Page 84 of Minding the Minotaur

“And if he isn’t? How do I get the fucking things off?”

“Just shift into your bear form and they’ll snap right off your fat paws.”

“Ah, didn’t think of that.” Brody grins.

I roll my eyes. I love the guy, but sometimes he can be dense. Then I grab the cape, pull it round my shoulders, grope for the tag of runes in the lining, and I’m gone.

Whooshing back to Sparkle.

To rescue Sammy.

CHAPTER 26

SAMMY

Clem brought some clothes in to the hospital last night, so I’m dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee, my hair tied back in a ponytail, all ready to leave the hospital, when Dr Petronis walks in.

I look at him optimistically. Today, I am determined, is the day I get out of here, hightail it to the Periphery, and take the next portal bridging back to the Labyrinth. With or without Jax’s help.

“We have your test results back, Sammy,” Dr Petronis says.

“And?”

“They are interesting.Extremelyinteresting.”

I grimace. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“On the contrary. You appear to be in excellent health.” I raise quizzical eyebrows, hoping desperately that he’ll tell me more. He doesn’t.

“Does that mean I can go home, then?” I persist.

“Not yet.” Dr Petronis looks around the sterile room, at the small holdall containing my few belongings sitting next to me, the bed made up. “I’m glad to see you’re dressed and ready though. We’re transferring you to a different facility.”

My head jerks. “W-what? Where?”

“A state-of-the-art medical clinic on the other side of the city.”

“I thought this was the only hospital in Sparkle?”

He smiles. “Theonlyone for the general public, yes. But this is different.”

I can feel my heart pounding. “Different in what way?”

“It’s for complex cases.” His eyes glint ice blue. He doesn’t seem so friendly or kind now. Fingers of fear spidey walk around my scalp, down my spine.

“You just said I was in excellent health.”

“You are, but we still need to monitor you.”

“For what?”

“There’s absolutely nothing to worry about, Samantha,” he says smoothly. “I will be accompanying you to the new facility, and I promise you will get exemplary care.”

I press on, desperate to know what’s happening. “How long for?”

“I can’t answer that.”

My rising panic makes me dig my heels in. Hard. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me the results of my bloods. And I warn you, I can and will scream. Very loudly. And I will kick and I will bite. Remember, I’ve been working on the Periphery and it’s wild out there. I don’t care what happens, Dr Petronis. I’ll have no qualms being an embarrassment and shouting about how terribly you’re treating me here.”