4. Irix

4

IRIX

I drop her like a sack of rice. Her body hits the ground with a dull thud, and she scrambles to move, trembling but with eyes still full of defiance. Despite her injuries, she still has energy. I can’t help but admire that fire. It’s not often we see such spirit in humans.

I circle her, my golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. There’s something about her—something that pulls at me, though I can’t quite name it. She’s small and fragile, yet she radiates an inner strength.

"You don't look like much," I say, crouching down to bring my face close to hers. "But you've got fire in your eyes. I wonder how long that will last."

She glares at me, and I almost laugh at the absurdity of it. A human glaring at a minotaur. Bold.

“Monster,” she spits out, her voice hoarse yet filled with venom.

I lick my lips, savoring the word. “Monster? Is that what you see?”

“What else would you be?”She retorts, trying to push herself up but failing.

I lean back on my haunches and chuckle. “A minotaur,” I say simply. “And those are my brothers, Thalos and Kael. You can call me Irix.”

Her eyes dart to them, widening in fear but quickly snapping back to me with renewed anger. “What do you want from me?”

“Want? Now there’s a question.” I reach out and tilt her chin up with a finger. Her skin is cold and clammy against mine, yet there’s heat in her gaze. “We found you half dead in our territory. You’re lucky we didn’t leave you for the wolves.”

“I don’t need your help,” she snaps, yanking her chin away.

“Oh, but you do,” I say, amusement coloring my tone. “You’re not going to last long out here on your own.”

“Better dead than with you,” she says through gritted teeth.

Her words hit a nerve, but I hide it behind a grin. “Such spirit! It’s almost... refreshing.”

She looks taken aback by my response but quickly masks it with defiance again. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“Liar,” I say softly, leaning closer so our noses almost touch. “I can smell your fear.”

Her breath hitches for a moment before she steadies herself. “Maybe so,” she admits, surprising me again with her honesty.

I straighten up and glance at Thalos and Kael, who are watching with interest. "She’s got more spine than most humans," I comment over my shoulder.

Thalos grunts in agreement while Kael nods silently.

"Let’s see how long that lasts," I murmur as I turn back to her.

I squat down again, close enough to feel her ragged breath on my skin. "What’s your name?" I ask, my voice low and demanding.

She presses her lips together, her eyes blazing with defiance. Silence stretches between us, thick and tense.

"I asked you a question," I say, my tone growing sharper. Still, she refuses to speak.

Thalos steps forward, his massive shadow falling over us. "Answer him," he growls.

Laia’s gaze shifts between us, her lips trembling but set in a stubborn line. She takes a shaky breath and finally mutters, "Laia."

"Well, Laia," I say, letting her name roll off my tongue like a new discovery. "Maybe you’re more than just prey. Maybe you’ll bring flavor into our lives."

Thalos snorts, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "She’s a liability. We don’t need dead weight. What can a fiery spirit do when she doesn’t have the strength to back it up?”

I rise to my full height, muscles rippling beneath my fur. "We could use someone with that kind of will."

Laia’s eyes narrow as she glares up at us. "I’m right here, you know," she says, her voice edged with frustration but still shaky.

She’s trying so hard to pretend she’s okay but she looks as pale as the moon. Irix shakes his head.

Laia continues, "I can hear you talking about me."

A laugh escapes me—rich and full of genuine amusement. "I like your will, human. But you don’t know your place yet." I step closer, looming over her as my eyes rake all over her body. "You should be begging us to help you."

Her jaw tightens, and she meets my gaze head-on, refusing to show submission even in her weakened state.

I grin wider, feeling an odd mix of respect and amusement for this defiant creature at our feet.

I step closer, my eyes raking over her body with open curiosity. Her skin, marred by scars and bruises, tells a story of pain and survival. I like what I see—strength hidden beneath fragility.

Leaning in, I bring my face close to hers, almost kissing her. She stiffens, but her eyes never waver from mine. I can feel her breath on my lips, quick and shallow. My nostrils flare as I take in her scent—sweat, blood, fear, and something uniquely hers. It's intoxicating.

I lower my head to her neck and sniff deeply before letting my tongue trace a path along her skin. She shudders beneath me, a weak hand pushing against my chest. Her resistance is feeble; she’s too exhausted to fight me off.

A laugh rumbles from deep within me. "I like you," I say, the words dripping with amusement and desire. "I want more of you."

My hands wander over her body, fingers brushing against her ribs and down to her hips. Her flesh is warm despite the cold night air. She squirms under my touch but can't muster the strength to push me away again.

Kael stands at the edge of the group, his silence a heavy presence. His brow furrows slightly as he watches our exchange. Thalos shoots him a glance.

"You don’t need to heal her," Thalos says, his voice cold and commanding. "Let nature take its course."

I watch Laia’s eyes flutter closed, her breathing growing shallow. Her defiance fades into unconsciousness. "She’s not dead yet," I say, challenge lacing my tone. "Let’s see what she’s made of.”

I trace a finger along her jawline before rising to my full height again. She may be fragile now, but there's potential here—potential for something more than just prey or dead weight.

Turning back to Thalos and Kael, I let a grin spread across my face. "This one’s going to be interesting."