Page 34 of Minding the Minotaur (Monsters of the Labyrinth #1)

S AMMY

I wake up to the sound of voices.

I immediately tense up, thinking I am back in that terrible research facility with Dr Petronis and Marsha Winters. Men and women in uniforms and white coats scurrying around them.

I start to hyperventilate, my heart pounding.

And then I make out the deep rumble of Arlo’s baritone. Otis’s, too. Muffled, not in the room, but close by.

And another voice. Human. Laconic and laid-back, followed by a bark of a cough.

Jax is with them.

I slump back onto what I now realize is Arlo’s bed.

As I lie here, I can smell his sweet musky scent, and a deep feeling of safety envelops me.

I breathe a ragged sigh and close my eyes for a second, smiling, remembering how Arlo appeared out of thin air, my knight in shining armor—or should I say, shining portal cape—and whisked me away from that dreadful place.

I focus back on the voices. They’re coming from the snug, just across the passage. And they seem to be getting more animated by the moment.

Curiosity overriding fatigue, I get to my feet and make my way to the door. I tiptoe across the passage and put my ear to the door of the snug.

“For fuck’s sake, Arlo.” This from Otis. “You pluck her from under their noses and you’re telling me they didn’t see you? Not even a horn?”

More words in a deep growly voice. It’s Arlo, and his tone is defensive, though I can’t make out the exact words.

Otis continues, “Even if they didn’t see you, they’ll know sorcery of some sort was involved. There’s no way a human could just disappear like that. And they’ll be asking questions—lots of questions.”

“If they saw you, they’ll be galvanizing resources to track you down. Maybe they’ll try and send spies down here,” Jax warns.

“You’ll have to rouse yourself from your smoke-hazed stupor and ward them off, then,” Arlod responds grumpily.

“I’ve kept them off your backs for years,” Jax responds calmly. “But none of you knuckleheads have broken the rules of the Covenant before.”

Another growl from Arlo.

There’s a pause, then Otis says, “I’ve actually been working on something that could help. I think I’ve almost got it up and running.”

“Is it magic?” Arlo sounds hopeful.

“No, it’s part of an energy system from before the apocalypse. It uses coding, not magic. I’ve been studying ancient texts about it for years. It’s how I monitored your movements in Sparkle.”

I hear Arlo chuckle. “Oh, you mean the little chip thing that you slotted into that comp-oo-ter? How exactly is that going to help?”

“It picked up exactly where you went and at what time.”

“So?”

“If it can monitor your movements so accurately, then it can track humans, too. It’s still rudimentary, but it could also help us to communicate faster through all the levels, to keep ahead of what they’re up to.”

“That could be… useful.” Jax actually sounds alert for once. “Explain it to me.”

“You guys talk shop, I’m off to check on Sammy.” Arlo’s voice gets closer.

As the door swings open, I literally fall into his arms.

“Sammy!” he cries, embracing me. “You’re awake.”

“Hello Samantha,” says Otis.

Jax says, “How’s things, Blondie?”

As Arlo releases me, I stand there with a cheesy grin on my face, aware that I’m dressed only in one of Arlo’s shirt. “Good, thank you.” I pull the shirt down over my thighs, blushing.

“No need to look all coy, Blondie. We know about you two lovebirds,” Jax drawls.

“Yep, it was obvious right from the start.” Otis nods, and I detect a smirk pushing his tusks upward. So he did know. “And since your crash-landing in Digger’s Diner, you two are now the main talking point around level one.”

Oh,” I say, my cheeks still bright pink, but also kind of chuffed.

Arlo scuffs a hoof and mutters, “We’ve got some good news. But I wanted to wait until Sammy was awake before I spilled the beans.” He tugs me gently against his flank. “Okay if I tell them?”

I nod, smiling.

“Sammy is pregnant with our baby.”

There’s a long moment of stunned silence .

Finally, Jax whispers, “Hooly fucking dooly,” and Otis says, “Congratulations,” then proceeds to frown and scratch his head.

I’m not sure what to make of their reactions, so I babble, “Thank you, yes, Arlo and I are overjoyed, obviously, but um, there is a slight complication.” I take a deep breath. “They did blood tests on me in the hospital. They know I’m pregnant, and that, er, the father is not human.”

Jax sits bolt-upright. “Shit.”

“That could prove slightly problematic,” Otis says and his frown deepens.

“Master of the fucking understatement,” Jax mutters. They both stare at me, their eyes full of questions.

There’s nothing for it. I have to tell them the full story.

