like springs, cushioning me from the jarring of his hooves on the rock floor.

There’s nothing to see, very little light in this part of the Labyrinth, so I press my face against his pelt and close my eyes. I may even drift off a little. Finally, we slow down.

Then we stop.