Chapter 19 #3
“Tell me, Bowen Thomas. Will you unlock the vault, or will you become the monster and end this ancient being’s life? The choice is yours; it’ll be our little… secret.” They hissed out the last word, telling me they felt like they would win no matter which direction this went.
Neither, I thought. I glanced sideways at the minotaur and tried to convey as much apology as I could.
His eyes steeled, and he snorted out a loud breath.
I hated to do this, but I needed him to know what was happening.
“I’m sorry. I understand why you don’t want me in your mind.
Just… please, I need you to listen. Just listen, that’s it. ”
His head cocked, and he hesitated, but then answered with a huff.
“Help is coming. My mate is coming. We’re going to get you out of this, I swear. I just need to buy him a little time to get here.”
His prominent brows rose for a moment before fixing his face. I could feel the shadow person watching us both intently. They seemed to know when I’d been communicating with the minotaur, but how much could they grasp of it?
Talking. That was my tool, right? Now was the time to use it. “When I was five, my pet turtle told me he’d seen another woman in our house who had been friendly with my father. I tried to tell my mother, but she took away my turtle and kept my father.”
The shadow person tilted their head, and I felt a sense of confusion from them, so I kept going. “At eight, a neighbor’s dog told me she was worried about her owner. I called nine-one-one and was laughed at. ‘Silly child, don’t call unless it’s an emergency.’ Well, there was one.”
“What are you doing?” The figure’s nasally voice pitched up.
“You want secrets? I’ve got plenty.” I continued before they could speak.
“At eleven, a crow told me about suspicious activity happening in the park they frequented. They were bothered by the extra people and the loud noises. You know what I did? Nothing, because I learned adults didn’t listen to a child who talked to animals.
There was a big turf war, and someone died.
I don’t know if it could have been prevented, and I’ll never know if I could have changed the outcome, and…
that’s a secret I’ve carried with me my entire life. ”
“Hmm, tasty.” The figure stepped closer to me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the bands around the minotaur loosen ever so slightly. “Give me more.”
Before I could share another story, a deafening howl sounded, echoing through the mine. The shadow figure jolted, and my mouth stretched into a wide grin. I could feel him; he was so close. Pride filled me as I reached out to Rudy. “I hear you, big guy. I’m right here.”
“Bowen!” My name came out in another howl. Then he was moving. I could feel the tug in my chest with him drawing near.
The shadow person stood over me, and the darkness flickered around him as if the piercing sound had shaken him. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because I have another secret.” I couldn’t stop the grin on my face.
“What? Tell me!” The figure shouted as the light and dark began to tremble around him.
With complete confidence, I said, “You are going to be really sorry you brought me here.”
Fast, thudding footsteps sounded in the tunnel behind the figure.
The light was extinguished, and darkness exploded around me.
Thrust into the deepest, darkest black as I had been when I first awoke in the tunnel.
Only this time I didn’t feel alone. Rudy was here.
I could feel him inside me as much as I could hear his rapid approach.
Through the pitch black, I could see two glowing pink eyes in the distance, and I felt my heart soar at the sight. “The shadows, Rudy, watch the shadows.”
A roar reverberated off the walls in the small space, and I could hear a slash through the air.
And another. I tried to track the glowing eyes, but he was too fast. I caught the sharp inhale of the minotaur, but kept my focus on my werewolf.
Ribbons of light began to appear through the dark as Rudy continued to tear through the shadows with his claws.
The lantern that had shone behind the figure now cast a glow around my beast. He fought the dark in a frenzy until his hand gripped around a solid figure who had been hiding in the shadows they created.
Rudy snarled low and deep in a sound that should be terrifying, especially in a dark, underground tunnel, but it made my heart race with the thrill of it.
A nasally scream was cut off, and the shadows around the room dispersed, leaving only the ones that were cast from the single lantern.
At the same moment my hands were free of their binding, the werewolf quickly knelt before me, huffing loudly, and staring straight into me with those incredible pink eyes.
Reaching out, I stroked the side of his snout and smiled. My eyes burned at the sight of him, gratitude and love pouring out of me. “You found me.”
The voice I heard was Rudy’s in my mind as the wolf licked my cheek. “I will always find you.”
I threw my arms around the werewolf’s large neck and nuzzled against his head. “Thank you.”
Large arms lifted me and pulled me to the furry black chest, my feet hanging above the ground. The relief I felt at being in his arms again was overwhelming, and the tears burning in my eyes began falling.
He must have smelled them, because he quickly set me down and his eyes darted over me. “Bowen hurt?”
I shook my head and pushed my glasses up to wipe my eyes. “No, I’m not hurt. I’m just really fucking happy you’re here.”
A rustling sound came, and we both looked to the corner as the minotaur tried to stand. He staggered and braced himself on the wall next to him.
“Help him!” I commanded.
Rudy rushed over and put his large arm around the minotaur.
The beast flinched at first but looked between Rudy and me, then gave a reluctant nod.
Hooking an arm over the werewolf’s shoulders, he leaned on him for support.
The minotaur was nearly as tall as my wolf, but he had a broader form. Blocky and dense.
I started to move toward them when my foot hit something.
Looking down, I saw my messenger bag, and weirdly, my eyes began to burn again.
It was foolish to be so attached to an object, but it was the only thing I owned, and it meant a lot to me.
After throwing the strap across my chest, I walked up to the large pair.
Looking up at the minotaur, I offered an apologetic smile.
“I know we didn’t get to meet properly, but I’m Bowen, and this is my mate, Rudy.
I know you have a million reasons not to trust me, but I promise I don’t want to hurt you, and he won’t, either, unless he feels the need to protect me.
I would suggest not giving him a reason to think that.
Now, if it’s okay, I’d really like to get out of this tunnel. ”
The minotaur slid a glance toward the werewolf holding him up. Rudy’s teeth pulled back into a fierce snarl, revealing those sharp fangs I loved. The creature returned his attention to me and gave a slight nod.
We followed the metal mine car tracks until the moon’s light shone through an opening ahead of us.
When we made it outside, I was hit by the fresh air, the open space, and the knowledge that it was over.
My knees buckled, and I fell to the soft grass, reveling in all of it.
The minotaur did the same beside me. No longer needing to support the large beast, Rudy shifted back, and suddenly there was the man I loved with every fiber of my being.
His black, shaggy hair, short beard, and the clothes that had loosened as his form shrank.
“Rudy!” I breathed out in a sob.
“Bowen!” He sank to his knees before me, and his arms wrapped around my waist. I fell against him, catching his mouth in a searing kiss.
All the fear, dread, and anguish we both felt gave way to love, need, and desperation.
There had been a moment in the dark when I wasn’t sure if I would get to see him again, let alone hold him, and kiss him.
My chest ached with a million emotions, both his and mine, all fighting to come to the front.
When the kiss broke, Rudy’s head fell to my shoulder, and his body trembled against mine. “I thought I’d lost you.”
This was all my fault. I was the one who brought this deep chasm of ache I felt in him.
“I’m so sorry. I was foolish. Being at Creature Comforts, and with you, I let my guard down.
I thought I would be safe with the group, but…
” But I’d also separated from them briefly and then fell behind when I felt dizzy.
Rudy clasped my cheeks in his hands and met my gaze. “No. You don’t need to be sorry. You shouldn’t have been put in that position in the first place. I’m the one who is sorry for not being there.”
I shook my head slightly and gave him a half-smile. “You couldn’t have known, but it doesn’t matter now. You found me. I’m here. We’re here together.”
Rudy’s forehead rested against mine, and I felt him breathe out slowly. “We’re together. Together, now and always, Bowen.”
“Now and always.”