Fingers knotting together, in a faltering voice I explain everything I remember from my horrible meeting with Marsha and DV Research; the theory that our youngling may be able to breathe unfiltered oxygen after it’s born.

The research they were intending to do on us both.

When I’ve finished, Otis jumps up and starts pacing.

“Damn. They’re bound to come looking for you.”

Jax nods. “I have to agree with the sheriff, Blondie, you will be persona numero uno on their wanted list.”

Arlo’s arm tightens protectively around my waist. “I won’t let them near you, babe,” he growls in my ear.”

“This calls for urgency. I’ll need to get security cameras set up near all the portals. And we need to monitor manufacturing on levels seven and eight.” Otis thinks aloud as he strides up and down “Maybe even halt exports of those products.”

Jax pulls a face. “Not asking for much, are you?” He shakes his head. “If we try that, it will just focus more attention on the Labyrinth. We’ll have to be stealthier, work below the radar.”

Otis stops pacing and scratches his head. “Jax, how many peripherals can we really trust? ”

Jax holds up three fingers on one hand, then folds one back down.

Otis’ brows shoot up. “Two. Is that it?”

“Yeah. Me and Blondie here.”

“Shit, we’ll have to recruit more police, train up troops from the lower levels.”

I feel my shoulders sag, my happiness deflating like a burst balloon.

“I’m so sorry I’ve brought all these problems on you,” I mumble.

“No, Sammy, don’t apologize,” Otis says firmly.

“Trouble was brewing long before you arrived. All you’ve done is bring it all to a head.

Frankly, that’s what needed to happen. It’s galvanized us into action.

” He looks at me with something akin to true affection.

“You are one of the first humans in centuries to conceive a child with a monster. Which is nothing short of a miracle. You are one of us, and we will protect you with our lives.”

Arlo’s arm tightens around my shoulders, and he kisses the top of my head. “You heard Otis, babe. I’m so fucking proud of you.”

I let out a ragged breath, my chest swelling with emotion. Despite all the problems I’ve brought on them, they’re going to fight for me down here.

I feel so loved, so cared for in a way I never did in Sparkle.

Seen. For exactly who I am.

Cherished.

“Okay,” says Otis, back to his gruff self, “first things first. Arlo, you need to give me back that cape. That was your last trip to Sparkle. Period.”

Arlo gifts me his sexy lopsided grin, the one that makes my insides flip flop. “Fine by me. All I ever wanted from Sparkle is standing right here by my side. As for the cape… co me to think of it, I haven’t got a clue where I left it. Maybe in the bedroom… or the kitchen…”

Otis groans. “You’d better find it. Now they’ve seen it in action, the humans will be desperate to get their hands on it. I need to get it safely under lock and key.”

The two of them disappear, leaving Jax and me alone.

There’s an awkward moment of silence. Finally, I clear my throat. “I want to thank you for saving my life. And getting me the job in the first place. Meeting Arlo has made me so happy.”

He looks at me, his green eyes guarded, as if compliments aren’t something he’s used to. “No big deal. To be honest, Blondie, I had a sense you’d fit in.” He smirks “Didn’t know just how well, though.”

We smile at each other—it’s the first genuine, open smile Jax has gifted me. It lights up his face, and softens his gaunt features. Makes him almost handsome.

I feel a twist of remorse for ever doubting him.

In my usual habit of blabbing before I’ve engaged my brain, I burst out, “I’m really sorry, but at one stage I thought you might be a… a spy, or a double agent—or something.”

I don’t say the word malefic , but I have a sense he knows what I mean.

He barks out a laugh. “You’re not the first, Blondie.”

“Is that how you got those scars?”

His lips twitch. “A few monsters didn’t like my face, I guess.”

I open my mouth to ask him more, but I know Otis and Arlo will be back at any moment.

Besides, I have an inkling I wouldn’t get anywhere.

Jax is a dark horse. And while I do trust him, knowing that Otis and Arlo respect him, that Clem’s allegiance to her brother runs deep, and that Tippy goes out of her way to concoct potions to stop him fucking up his health, I sense there are dark shadows in his past that he’s not prepared to discuss .

At least, not yet.

Jax grabs a rolled-up cigarette from behind his ear.

“Ah shit, can’t have one of these around you now, can I?” He tucks it back behind his ear. “Congratulations, by the way. Should have said that earlier. You’re going to be happy with that guy. He a daft fucking doofus, but hey, he’s got the biggest heart in the Labyrinth.”

I beam back at him. “I know.”